Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney was among those highlighting the importance of women’s voices in policy discussions about health at the Parliamentary launch this week of the Women in Public Health (WPH) network.
See more reports here from @WPHau, including founding member Caterina Giorgi’s comments on the unique perspective and skills women bring to public health leadership. Countries led by women had better health outcomes in the first several years of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.
Meanwhile, the coordinators of Women in Public Health, Edwina Pearse and Sarah Jackson, took the reins of Croakey’s rotated X/Twitter account @WePublicHealth last month, to share related news. Their posts are summarised below.
Edwina Pearse and Sarah Jackson write:
We started our own policy and communications consultancy in 2020. One of our top objectives? Elevating the voices of women in public policy discussions, media, government processes, and other public forums.
As women in public health, we reject the notion that we need to emulate men to succeed.
The system needs fixing, not us. Let’s work together to create a more equitable environment. So, y’know, let’s get on that.
With @WPHAu, we will highlight the inequities that exist in public health and demonstrate the value of diverse women’s voices in advancing health.
Let’s dive into some responses from our recent Women in Public Health survey.
First up, our survey received an overwhelming response, with 371 women participating. The top priority areas identified were advocacy for gender equity, supporting women’s career progression, and elevating women’s voices in public health.
We asked why respondents felt WPH was needed. This is what they said: “Despite women being the backbone of the health system, it is still men who make up the majority of leadership positions.”
“Too often men get heard over women, and consequently take or receive credit for the contributions of women. The input and perspective of women needs to be valued and heard equally.”
Sensing a theme? What are your thoughts and experiences on gender equity in public health leadership? How can we better support women in public health?
Introductions
We celebrate the incredible women driving change in public health across Australia. Their leadership and advocacy are vital forces shaping healthier communities.
Let’s meet some of the founding members of WPH and share their work driving positive change across public health domains like health equity, child health, addiction treatment, harm reduction, and more.
Nicole Hewlett, a proud Palawa woman, amplifies First Nations voices through her work on community-led programs reducing alcohol harms. By uplifting Indigenous perspectives, Nicole is paving the way for inclusive and effective public health solutions.
With her work at FARE, Dr Aimee Brownbill is holding the alcohol industry accountable for targeting youth online. Her research exposes these unethical marketing tactics and underscores the need to protect young people’s wellbeing.
The aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods is a major issue, and Dr Alexandra Jones is taking it head-on. Her advocacy for stronger regulations shields children from manipulative junk food advertising that endangers their health and aims to keep the food industry honest.
As CEO of Health Workforce Queensland, Robyn Littlewood, is an innovation trailblazer advancing public health initiatives in Queensland. Robyn’s leadership ensures communities have access to cutting-edge programs and services that improve lives.
The fight against gambling harm has a powerful voice in Carol Bennett who, while CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, led the charge for stronger online gambling regulations to protect communities in Australia.
At Alcohol Change Australia, Hannah Pierce works tirelessly to keep reduction of alcohol harms top of mind for policy makers. In fact, we have it on good authority that she was doing media on the connection between alcohol and cancer at 6am this morning – whilst 35 weeks pregnant!
…and this is the tip of the iceberg. So many of our founders are doing meaningful work everyday.
Supporting women in public health is crucial, as their diverse perspectives and expertise create lasting positive change. By amplifying their voices, we open doors to more equitable, innovative, and impactful solutions for all.
Associate Professor Shalini Arunogiri, Clinical Director at Turning Point and NHMRC Fellow leads ground-breaking research on novel treatments for addiction. With 50-plus publications, she’s a key voice in addiction psychiatry and a mentor to future health leaders.
Holding corporations accountable for their global health impacts is the mission of Professor Sharon Friel. Through her policy research, Sharon ensures industries can no longer shirk responsibility for their practices.
With over 30 years of advocacy, Jane Martin has been called the grand dame of public health in Australia, but no nickname could truly do justice to this powerhouse! At the Food for Health Alliance, she champions policies to create better food environments for all.
Rosemary Stanton is a renowned Australian public health nutritionist. Known for her media appearances and no-nonsense approach to nutrition, Dr. Stanton has authored 33 books and over 3500 articles. She is quite simply a legend of Australian (and international) public health.
More on the survey
Some choice quotes from the research: “There is a major gap between the number of highly talented women and those holding leadership positions. The picture of a health care CEO is still very male dominated.”
Respondents highlighted the need for WPH to increase women’s participation in decision making about issues that affect them, emphasising the importance of women’s perspectives for removing sexism in healthcare, research and policy, and improving women’s health and equity.
“I want to be a part of the change and in years to come be a leader in public health. I think often as women we are criticised more as leaders than our male counterparts and there are still significant inequities which I’m sure Women in Public health will hope to address.”
Respondents highlighted the need for WPH to increase women’s participation in decision making about issues that affect them, emphasising the importance of women’s perspectives for removing sexism in healthcare, research and policy, and improving women’s health and equity.
“Half the population is underserved by health research, face bias accessing services and the majority of the burden of domestic violence. The voices of women are needed to move the conversation and put into practice actions that improve the health and well-being of women.”
Respondents were excited by the opportunity WPH will provide for women to connect.
“Community is important. I think a lot of people are seeking spaces where they can share ideas, be celebrated, and learn.”
“You can’t be what you can’t see. I think it’s a really fabulous opportunity to collaborate, network, and learn from other women working in this space.”
At a launch webinar for WPH, Nicole Hewlett talked about the women in her life, tapping into their power… and doing so unapologetically!
She talked about how women have been told to toe the line historically, to behave in a certain way to achieve success –and how this is a system that enables power imbalances.
Nicole also talked about some abusive workplace behaviours that women have been exposed to that can undermine their confidence and erode their ability to have a lasting impact.
Finishing up, Nicole says we are better together and by using the WPH community we can challenge the systems that create barriers for women in public health. “Our voices will not be minimised.”
Gender equity in public health is essential for driving positive change. The amazing women we’ve highlighted are just a few of the countless female changemakers in Australia working tirelessly to improve community health.
Our recent survey revealed that advocacy for gender equity and diversity in public health leadership is a top priority. We’re listening and taking action to support women’s career progression and representation.
Women hold 70 percent of jobs in global health but only 25 percent of leadership positions. It’s time to elevate women’s voices and expertise at all levels.
Join WPH and collaborate with passionate women working to advance public health in Australia. Together, we can create a healthier, more equitable future.
The MJA: Women in medical leadership: has the COVID‐19 crisis heightened the glass cliff?
More reading
- Health Policy Watch: Protect, Pay and Promote Women Health Workers
- The MJA: The role of medical colleges and member organisations in advancing women in health care leadership
Declaration from Croakey
Dr Melissa Sweet and other Croakey members are part of the network.
See Croakey’s extensive archives on women’s health
