Researching Pay Equity
The Union is teaming up with RMIT to undertake research into pay equity.
The research project will help shed a light on the growing concerns about pay equity in Victoria’s health services. This isn’t just about the growing gap in pay but also to look at what happens to pay equity when women work part-time or casual; and what happens after returning to work from maternity leave or the transition to retirement.
Ethics approval has now been received for the proposed Gender Equity Research being undertaken by RMIT University and Monash University. Funding was locked in last year, but it has taken a long time to finalise the survey instrument and then get ethics approval.
The research aims to produce important empirical data on gender equality between men and women employed in the Victorian public health services in classifications covered by our union including medical scientists, dietitians, physicists, clinical perfusionsists, pharmacists and psychologists. The research is aimed whether there is gender equality in relation to pay and position and what factors contribute to gender equality or inequality. The research methodology will include a survey of everyone employed in these classifications across 10 health services.
Ethical approval for this project applies at the following public health services
- Alfred Health
- Austin Health
- Eastern Health
- Goulburn Valley Health
- Melbourne Health
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute
- Royal Children’s Hospital
- Monash Health
- St Vincent’s Hospital
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Service
There are still a few bureaucratic hurdles to be overcome before the survey can be sent out. The survey is confidential and is to be returned directly to the researchers.
We are expecting that you will receive the survey in the second half of April – and we urge everyone to complete it. It should provide great data and insights; and support the work of the Union in its lobbying and advocacy work.
