In celebrating International Women’s Day today, 8 March, it is a reminder there is still work to be done in addressing equity across healthcare every day.
While we have come a long way, RACMA is committed to continuing to set an example of quality leadership, management, and initiative for the entire Australasian healthcare industry, not only through key leadership roles within the College, but also through partnerships and research such as the Australian Advancing Women in Healthcare Leadership project.
As the College’s fourth female President, Dr Helen Parsons CSC FRACMA says she is proud to lead an organisation whose Board comprises six women out of its 10 Members, and committees have strong female representation.
“It is important we highlight and commend the key contributions, achievements, and ongoing critical role our female leaders play to ensure the highest standards of healthcare across Australasia,” Dr Parsons said.
This year’s International Women’s Day campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity. Equity and equality are inherently different concepts, and the IWD 2023 campaign theme seeks to help forge worldwide conversation about this important issue and its impact. So, what’s the difference between equity and equality – and why is it important to understand, acknowledge and value this?
The IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme seeks to get the world talking about why “equal opportunities are no longer enough” – and can in fact be exclusionary, rather than inclusive.
RACMA Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Advocacy Sub Committee Co-Chair Dr MaryAnne Ferreux said there was still a long way to go to reach equity.
“We still have a long way to go to ensure that women have the same access, opportunities and advancement in medicine,” Dr Ferreux said.
“We are committed to identifying and eliminating the barriers that prevent participation and inclusion.”
While the United Nations (UN) and UN Women are celebrating under the theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality. UN Women have found Women make up only 22 per cent of artificial intelligence workers globally and this year on International Women’s Day are calling on governments, activists and the private sector alike to #poweron to close the gender digital gap and make the digital world safer, more inclusive and more equitable.
“Let’s celebrate women in healthcare leadership, acknowledge our women colleagues, and recognise the unique role RACMA Members can play in unlocking the potential of women Medical Leaders to open the door for empowerment and create a better future in our workplaces and in our everyday lives,” Dr Parsons said. For more information on International Women’s Day visit https://www.internationalwomensday.com/ and https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/in-focus/2023/03/in-focus-international-womens-day