General news

The Emma Miller Award is presented each year to women who have made an outstanding contribution to their union at the grass roots level, and is run by the Queensland Council of Unions. 

Sandy has been a proud union activist for decades, playing a crucial role as a Bargaining Representative and consistently stepping up to ensure the voices of her colleagues are heard. 

In accepting the award, Sandy said Emma Miller was a pioneer for women, whose legacy inspired her today. 

“Women are a vital part of any workforce. Our contributions should never be underestimated,” Sandy said. 

“But those contributions need to be adequately recognised – whether it’s through pay equity, parental leave being topped up with superannuation, or access to better leave entitlements such as menopause or menstruation leave. 

“These are all things we need to keep fighting for to ensure we get a fair go.” 

Sandy’s presence at the bargaining table is marked by a calm strength, a willingness to listen to others, and the tenacity to keep pushing until fair outcomes are achieved for members.  

She has spoken up on tough issues like workloads, job security and management’s attempts to exclude groups of staff from Enterprise Agreement coverage. 

Recently, Sandy was the face of the FSU’s campaign around penalty rates during the 2025 federal election. 

Sandy bravely shared her story of how, as a single mother, penalty rates was a crucial factor in providing for her family over many years. 

“Being a mother of three and essentially raising my children by myself, I sacrificed a lot in my career. 

“I don’t want my children to have to go through that as well. I want something better for our future. 

“This is why I’m so passionate about making a difference for future generations of women.”