Gender Inclusion,

Diversity & Equity (GIDE)

The College of Medicine and Public Health (CMPH) is committed to advancing gender inclusion, diversity and equity (GIDE) and providing a safe, collegial and fair environment for all.

We embed GIDE considerations in all activities and proactively address barriers to equity and inclusion for staff and students and within research and development that it supports.

The GIDE strategy outlines how the College and the CMPH GIDE committee are working to achieve this important goal.

Strategy

We acknowledge that barriers to GIDE are not always experienced singularly, and the CMPH GIDE strategy¹ seeks to take an intersectional approach. We note the particular considerations that are important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and will liaise closely with the CMPH Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Committee to support their work. The term ‘diverse staff’ is used throughout the strategy to encompass staff from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQA+ staff and staff with disability – as well as acknowledging the relevance of this strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.

Some of the activities required to advance GIDE in the College need to be undertaken at a central university level. CMPH will liaise with key Flinders University personnel and committees across the university to support these activities.

_{[1] This strategy document has been developed by the CMPH GIDE Committee, with reference to the Athena SWAN charter, identified Flinders University priorities as well as documents from organisations such as the Workplace Gender Equity Agency, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetics, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australian Government Department of Social Services, and SA Health.}

Key strategies to achieve vision

1. Diverse and representative workforce

Ensure career advancement for women and diverse staff
- Provide leadership, mentoring and career advancement opportunities to women and diverse staff
- All committee, speaking and assessment panels to have 40:40:20² gender membership and attention paid to other diverse characteristics of members.
Ensure equitable procedures for appointment, remuneration, promotion and assessment processes
Celebrate achievements of women and diverse staff in CMPH events, publications and college awards
Recognise the contributions of women and diverse staff to GIDE
Encourage male and other ‘champions of change’

_[2] _{40% men, 40% women and 20% open}

2. Inclusive and equitable culture

Support the Flinders University Reconciliation Action Plan recommendations
Proactively and explicitly address racial, gender and other forms of discrimination
Implement initiatives and educative processes to cultivate awareness of gender inclusion, diversity and equity principles
Celebrate important events and occasions for women and diverse staff (e.g. International Women’s Day, NAIDOC week, Harmony Day, Pride month, International Day of People with Disability)

3. Flexible and empowering workplace

Implement and support family-friendly work practices
- including CMPH meetings to occur in family friendly hours (9.30am-3pm), some networking initiatives hosted within business hours, and school holiday periods are avoided for key CMPH events, professional development opportunities and grant schemes.
Promote uptake of parental leave by all genders
Remove barriers to flexible working arrangements
Ensure ‘relative-to opportunity’³ considerations for all employee appointment, performance appraisal, promotion and grant scheme processes
Provide supportive working arrangements and environments for staff with disabilities

_{[3] Relative to opportunity considerations may include caring responsibilities, cultural responsibilities, ill health, disability, and extended periods of leave.}

4. Strategic and accountable leadership

CMPH leadership and managers are accountable to advancing GIDE within the college, FUSA and beyond
GIDE indicators inform strategic decision making and outcomes are reported regularly to staff
Commitment to and investment in GIDE is unaffected by business and other challenges

5. Evaluation and monitoring

GIDE indicators are tracked, gaps identified and progress reported at least bi-annually

Vision for GIDE for the CMPH

GIDE Committee

The Gender Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (GIDE) Committee was established to inform, lead and implement a range of strategic priorities for CMPH at Flinders University to provide a safe, collegial and fair environment that is characterised by equity, respect and inclusivity.

The committee has developed a GIDE strategy for the College to frame this work and seeks to work alongside and in support of the Reconciliation Action Plan and other key strategies and priorities.

Key functions of the committee are to:

Oversee the development and implementation of CMPH GIDE priorities and action plans
Monitor CMPH performance on GIDE measures and recommend priority targets for improvement.
Identify and prioritise new initiatives to improve GIDE across CMPH and Flinders University.
Consider matters put forward relating to policies, practices and initiatives relevant to staff and student GIDE.
Consider and report on matters referred to it from by the VPED, Dean People & Resources
Consider and report on matters referred to it from by the CMPH Executive

The committee has established a number of working groups to progress its work. This currently includes:

Promotions and Leadership
Metrics and Evaluation
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Staff
Professional staff
Relative to opportunity considerations
LGBTQIA+ staff

The committee has undertaken a range of activities over recent years including implementing a promotion support scheme for women and diverse staff, developing Relative to Opportunity promotions and grant assessment guidelines, celebrating important events (e.g. International Women’s Day, Pride in STEM), contributing to the CMPH anti-racism strategy, and providing input to other committees and CMPH Executive.

Engage with us

Through FHMRI, we will welcome new partnerships and collaborations, enhance our existing relationships, and work with health practitioners and patients to better understand and offer solutions for Australian and global health needs.

For more information, please contact CMPH GIDE Committee Co-chairs:

Professor Anna Ziersch

Email

Professor Kim Hemsley

Email

Pride Network

An initiative designed to enhance university culture by creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment for members of the Flinders community who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQA+)

Pride Network