Women’s progress and challenges in Australia’s digital health workforce
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Despite significant gains in experience and leadership roles, women in Australia’s digital health sector continue to face substantial pay inequity, earning up to $1,500 less per week than their male counterparts, according to a new report.
The “Gender Diversity in Australia’s Digital Health Workforce 2024 Report,” published by Telstra Health and RMIT University, reveals a complex picture of progress and persistent challenges. While more women are building long-term careers in the field, with a 10% increase in those having over 10 years’ experience compared to three years ago, the gender pay gap remains a significant concern.
The study highlights a striking leadership paradox: 34% of women are in management positions compared to 13% of men, yet women consistently report having to prove themselves more in the workplace (55% versus 50% for men).
Professor Kerryn Butler-Henderson, project co-lead, identified a concerning generational divide in the industry. “The more traditional roles that were once paper-focused, such as health librarians and clinical coders, are held by older women, whereas the roles that have emerged over the past two decades, such as informatics, technology, and data science roles, are predominantly held by younger men,” she said.
The findings point to broader systemic issues in Australia’s STEM sector, where women hold only 15% of STEM-qualified jobs and occupy just 25% of senior management positions. Even more concerning, women represent merely 10% of CEO-level positions.
Digital Health CRC Deputy CEO Dr Clare Morgan emphasised the need for broader diversity considerations: “The digital health workforce should be representative of the population it serves. Diversity in age, cultural background, ability, race, religion, and sexual orientation are all just as important as gender.”
The report’s co-author, Dr Salma Arabi, called for specific actions: “We need to mandate formal digital health training, address the barriers to career advancement for women in technical fields, and consider intersectionality.”
AIDH CEO Anja Nikolic acknowledged the progress while highlighting ongoing concerns: “While we celebrate the strides made in increasing women’s representation and experience in digital health, it is unfortunately not surprising to see gender disparity in leadership and remuneration in a female-dominated workforce.”
The study, part of a broader census project involving multiple healthcare and academic institutions, found that over 97% of women believe more change is needed to achieve gender equity. This sentiment reflects the industry’s recognition of the significant work still required to create a truly equitable digital health workforce.
Telstra Health Managing Director Elizabeth Koff said, “It is important to maintain a commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in our workplaces and pave the way for a sustainable sector in which all people have an equal opportunity to improve the healthcare system through technology and digital health innovations.”
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
