Submission to NHMRC consultation on options to reach gender equity in the investigator grants scheme

The submission notes that the core issue is there is not enough funding for the number of fundable project proposals. Changing grant allocation methods does not change this, however, this can result in more equitable outcomes. The ATSE submission also engages with the issue of the deficit of senior women researchers and the need to address systemic factors that lead to women’s reduced participation and advancement in research careers. 

Of the three models presented by the NHMRC, Option 3 is the most preferred, with a modification to a 40:40:20 framework (at least 40% male, 40% female, 20% unspecified) at each level. This would provide a small amount of elasticity for either male or female grant outcomes at each level to be between 40 – 60% in any given year. This would allow for inclusion of non-binary and gender diverse researchers within the 20% of unspecified grants. 

ATSE’s submission also recommends using alternative mechanisms for increasing gender equity, including, rewarding institutional credentials for gender equity and requiring institutions to equalise their applicant gender split (within the 40:40:20 framework).