New decade-long initiative aims to address underrepresentation of women in leadership, grant applications
The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences has unveiled a new roadmap that aims to boost the number of women in Australia's health and medical sciences ecosystem over the next decade.
The roadmap is a response to the massive underrepresentation of female leaders in the industry, where only around one in four women are in most senior positions.
"Women are integral to every advance in health and medical science – as clinicians, researchers, educators, and leaders – yet their full potential remains constrained by persistent structural and cultural inequities," said Louise Baur, president of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
"This plan provides a blueprint for change. It sets a clear path toward a sector that not only values equity as a moral imperative, but recognises it as essential to excellence, innovation, and impact."
Gender disparities in funding
The plan also aims to address the gender disparity in funding. According to the academy, male applicants to the National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grants received 35% more grants and 67% more funding than women between 2019 and 2021.
Women in later stages of their career are also underrepresented in grant applications to the Medical Research Future Fund despite higher success rates.
Helena Teede, academy fellow, council member, and chair of the Decadal Plan Expert Advisory Group, said health and medical research has been largely overlooked in gender policy and investment.
"This Decadal Plan sets out a practical, evidence-based roadmap for achieving systemic and cultural change across funding, leadership, organisational change and accountability. If implemented in full, it can reshape the sector for generations to come," Teede said.
Among the key strategic opportunities for change that are identified in the roadmap include driving organisational change for safe, inclusive, and equitable workplaces. Other opportunities for change include:
- Building a coordinated national policy environment for gender equity in health and medical research
- Ensuring fair and equitable funding structures
- Developing a national workforce strategy and data framework
- Establishing enduring mechanisms for implementation, monitoring, and accountability
"The success of this plan will depend on collective effort," Teede said.
"Every part of the system – from funding bodies to universities, health services, and government – has a role to play in ensuring that equity is embedded not at the margins, but at the core of how we do science and deliver healthcare in Australia."
Roadmap welcomed
Meanwhile, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) said they welcome the academy's roadmap in advancing gender equity in health and medical sciences.
"The Australian Medical Association strongly supports the academy's plan, which provides a practical blueprint to remove barriers and ensure women can lead across health and medical sciences," said Danielle McMullen, president of the AMA, in a statement.
"Increasing gender equity in leadership strengthens our profession. We know that patients and communities benefit when equity is embedded in funding and workplaces and in leadership."
