Two projects benefitting South Australian women will share $20,000 funding as recipients of this year’s annual Augusta Zadow Awards.

This year’s winners focus on training for hairdressers in regional towns to recognise and respond to domestic and family violence; and a project to help understand the specific health and safety requirements of the sex industry as it goes through current reforms.

Each year, SafeWork SA funds projects that will improve the work health and safety of working women and young people.

The awards commemorate Augusta Zadow, who was an advocate for women’s rights in the workplace – particularly in clothing factories – and became South Australia’s “First Lady Inspector of Factories” in 1895.

SafeWork SA awards grants annually to projects that address a work health and safety issue faced by women and young people at work or seek to significantly improve health and safety for women and young people at work through research or education.

Martyn Campbell, Executive Director SafeWork SA said, “We received a number of innovative applications to the awards this year and are pleased to be able to fund projects that provide practical outcome-based solutions to improve the health and safety of women and younger workers in workplaces.”

The annual awards were presented today at Government House by His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AC, Governor of South Australia.

2019 Augusta Zadow Award recipients

Cassandra Deon-Wierda, Working Women’s Centre - $10,000

The prevalence of gendered violence is a widespread and concerning issue across Australia and is addressed by Cassandra in her proposal, “Responding to client disclosures: Training for Hairdressers in recognising and responding to domestic and family violence’.

Hair and beauty professionals have regular and unique interactions with clients and are highly likely to encounter clients experiencing violence. Cassandra’s project will provide the tools and education to hair and beauty professionals based in areas with high incidents of domestic and family related crimes so they have the skills necessary to engage in client disclosures.

Georgia Thain, Sex Industry Network Incorporated (SIN) - $10,000

The South Australian sex work industry could be transformed through legislative change. If this occurs, the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA) will apply to the industry and duty holders will need to operate in accordance with the Act to ensure health and safety of workers and workplaces.

This project titled 'Work Health and Safety in the Sex Industry of South Australia: Beyond Criminalisation’, will have Georgia undertake research within the industry to understand specific health and safety issues, and document health and safety policy and practice applicable to the South Australian sector.

This year’s award recipients honour Augusta’s legacy in positively impacting women’s safety at work, as well as benefiting the wider community, said Martyn Campbell.

“I congratulate both the winners and look forward to seeing their projects completed and put to use in helping to improve the work health and safety of working women and young workers.”

Previous winners and details of their projects are available at www.safework.sa.gov.au.