7 December 2016

For the third year in a row, Monash has been recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.

As the only University in the group of eight to be recognised, this award acknowledges the impact and many gender equality initiatives across Monash over a sustained period of time, contributing to our global success.

In the past ten years the number of female professors at Monash has increased by 207 per cent and in 2016 alone, almost 30 per cent of all Professor appointments were female.  We are also a strong supporter of the White Ribbon campaign and a member of Athena SWAN working towards gender equity  in  Science,  Technology,  Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

Initiatives, such as the shadowing and mentoring programs and research success grants support women with career interruptions to maintain their research profile.  These are just a few ways we have been able to steadily increase the number of women working in senior roles in fields that are  traditionally  male dominated. One of them is Professor Moira O'Bryan who leads the Male Infertility and Germ Cell Biology Laboratory and is the Deputy Director of Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute.

Professor O’Bryan, who joined Monash in 1996, says the focus on inclusive leadership and unconscious bias is a positive step forward.

“Some of my staff members have used return to work grants and coaching grants. I think coaching opportunities, and mentoring both formal and informally, are great. People need to be aware of what is out there to help.”

Only recently we announced a new initiative to provide greater flexibility for parents. We have introduced new paid leave options for spouses who have primary responsibility of a newborn. This is a great step in recognising the different needs of all families. We also support women who continue to breastfeed  on  their return from maternity leave and provide parenting facilities on all Monash campuses to support the transition back to work.

President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AO said she was delighted Monash had once again been named an employer of choice for gender equality in recognition of its commitment to achieving a diverse and inclusive environment.

“As a leading research and teaching organisation, achieving gender equality is central to our vision.  This award encourages the ongoing commitment across the entire Monash community to support gender equality,” Professor Gardner said.

To find out more about gender equity at Monash please visit the website.

Email: