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Congratulations to FSU member Kate Fitzpatrick for being this year’s Emma Miller Award recipient!

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.

Kate has been a proud union activist for years, playing a crucial role in the FSU’s gender equality campaign, and more recently in helping negotiate the variation of the Australian Retirement Trust (ART) Enterprise Agreement.

In accepting the award, Kate said that, while being a union representative often throws her outside her comfort zone, her actions are spurred on by her four daughters and their futures.

“I ask myself what example I want to set for them, what I'd want them to do if they were presented with the same opportunities, and what I want their workplaces to be like when they get there,” Kate said.

“I do the scary things for them, so I really feel as though I received this award for them as well.”

When it comes to improving working conditions in the finance sector, Kate’s passion lies in gender equality. Over the past year, she has been involved in the ACTU’s It’s For Every Body campaign, including speaking directly with politicians in Queensland and Canberra about the need for paid reproductive health leave for all working Australians.

“I explained how reproductive leave will help close the super gender gap and help women stay employed for longer – and the flow-on benefits to the economy.

“I was then part of negotiations to vary our Agreement at ART, where we were successful in having reproductive leave added as well as pay increases and enhanced consultation around the introduction of AI in our workplace.”

Kate said she was inspired by her fellow Emma Miller Award recipients from other industries, including nursing and teaching.

“I don't think it's possible to overstate how much women contribute to the union movement.

“Hearing the stories of the other Emma Miller recipients was inspiring and reminded me of how much we can achieve when we stand together.”

Congratulations, Kate, on your well-deserved award!