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Gender Equity 2022 Report Card
This report card focuses on the achievements made in 2022 against the Gender Equity Strategy 2022–2025. NHMRC continues its work to progress actions in the priority areas and achieve the Strategy’s objectives.
Key actions in 2022
Released the NHMRC Gender Equity Strategy 2022–2025
National consultation on options to reach gender equity in the Investigator Grant scheme and announced new special measures under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984
2022 NHMRC grant program overall for women (CIA):
44%
Applications received
50%
Grants awarded
47%
Funding awarded
16.9%
Funded rate
(13.2% for men)
(13.2% for men)
TRENDS OVER TIME - NHMRC GRANT PROGRAM
Proportion – Women (CIA)
Funded Rate (CIA)
SCHEMES
The funded rate was equal or higher for women than men (CIA) in many schemes. The share of grants awarded to women was less than half for:
- Development Grants (38%)
- Synergy Grants (40%)
- Ideas Grants (42%)
- Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies (42%).
Note: CIA = Chief Investigator A (lead researcher), CTCS = Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies, CRE = Centres of Research Excellence, DEV = Development Grants, Ideas = Ideas Grants, ING = Investigator Grants, Internat. = International Collaborations, PGS = Postgraduate Scholarships, PP = Partnership Projects, SYN = Synergy Grants, TCR = Targeted Calls for Research
The Elizabeth Blackburn Investigator Grant Awards promote and foster the career development of women in the Leadership category across the 4 broad research areas.
Professor Louisa Degenhardt
Public Health
Improving knowledge and interventions to reduce and prevent substance use related harms
Professor Susan Davis AO
Clinical Medicine and Science
Role of testosterone in preventing major morbidity in women
Professor Caroline Homer AO
Health Services
Transforming midwifery in the Asia-Pacific region through research and innovation
CAREER STAGE - YEARS POST-PHD
Number of grants (funded rate)
Note: Funded CIAs with a PhD not complete or awarded are not shown.
ALL CHIEF INVESTIGATORS
47%
CIs on grants
were women
were women
Funded rate
STRUCTUAL PRIORITY FUNDING
In 2022, the awarding of structural priority funding to additional high-quality applications led by women at least equalised the funded rates between men and women (CIA) in several schemes*.
Funded rate
Note *On the advice of Research Committee, structural priority funding was increased from about 8% to 20% of the budget in the Leadership category of the Investigator Grant scheme. ‘Final’ funded rate includes structural priority funding.
Women in Health Science Committee
The Women in Health Science Committee is appointed on a triennial basis and works with NHMRC Council and CEO to provide advice on issues that women researchers face in health and medical research and the barriers to career progression. Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin is the Chair and a member of NHMRC Research Committee for 2021–2024.
Photo right: Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin - Hunter Medical Research Institute
Data notes: Gender identifiers in Sapphire align with the ABS 2020 Standard for Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation Variables. The Standard recommends that reporting categories be aggregated in case of low numbers to avoid disclosure of private information. NHMRC reports gender using the following categories: Woman, Man and Other. The Other category comprises applicants who selected a gender of ‘not stated’, ‘prefer not to answer’, ‘non-binary’ or ‘I use a different name’ if the gender field was not completed. The Other category is not shown in this Report Card due to low numbers.