SWiM Promotion Outcome 2023
There is a notable representation of early career academic women, yet fewer in senior leadership positions, particularly at the professorial level. Although there has been some progress with increased promotions of women to Levels D and E in recent years, the pace of change remains slow. The SWiM Mentoring for Promotion Program offers structured support through tailored individual mentoring and workshops to help academic women advance their careers and move into leadership roles, addressing the gender inequity in senior faculty appointments.
The graph below shows Academic Promotions by gender from 2016 to 2023 within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS). What is not accurately reflected in these plots is that there are more academic women in MDHS overall, with an overrepresentation of women at Levels A, B, and C.
Each school within the Faculty was represented within the program, with the Melbourne Medical School (MMS) again (as in all previous years) having the highest participation.
In 2023 the program included mentees predominantly from Research Focussed and Teaching and Research workforce categories. It is important to note these numbers are consistent with the academic workforce representation in MDHS. In 2023, the cohort increased for both Research Focussed and Teaching Specialists compared to previous years.
In 2023, the greatest proportion of academics undertaking the program were mentees applying to Level C (as depicted in Figure 4).
The graph below (Figure 5) demonstrates the percentage of SWiM program participants successfully applying for promotion at levels C, D, and E has increased steadily over the program’s duration. In 2020, Level B academics were not yet included in the program, changing in subsequent years to acknowledge the support needed to ensure a pipeline of progress, and contribute to a broader reach and impact.
Workshops and Events
Throughout 2023, the program featured a program launch, three tailored practical workshops, and a final celebration event. Sessions were predominantly held online, with a hybrid option available for the final workshop, “Courage for Impact,” focused on building confidence and facilitated by Dina Pozzo. Recordings of each workshop were accessible through the Microsoft Teams site. Mentees were also invited to a panel with the 2022 promotion panel Chairs, Professor Jane Gunn (Dean) and Professor Mike McGuckin (Deputy Dean) and representatives from the Academic Promotions, HR Services. They provided valuable insights regarding the academic promotion process, panel expectations, the review process, and strategies for framing the argued case effectively.
Mentee Reflections
The 2023 SWiM mentees had a highly positive experience with the SWiM Mentoring for Promotion program, with all participants who completed the evaluation survey reporting that the program ‘met or exceeded their expectations’. Mentees also highlighted the benefits of connecting with colleagues, being mentored, and gaining support for their promotion applications. They reported high appreciation of the structured mentorship coordination, workshops/information sessions, as well as the sense of community, shared resources, and opportunities to discuss ideas and concerns with peers.
Not knowing many colleagues in the Faculty, I found it really beneficial in having the opportunity to engage with other women and be supported in the process of applying for promotion. The small peer-group was great in having some very supportive encouragement. The mentoring program help with allaying some fears of imposter syndrome, and having someone outside of your academic field provide constructive feedback and encouragement, i.e. a mentor, on one’s application – 2023 Mentee
I really enjoyed everything about the program. Possibly most useful was the mentor arrangement - having guidelines and a structure around it was really helpful. The workshops/info sessions were also really useful. – 2023 Mentee
Certainly created a sense of belonging to a community of women, all aspiring for the goal of promotion. The sharing of resources was excellent, and incredibly helpful.- 2023 Mentee
(I appreciated) discussing ideas and concerns; sense of connection and belonging to others engaged in the ‘promotion cycle’- 2023 Mentee
Mentor Participation
In 2023, a total of 46 mentors registered for the SWiM Mentoring for Academic Promotion Program. To foster an equitable and unbiased mentoring experience, mentors were deliberately paired with mentees from outside their own Schools or Departments.
This strategy aimed to minimise potential conflicts of interest and ensure that mentors could provide impartial guidance free from internal departmental politics. The mentor cohort was notably diverse, comprising many academics who identified as coming from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ community and individuals with varying abilities and experiences.
The frequency of mentor-mentee meetings varied. A survey conducted among the 2023 mentors revealed that 70% of mentors met with their mentees between two to three times during the program, while 30% of mentors reported having four or more meetings with their mentees.
I really enjoyed this. I met with mentee twice, and also spent some time reviewing their application. I probably spent 3-4 hours in total on this and it seems to be useful for the mentee. – 2023 Mentor
I wanted to give to a mentee what was given to me - supporting the next generation. Participating in the program had no negative impact on me – its important to give time when you’ve made a commitment. – 2023 Mentor
I have been a mentor in this program for 3 years. I do not find the time commitment to be too onerous, though it is important to be responsive in a short time frame in order to give mentees the maximum time to implement feedback in their application writing. This is an important activity and my mentees have always been respectful of my time. – 2023 Mentor
When asked about the value of the program, mentors reported:
I think it is important to share knowledge and support the advancement of others. In helping others to achieve promotion I derive satisfaction and feel this is part of my role as an academic leader at level E. – 2023 Mentor
It was nice to be able to use my past experience to help someone to achieve their goals. – 2023 Mentor
It’s nice to support other women, especially teaching specialists in this journey so the relationships that are formed are important and hopefully will exist outside beyond the promotion process. – 2023 Mentor