Women in Medical Physics; current status in Australia and New Zealand. Eva Bezak, Liz Claridge- Mackonis, Lynne Graig, Annette Haworth, Tania Kairn, Anna Ralston, Natalka Suchowerska and Roksolana Suchowerska
Outline Australian/New Zealand Women in Medical Physics: Survey: o Demographics o Aspirations, Role models, Challenges o Life Work Balance Conclusions
Women in physics still going backwards AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS (DEC 2014) The findings of a recent survey of 1200 scientists (both men and women) by University of Melbourne researchers Sharon Bell and Lyn Yates show: Australian schoolgirls still prefer life sciences to physical sciences with a 2:1 ratio. At university that worsens to 4:1 The proportion of women in senior science positions is improving at just 1 per cent per annum.
Women in Medical Physics Is the situation any better?
About the survey We invited 205 female members to complete the survey over 2 weeks. The research in line with National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. 4 reminders were sent out, to encourage completion. We received 102 completed surveys. Another 15-16 surveys were started but not completed - however answers have been recorded. We have not reached females that are not College members to be rectified.
Who are we? We are HIGHLY EDUCATED WORKING MOSTLY FULL-TIME MOSTLY IN HOSPITALS Adv Dip / Dip 1% Doctorate 25% Bachelor Degree 8% Grad Dip / Grad Cert 1% Casual 1% Part time 19% Sole Practitioner 2% University 3% NFP Govt Hospital Dept 4% 2% Other 1% Private Company 4% Private Hospital/ Clinic 11% Masters Degree 65% Full time 80% Public Hospital 73% 66+ 1% 56-65 7% YOUNG Up to 25 5% ALL OVER AUSTRALIA WA 7% ACT 1% 46-55 15% VIC 22% NSW 32% 26-35 36% 36-45 36% TAS 2% SA 8% QLD 15% NZ 9% NT 2% Outside AUS/NZ 2%
What do we want to achieve? Advance our field of expertise I aspire to: contribute to knowledge via research (n=107) I aspire to: improve diagnosis & treatment (n=102) We aim to NA Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither agree / disagree Agree Strongly Agree 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Excel in our individual capabilities / qualifications NA Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither agree / disagree Agree Strongly Agree I aspire to become a recognised expert in my field (n=108) Financial return is a big motivating factor of my career aspiration (n=99) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Support from above, support from below Respondents aspire to support members of their profession NA Strongly Disagree Neither agree / disagree Agree Strongly Agree I aspire to: mentor other members of my profession (n=107) I aspire to: train & educate younger members of my profession (n=107) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Female role models were identified as: (n=83) Family member 13% Other 6% Colleague, researcher 35% Teacher at school / university 18% Women with high profile in profession 11% Manager / mentor / TEAP supervisor 17%
Tell us briefly about how your role models have affected you and your career choices Set a good example Help with career pathway Work harder Helped to believe in oneself Provided enthusiasm inspiration An example as a women or as someone with a family Provided a sounding board No answer 30% 26% 21% 14% 14% 11% 8% 10%
Video Positives and Challenges
Why do you enjoy working as a medical physicist? Helping patients Interesting work Working in a team Using science & physics Research opportunities 68% 38% 17% 12% 14% Teaching/ mentoring opportunities Good salary Flexibility Good career Opportunities to travel 10% 8% 8% 3% 3%
What have been the primary challenges of your career? Training certification issues Work/life balance Too much work/not enough staff Poor management Sexist behaviour & attitudes Getting a job Not answered 26% 16% 14% 14% 10% 7% 14%
What are the challenges? I have tailored my professional aspirations to allow social / family / community aspirations (n=102) NA Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither agree / disagree Agree Strongly Agree My personal commitements are preventing career progression (n=89) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
My personal commitments prevent me from pursuing my professional aspirations What are the challenges Disagree / Strongly disagree 11 31 Neither agree / disagree 5 7 Agree / Strongly agree 21 11 Household Household WITH WITHOUT dependents dependents χ 2 (2, n=86) = 11.53, p =.003
If you have children, how has this affected your career? Changed my priorities Parttime work Too little time/ work hours Interfer ed with travel (CPD) Career delay Affected research Discriminated against/lost job/missed promotion No children currently but still seen as a risk or expect issues no answer 17 14 13 10 8 8 4 2 65 31% 25% 24% 18% 15% 15% 7% 3%
Video Improve Life Work Balance
What helps in addressing challenges? Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither agree / disagree Agree Strongly Agree Working out of clinical hours (n=92) Not having to travel interstate (n=89) Working standard office hours (n=97) Wide choice of child care options (n=103) Ability to take annual leave during school holidays (n=100) Ability to work part time (n=105) Working close to home (n=108) Flexible working hours (n=109) Having a supportive manager (n=100) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Conclusions- Women in Medical Physics in Australia and New Zealand Numbers of female medical physicists have increased over the years. This has however not yet been translated to higher numbers of women in leadership roles Female medical physicists are passionate about their work They wish to contribute to treatment, education and R&D Supportive managers are essential to foster women in their careers and achieving life-work balance Some responses suggest ongoing need for changes in attitude, work practice (e.g. more part-time roles, sexism reported but not prevalent) Men are desired to accept more responsibility in family care as well as be given more opportunities for paternity leave.
Greetings to the WC2015 Delegates Video
Thank you Acknowledgements: Survey respondents Roksolana Suchowerska survey design and evaluation. Videos created as part of WIMP initiative for presentation at the WC2015, Toronto by Joerg Lehmann; www.photojl.com and partly supported by a travel grant from ACPSEM.
Losing confidence in science - the women s tale Young women enter science degrees feeling more confident in their abilities than do young men, but after completing a PhD they are less successful at establishing a science research career. These findings come out of a recent survey of 1200 scientists (both men and women) by University of Melbourne researchers Sharon Bell and Lyn Yates.
Slow progress The skew towards men in senior positions and women in junior positions in science research has changed very little over the past 20 years, with the proportion of women at the top increasing by only around one per cent each year. This extremely slow progress suggests we can t simply wait for time to rectify the imbalance. There s no evidence of a pipeline, says Sharon Bell, and this slow progress is also very fragile. Where women used to outnumber men at the lower levels of academia now men dominate these positions too.
Job security Job security is the issue of greatest concern for most women in the science research workforce and career breaks take a greater toll on women s careers. There is some indication, however, that gendersensitive practices by the Australian Research Council in awarding grants are having a positive impact on women s research participation.