Advancing Women in Healthcare Leadership (AWHL) is a Monash University-led, 23+ partner, large-scale national research, implementation and impact initiative. We are based at the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), and funded by two National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) partnership grants and partner contributions.

Despite making up 75% of the Australian healthcare workforce women are consistently underrepresented in healthcare leadership. And this is not because we lack capable women! Until now, rectifying this inequity has focused on the problem of gender inequity in leadership, on the barriers to progress, or on strategies to ‘fix’ women. What is lacking, is a focus on evidence-based solutions, and on systems and organisational change to ensure equitable opportunities for advancing to healthcare leadership.

Progress has been too slow. Partnership, research and translation are urgently needed to accelerate progress - doing this will ultimately benefit everyone.

Gender equity in healthcare leadership is a key step towards eliminating healthcare disparities and improving quality of care. We know that it leads to improved and more equitable healthcare outcomes for patients. And we know that it leads to a more empowered workforce, reduced attrition, improved organisational performance, and improved quality of care.