Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) School of Nursing and Midwifery has become the first organisation in Western Australia to join Franklin Women, Australia’s only professional community dedicated to supporting the careers of women working across the health and medical research ecosystem.
Executive Dean Professor Karen Strickland says the partnership will allow the School of Nursing and Midwifery to nurture a wider, more diverse network beyond the university and WA.
“This partnership will create opportunities for our team to learn and grow professionally and personally. This will have great benefits to the work being done at ECU and the impact that our team will make within the university,” says Strickland.
“Franklin Women also provides opportunities for my senior leaders of both genders to become mentors and receive mentor training and support.”
The partnership aligns with the School of Nursing and Midwifery’s Silver Cygnet plan, which focuses on supporting the success and growth of female academics from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
“Women with diverse backgrounds are underrepresented in leadership roles in the professions of nursing and midwifery, including in academia. Our Cygnet is focussed on addressing those inequities. Becoming a partner with Franklin Women provides an additional way for us to support all women but specifically our team members from diverse backgrounds.
“To this end, I have supported the membership of all 14 women in my team to become individual members of Franklin Women,” Strickland says.
Franklin Women Founder and Director Dr Melina Georgousakis was proud to welcome ECU School of Nursing and Midwifery.
“This partnership sends a strong message to their staff and students that they recognise the unique professional experiences and needs of women. It also reinforces to our social enterprise that they value our work in creating a health and medical research ecosystem where everyone can thrive.”
Empowering women in STEM
ECU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Regional Futures) and Athena Swan Lead, Professor Cobie Rudd says supporting ECU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery as the first WA organisation to partner with the Franklin Women Mentoring Initiative was an extremely proud moment.
“This initiative is instrumental in empowering women to build strong, lasting professional networks that are crucial for their growth and success,” Rudd says.
“At ECU, our commitment to gender equity in STEMM fields, especially in Nursing and Midwifery, runs deep. We recognise the need to attract, promote, and retain women and gender-diverse individuals, and this initiative is a key step toward that goal.
“Through our involvement in the SAGE Athena Swan program, we’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of breaking down systemic barriers to diversity and inclusion. By investing in the professional development of women at ECU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, we are driving meaningful change across the sector.”
Leadership in equity, diversity and inclusion
ECU is one of only two institutions in the southern hemisphere to be awarded the prestigious Athena Swan Silver Award, administered by Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE).
The highly coveted Award recognises organisational maturity and leadership in gender equity, diversity, and inclusion.
“Achieving the Athena Swan Institutional Silver Award – one of only two in the Southern Hemisphere – reflects our dedication to advancing gender equity,” says Rudd.
“Supporting mentoring and career development opportunities, particularly through partnerships like this one with Franklin Women, is essential for our continued success.
“The School of Nursing and Midwifery has played a pivotal role in this achievement, demonstrating exceptional leadership at every level. As we move forward, it’s crucial that we continue to build on this momentum and stay committed to our vision of an inclusive and equitable future.”
