July 1, 2025
UOW expert commentary (1 July)
UOW academics provide expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing and breaking news stories
Commonwealth Prac Payment
Early career researcher Scott William can discuss the new Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) which comes into effect from today (Tuesday 1 July 2025). Mr William says it will provide some support to students experiencing financial hardship from attending professional placements, but it falls short and excludes many others. He would like to see expanded support and eligibility for the CPP to prevent placement poverty. Mr William is a cardiovascular health early career researcher in the School of Nursing and Centre for Chronic and Complex Care Research.
New report on workplace sexual harassment
Associate Professor Sarah Ailwood can discuss a new report from the Human Rights Commission that calls for a new wave of robust law reform measures to protect and support victim-survivors and hold employers accountable. In an article for The Conversation she says:
Speaking From Experience is a significant moment for workplace sexual harassment law reform and policy in Australia. It continues the work that Respect@Work started and takes it in a new direction, focusing on protecting and supporting victim-survivors and accountability for employers.
Dr Ailwood is an Associate Professor in the School of Law. Her research explores the legal context and consequences of the #MeToo movement, including in defamation law and sexual harassment law reform.
Making the word ‘hysterectomy’ history
Associate Professor Theresa Larkin says the term ‘hysterectomy’ is inaccurate, misogynistic and needs to be changed. In an article for The Conversation she writes:
The name hysterectomy is rooted in a mental health condition – “hysteria” – that was once believed to affect women. But we now know this condition doesn’t exist.
Continuing to call this significant operation a hysterectomy both perpetuates misogyny and hampers people’s understanding of what it is.
Associate Professor Larkin is an expert in anatomy and medical science, is a Senior Lecturer in UOW’s Graduate School of Medicine.
Plastic Free July
Dr Babet de Groot can talk about Plastic Free July. Dr de Groot specialises in the politics and governance of the global plastics crisis. In August she will travel to Geneva for the final negotiations to develop a global plastics treaty. Dr de Groot is also researching youth engagement in the plastics treaty negotiations. She is a Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry.
Professor Faisal Hai and Dr Aziz Ahmed can also talk about Plastic Free July. Both researchers are from the School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and are involved in a project to prevent microplastics entering waterways. Professor Hai is the Director of UOW’s Strategic Water Infrastructure Lab and Head of the School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. Dr Ahmed is a Senior Lecturer and is also involved in an international research project that is enabling communities to print 3D homewares from plastic waste.
International Day of Cooperatives – Saturday 5 July
Dr Spring Zhou can talk about the UN International Day of Cooperatives (Saturday 5 July). Cooperatives are businesses owned and run by and for their members. Dr Zhou is an expert in agricultural supply chain and non-profit operations. Her work explores the operational models and the supply chain coordination around agricultural cooperatives. Dr Zhou is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Business.
US politics and President Donald Trump
Professor Markus Wagner can talk about US President Donald Trump, US politics, constitutional law and trade tariffs. Professor Wagner is an internationally recognised expert in international economic law and governance, international peace and security, as well as US and Australian constitutional law. He is the Director of the Transnational Law and Policy Centre at UOW.
UOW academics exercise academic freedom by providing expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing social issues and current affairs. This expert commentary reflects the views of those individual academics and does not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the University of Wollongong.
FIND AN EXPERT
The University of Wollongong boasts world-leading experts across a range of disciplines. Visit our Find an expert page for a selection of our experts who can speak to current ongoing and breaking news stories, or contact the Media and Public Relations Unit for help finding relevant experts, organising interviews and providing answers to specific questions.