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Gender equity: Networks & support

This page contains information about selected professional networks and support resources related to the topic of gender equity.

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National Women's Alliances

The role of the National Women's Alliances is to:

  1. Bring together women’s organisations and individuals from across Australia to share information, identify issues that affect them, and identify solutions.

  2. Engage actively with the Australian Government on policy issues as part of a better more informed and representative dialogue between women and government.

There are six National Women’s Alliances are networks of issues-based and sector-based women’s groups each with a distinct focus and a strong capacity for networking and advocacy activities.

WebsiteTo find out more visit the NWA website.

UN Global Compact

UN Global Compact aims to mobilise a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders by supporting companies to:

  1. Do business responsibly by aligning their strategies and operations with Ten Principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption; and
  2. Take strategic actions to advance broader societal goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation.

WebsiteThey also have produced a number of resources to support action on gender equity.

Champions of Change Coalition resources

Champions of Change Coalition works with influential leaders to redefine men’s role in taking action on gender inequality. It activates peer groups of influential male leaders, supports them to step up beside women, and drives the adoption of actions across private sector and government.

WebsiteThere are a number of resources on their page about gender equity issues and how to take action.

Doc to Doc Network (Australia)

The Doc to Doc Network's mission is "to support women through the journey from medical school to becoming specialists, in a supportive and interactive environment. By empowering and inspiring female doctors, we hope to help them realise their full potential and ultimately enable them to be a driving force for change."

WebsiteVisit the website to find out more, to join or to follow them on social media and subscribe to their newsletter.

Women in STEMM Australia

Women in STEMM Australia advises and collaborates with many of the organisations and groups listed below to strengthen Australian science by increasing the role women in STEMM have in thought leadership, decision-making and senior positions.

WebsiteThere are also some excellent websites with useful STEMM-related resources to explore, including networks and ways to get involved.

SAGE: Science in Australia Gender Equity

SAGE was launched in 2015 as a response to the Australian Higher Education and Research sectors’ need for a coordinated, national approach to improving gender equity in STEMM.

The SAGE initiative centres on three integral elements, as follows:

a) Piloting and assessing the Athena SWAN accreditation framework in Australia (focus on Bronze Institutional Award) and supporting higher education and public research institutions to engage successfully with the program.

b) Raising awareness of gender equity and diversity issues in STEMM within the research sector and more broadly within the community.

c) Collaborating with like-minded institutions to promote and support initiatives aimed at encouraging women, trans and gender diverse people to participate in STEMM to address systemic barriers to equity.

WebsiteVisit the SAGE website for more information about their actions and initiatives.

Women Victoria

The Women Victoria website has a dedicated Gender Equality page with resources and links to the Victorian Gender Equality Strategy, as well as other resources on topical issues such as closing the gender pay gap.

WebsiteAccess the website here.

Catalyst.org initiatives

Catalyst is a global nonprofit working with some of the world’s most powerful CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that work for women. Founded in 1962, Catalyst drives change with pioneering research, practical tools, and proven solutions to accelerate and advance women into leadership—because progress for women is progress for everyone.​

WebsiteVisit the Catalyst website for more information, and how to get involved.


MARC calls to action men to take action, and strive for gender equality, and is guided by the following principles:

  1. Stand for equality
  2. Continue to learn
  3. Share your stories
  4. Take action today

WebsiteSee more about MARC and its mission here.

Women in Intensive Care Network (WIN)

The Women in Intensive Care Network (WIN) was created with the aim of addressing the gender imbalance in Australasian Intensive Care medicine through advocacy, research and providing networking opportunities for female intensive care doctors. WIN is motivated to improve the representation of women in all aspects of intensive care medicine, including clinical, academic and leadership roles.

WebsiteVisit the website for more information.

Equal Rights Alliance Australia

Equality Rights Alliance (ERA) is Australia’s largest network advocating for women’s equality, women’s leadership and recognition of women’s diversity. They bring together 61 non-government organisations and social enterprises with a focus on the impact of policy or service delivery on women.

WebsiteSee their page forGender Equality in Australia, and review the resources and publications on this website.

Australian Government: Office for Women

The Office for Women works across government to deliver policies and programs to advance gender equality and improve the lives of Australian women.

Its priorities are:

  • Strengthening women’s economic security and prosperity, including women’s workforce participation
  • Improving women's leadership choices
  • Ensuring that women and their children are safe from violence
  • Supporting Australia's international work on gender inequality and women's empowerment.

WebsiteLearn more here.

Workplace Gender Equality Agency

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency is an Australian Government statutory agency created by the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012.

The Agency is responsible for promoting and improving gender equality in Australian workplaces. It works collaboratively with employers, providing advice, practical tools and education to help them improve their gender performance. Staff are workplace gender equality specialists and provide industry-specific advice.

WebsiteAccess the website here.

Women and Leadership Australia

Women and Leadership Australia is the largest gender-focused leadership initiative in Australia, with its focus on developing female leaders and supporting the increased presence of women in business and community leadership roles.

Access the website here.

Franklin Women

TheFranklin Women missionis to empower women to pursue rewarding careers across the health and medical research sector. They do this through events and initiatives that address barriers faced by women in these fields, as well as building a community of supportive and likeminded professionals.

Articles Their blog shares resources, news and stories about women in STEM (Franklin members).

Lean In

We help women achieve their ambitions and work to create an equal world.
Lean In's mission is: "We want a world where people of every gender can pursue their dreams without bias or other barriers holding them back. Where girls grow up to be confident, resilient leaders. Where more women run companies and countries. We are driven by the belief our society and economy would be better if women and girls were valued as equal to men and boys."

Lean In Circles in organisations around the world provide a space where women can come together in small groups across roles and levels to get peer-to-peer mentorship, connect with each other, recognise and combat gender bias and build leadership skills.

PodcastsAlso, have a listen to the Lean In podcast - Tilted.

ANZCA acknowledges the traditional custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past, present, and emerging.

ANZCA acknowledges and respects Māori as the Tangata Whenua of Aotearoa and is committed to upholding the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, fostering the college’s relationship with Māori, supporting Māori fellows and trainees, and striving to improve the health of Māori.