What drives us?

Currently the Australian healthcare sector is not supporting its workforce to meet their full potential. Despite making up 75% of the workforce women are only 45% of public hospital board chairs, 39% of private hospital CEOs and 38% of state and federal chief medical or health officers. Women are the majority of the workforce but do not hold an equitable share of healthcare leadership positions.

Without leaders that reflect the diversity of the Australian community the healthcare industry will continue to perpetuate an inequitable health system.

It is clear that in its current state the healthcare industry does not efficiently harness its workforce capability, instead its policies and culture unconsciously foster a “glass ceiling” that fails to equitably support women’s career progression. There is a growing awareness of gender gaps in healthcare leadership, but current approaches are often adhoc, duplicative and of limited effectiveness, with close and consistent attention to gender equality policies unlikely.

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. That is what drives us in our work.

Data updated August 2021

Hear from Jen McLachlan, our Project Manager, on what drives her in this work