Celebrating Women in Medical Research at Parliament

The programs WiSPP implements brings people together on a number of levels. People who otherwise wouldn’t necessarily meet by chance. On 21st August, WiSPP once again brought people together, this time leaving the confines of Parkville Precinct for the Victorian Parliament House.

The event celebrated the achievements of Victorian women in health and biomedical research and discussed new strategies to achieve gender equity in this vital sector. 

The Honorary Jill Hennessey MP, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, The Honorary Mary Wooldridge MP, Shadow Minister for Health, Ellen Sandell MP, Greens Spokesperson for Science and Innovation, and Professor Sarah Russell from Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre spoke at the event and showed strong support for the initiative. Dr Misty Jenkins from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute was the MC for the night. 

The Hon. Jill Hennessey MP expressed how the roles of women and men have shifted, and are still changing. Focusing on caring responsibilities, a key area that affects medical researchers, Ms Hennessey asserted that the option to work flexibility is crucial for all genders. 

The Hon. Mary Wooldridge MP identified the need for addressing gender in clinical and laboratory medicine. Both our research leadership and research priorities should accurately reflect the population, which is not homogeneous. This is an important part of achieving equity in health and medical research.

Ellen Sandell MP promoted respecting women and articulated that there needs to be a willingness for societal change now that we have an understanding of possible solutions to gender equity. The Victorian Greens fully support the proposal WiSPP is advocating. Learn more at Respect Research.