Gender equity

Improving gender equity in psychiatry

Gender equity in healthcare matters.  

Gender equity matters for our members, for our colleagues, and for our patients, families and communities.

Improving gender equity in psychiatry is one part of ensuring a more diverse, inclusive and representative future for psychiatry.  

Our Statement of Commitment for Gender Equity and Action Plan to improve gender equity in psychiatry has been developed in consultation with members and is an important step towards making real progress.  

Launched in 2023, and spanning five years, this is our first action plan. It is a living document and is a tool to monitor where improvement has been made and where there are areas for further action.     

Thank you to every member that has contributed to this important work. 

2022 RANZCP gender equity data 

The College reports key gender equity data in our Annual Report. The following data was obtained at various times across 2022.  

Highlights  

• Nearly 43 per cent of combined Director of Training/Advanced Training positions were held by women in 2022 (an increase from 34 per cent in 2021). 
• Seven women nominated for the RANZCP Board positions, with 3 elected in 2022 (up from 3 nominated and 3 elected in 2020, the last election held).
• An equal number of men and women held positions on the RANZCP Board in 2022. 
• Women had equal representation as keynote speakers at the 2022 Congress (an increase from 2 out of 6 at the 2021 Congress). 
• Women formed 43 per cent of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry editorial team (up from 24 per cent in 2021). 
• Fifty-nine per cent of members of the Psychiatry Interest Forum (PIF) are women (up from 58 per cent in 2021).   
• Forty per cent of RANZCP Committee Chair roles are held by women (an increase from 37 per cent in 2021) 

Areas for further action 

• There was a gender imbalance in the 2022 Fellowship training program intake, with 55 per cent men, 44 per cent women and 1 per cent non-binary/gender diverse (a change from 44 per cent men, 56 per cent women in 2021). 
• The time taken for women to complete training increased to an average of 6.1 years (up from 5.7 years in 2021). 
• Three out of 9 Australian Branch and New Zealand National Committee Chair roles are held by women (4 in 2021), yet membership on jurisdictional committees is nearly equally balanced in 2022. 
• RANZCP Committee membership balance has remained unchanged with 43 per cent women and 57 per cent men.

Future monitoring and metrics indicators are included in the Action Plan and will be reported on annually.  

The RANZCP is a member of Advancing Women in Healthcare Leadership.