GIWL ANU wins grant to boost gender equality in the Victorian public sector

We are delighted to announce that we are the recipients of the 2024 Targets Pilot research funding grant from The Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector.

After a competitive selection process, our research team – headed by GIWL Director Professor Michelle Ryan – was awarded the grant from the Victorian government. The project will investigate what drives progress towards gender equality targets in the public sector.

Building on targets from Our Equal State: Victoria's gender equality strategy and action plan 2023-2027, the project aims to:

• halve the gender pay gap in the Victorian public sector within 5 years
• reach gender equality in senior leadership positions in each portfolio within 5 years
• double the number of men taking paid parental leave in the Victorian public sector.

The team will use a mixed-methods research approach and embed intersectionality across all project stages. Their final report will provide recommendations to help organisations achieve gender equality targets.

The research team includes:

• Professor Michelle Ryan, Director of The Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at the Australian National University (GIWL ANU)
• Dr Gosia Mikolajczak, Research Fellow at GIWL ANU
• Dr Elise Stephenson, Deputy Director at GIWL ANU
• Dr Alexandra Fisher, Research Fellow at GIWL ANU
• Prof Victor Sojo Monzon, The University of Melbourne
• Dr Miriam Glennie, The University of Tasmania

We look forward to working with the Commission on this important project to support public sector organisations to achieve intersectional gender equality, reduce pay disparity and boost women’s leadership.

You can learn more about the Commission and their mission here.