On Wednesday, Victoria was visited by the Australian Union of Students full time Women's Officer - Philomena Horsley. Philomena is currently touring the New Zealand universities with NZUSA's Women's Rights Action Co-ordinator, Denese Black.

Denese gave a brief opening address at the lunch time forum, outlining the work done by WRAC, and the women's groups on campuses. WRAC, she said, provided a national focus for the issues faced by all women round the country - for example increased violence towards women, sexual harassment, serious financial problems, and lack of childcare facilities.

She pointed out that although the welfare of women on campus is NZUSA's second priority (the issue of education being top priority), there is no full time officer to work in this area. She expressed the hope that Victoria would join several other campuses who have voted in favour of creating a full time position in NZUSA in the area of women's rights.

Philomena then gave an overview of the current situation in Australia - specifically as it affects university women. Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, she said, had recently launched one of his most savage attacks yet on tertiary education -announcing the closure or amalgamation of 30 out of 72 colleges of advanced education (mainly teachers' training colleges). 70% of those who attend these colleges are women, and in fact 60% of all women tertiary students end up with teaching diplomas, so this move hit women particularly hard.