Sydney, Monday 15 July 2024
Franklin Women, a grassroots social enterprise that is advancing the careers of women in health sciences, is proud to announce its 2024 Partner Organisations. Now representing twenty organisations that contribute to the Australian health and medical research ecosystem, from medical research to clinical care and health innovation.
Unlike other scientific disciplines, women are overrepresented early in health and medical research-related careers. However, they hold a lower proportion of leadership roles and face various barriers to career participation and progression.
The Franklin Women Partner Organisation alliance unites diverse stakeholders to address the gender imbalance in the sector by providing meaningful support to women in their organisations, while also offering opportunities for learning and knowledge sharing with respect to building more diverse, inclusive and safe workplaces in the sector.
“As a social enterprise, Franklin Women is motivated by having the greatest positive impact, and that can only be achieved through collaboration and partnerships,” emphasised Dr Melina Georgousakis, Founding Director of Franklin Women.
“Our Partner Organisations are pivotal to the impact we have had to date, both with respect to their collective investment in our organisation recognising the unique work we do, but also because they are actively supporting their staff— of all genders — to collaborate on creating diverse and inclusive workplaces.”
Franklin Women welcomes Flinders University’s College of Medicine and Public Health to their Partner Organisation alliance in 2024, expanding the social enterprise’s reach and impact.
“We are thrilled that Flinders University’s College of Medicine and Public Health is the first partner in SA and NT to join Franklin Women, demonstrating our commitment to gender equity. Our partnership with Franklin Women offers many benefits for our incredible researchers and staff, particularly our women whose work contributes so valuably to the health and medical research ecosystem,” said Professor Billie Bonevski, Director and Dean (Research) of the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute.
Franklin Women delivers a breadth of activities and programs designed to stem the loss of women from the sector and support their career participation. These include unique professional development and networking events, an innovative carer‘s scholarship and evaluated inclusive leadership mentoring program.
The Garvan Institute of Medical Research, one of Franklin Women’s inaugural Partner Organisations, has built an enduring relationship with the social enterprise over several years.
“Franklin Women offers differentiated events and programs that balance insights from outside our sector with content and support that is targeted to the needs of women in medical research, as well as leading conversations and initiatives relating to wider workplace culture,” said Professor Benjamin Kile, Executive Director of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.
”We are proud to continue our partnership with Franklin Women as a key component of our gender equity strategy at Garvan.”
The work of Franklin Women is aligned with the Australian Government’s priority to increase the diversity in Australian science, and their recognition of the importance of systematic and cultural change in achieving this.
As Australia’s only professional community supporting women in health-related careers representing over 15,000 members, partners and supporters, Franklin Women has become a credible and respected voice in the sector with an ambition to increase its reach in response to growing need.
Franklin Women 2024 Partner Organisation alliance in alphabetical order: ANU Faculty of Health and Medicine; Burnet Institute; Centenary Institute; Digital Health CRC; Flinders University’s College of Medicine and Public Health; Garvan Institute of Medical Research; George Institute of Global Health; harrison.ai; Hunter Medical Research Institute; Kolling Institute; Macquarie University Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences; Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences; St Vincents Centre for Applied Medical Research; Sydney Local Health District; University of Canberra Faculty of Health; University of Canberra Faculty of Science and Technology; University of Newcastle College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing; University of New South Wales Faculty of Medicine; University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health; University of Wollongong Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health.
Franklin Women offers tailored partnerships for industry, government and academic institutions to drive social change across the healthcare and medical research ecosystem. To learn more or get involved, contact [email protected].