The Science in Australia Gender Equity initiative reports six independent medical research institutes are participating in its pilot evaluation and accreditation framework of improvement in gender equity policies and practises. The association of Australian medical research institutes has 47 members.

This may not surprise people who remembers the reported response of MRIs to a National Health and Medical Research Council survey on womens’ research careers back in 2014. There were what the NHMRC considered inadequate answers in institute responses, when they responded at all.

“This is quite simply, unacceptable. While we understand that some institutions may have misunderstood the significance of the request and may not have responded with all available information, we also received some unfortunate responses – one institution for example said that they were ‘too small’ to have a gender equity policy,” NHMRC Research Grants Director Saraid Billiards said (Campus Morning Mail July 15 2014). 

The MRIs participating in SAGE are, Baker IDI, Burnet Institute, George Institute, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Telethon Kids Institute, Walter and Eliza Hall.