We are committed to improving workplaces and improving the diversity of leadership in medical research.
We empower organisations to work towards culture change with a shared vision for the future of women in science and medical research.
Read about our initiatives below
Respect in Research Project
Workplace sexual harassment is a universal challenge, pervading every industry, including the health and medical research sector in Australia. It inflicts substantial financial, emotional, and psychological damage, particularly on women and those from underrepresented groups, while also imposing a tangible economic cost due to lost productivity and intellectual wastage.
In 2022, AAMRI and Women in Science Parkville Precinct (WISPP) launched the Respect in Research Project. This initiative specifically targets the pervasive issue of sexual harassment within the health and medical research environment, an area identified as possessing an elevated risk with harassment prevalence rates significantly surpassing the national average.
Measuring Change
Making and sustaining change is difficult. It requires both identifying that there is a need to change but also providing people with clear steps through which change can happen. Data is essential to this process
In 2016 WiSPP collaborated with the five institutes to develop an agreed set of gender equity metrics and collected data from each institute. The data, routinely collected will enable our organisations to track progress over time and design targeted interventions.
Intensive Grant Support Programs
We are grateful for a Women’s Leadership and Development grant of $365,000 we received in 2021 that will enable us to deliver this program to support a total 144 early and mid-career researchers over three years.
These programs, for women and non-binary people, are aimed at building the capabilities of early and mid-career researchers to participate and ultimately succeed in the research grant system.
The purpose of these programs are to provide robust, structured, and constructive feedback to aid participants in developing their grant proposals.
Inclusive Leadership Program
The Inclusive Leadership Program was a research and training project aimed at maximising performance and building future capability in Australian science. A key premise of this pilot program is that inclusive leadership can facilitate higher productivity, retention, engagement, morale and innovation.
The Equity in Medical Research Alliance
Based on the WiSPP model of collective grass-roots driven action, we are proposing the establishment of a state-wide network of locally acting Equity Nodes to empower the Victorian sector to eliminate gender inequities.
Cross Institute Task Forces
Working together over six months the Task Forces took an evidence-based approach to the identification of the issues, underlying causes and potential actions. The Task Force’s recommendations produced a clear strategy for WiSPP’s future cross institute work and a coordinated plan for change.
Grants Mentoring Program
Equal parts mentoring program, networking and skill development, the Grant Mentoring Program is an opportunity for early to mid-career women to learn from other women who are established in their field. The initiative supports women researchers develop the skills and capacity to navigate the grant application process.