The Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine has been established to ensure that sex and gender are routinely considered in health and medical research, policy, and practice, with a view to improving health outcomes and reducing health inequities for all Australians.

Advancing Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine: understanding, promoting and developing policies for sex and gender sensitive research across health and medicine.

Background

There is a long-standing assumption that medicine, and the research underpinning medical interventions, is gender neutral.

However the important role sex and gender has in risk, detection, treatment and recovery is being uncovered for many major diseases.

Despite this, many research studies do not take sex and gender into account, leading to substantial evidence gaps.

This three-year philanthropically-funded research project is led by the Australian Human Rights Institute at UNSW Sydney and The George Institute for Global Health, and builds on and expands previous and ongoing research in both Australia and globally.

Are you conducting research?

Explore our resources on conducting sex and gender sensitive health and medical research, and collecting gender specific disaggregated data.

Learn more

Are you developing policies?

Access frameworks, implementation and other best practices for developing sex and gender sensitive health policies

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Latest News and Articles

‘Feminist approach’ to cancer could save lives of 800,000 women a year

Health experts are calling for a “feminist approach” to cancer to eliminate inequalities, as research reveals 800,000 women worldwide are dying needlessly every year because they are denied optimal care.

AAMRI insists we take steps to improve sex and gender policy

After the release of the AAMRI Gender Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy in 2021, the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) has been delivering on four key priorities outlined in the Strategy. Today, we make a step towards addressing one of those priorities, inequities in health research, with the release of AAMRI’s Sex and Gender Policy Recommendations for Health and Medical Research.

‘Forever chemical’ exposure linked to higher cancer odds in women

Women exposed to several widely used chemicals appear to face increased odds for ovarian and other types of cancers, including a doubling of odds for melanoma, according to new research funded by the US government.

Tell your story this Women’s Health Week

This Women’s Health Week, the Australian Government is urging women to share their experiences of bias in the health system through the first public consultation of its kind in Australia.

Women more likely to face health costs under Medicare, experts say, raising concerns about ‘gender bias’

Breast cancer left Lisa Evans about $20,000 out of pocket, but the cost of monitoring her health continues. She is among patients and medical professionals who have contacted the ABC about concerns there is a gender bias in women's healthcare costs.

Women’s health experts appointed to tackle ‘medical misogyny’

Members of the new National Women’s Health Advisory Council have been appointed, bringing together diverse expertise to examine the unique challenges that women and girls experience in the health system.

The four priorities for tackling medical misogyny in Australia

The federal government has established a women’s health advisory council to improve outcomes. Here a panel of experts discuss what it should focus on.

New National Women’s Health Advisory Council

National Women's Health Advisory Council to tackle medical misogyny in medicine and health care

Library of Resources

Background Reading

Moving beyond gender identity: the need for contextualization in gender-sensitive medical research

Research Methods

Tool to incorporate the perspective of sex and gender in research content

Background Reading

Sex and gender: modifiers of health, disease, and medicine

Research Methods

Sex & Gender Research Support Service

Policies & Initiatives

Health Portfolio Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis Plus Policy: Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Background Reading

Ensuring health and bodily integrity

Background Reading

Beyond sex and gender difference in funding and reporting of health research

Project Outputs
Research Methods

Conducting sex and gender sensitive research – where should I start?

Research Methods

Integrating Sex and Gender to Improve Human Health Course

Research Methods

Researching intersex populations – Intersex Human Rights Australia

Policies & Initiatives

Breaking the Binary: Teaching Inclusive Conceptions of Sex and Gender in Undergraduate Science

Background Reading

Sex and gender: Redefining anatomical language in healthcare

Background Reading

Gender bias in medicine and medical research is still putting women’s health at risk

Research Methods

Gendered Innovations – Analysis methods

Policies & Initiatives
Research Methods

Standard for Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation Variables

Research Methods

How to study the impact of sex and gender in medical research: a review of resources

Research Methods

Sex and Gender in Systematic Reviews Planning Tool

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

CITE THIS WEBSITE

Sex and Gender in Health and Medical Research Australia Group (2021). Sex and Gender Policies in Health and Medical Research (sexandgenderhealthpolicy.org.au).

AN INITIATIVE OF

Sex and Gender in Health and Medical Research Australia Group (2021). Sex and Gender Policies in Health and Medical Research (sexandgenderhealthpolicy.org.au).