Is there decreased income for women and marginalised groups with MS?

Dr Julie Campbell

Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania

February 2025

specialisation: Social And Applied Research

focus area: Better treatments

funding type: Incubator

project type: Investigator Led Research

Summary

In Australia, women earn less money than men. This is also likely for gender-diverse groups. Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency has found that women only earn 78 cents on the dollar compared to men in Australia. Over the course of a year, that difference adds up to $26,393.

This is much greater than the estimates produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), because some important factors such as overtime, bonuses and the salaries of part-time and casual workers are not included in the ABS calculations.

Where disability and gender collide, it has been called a double burden of wage discrimination. A study has found that this is the case for women living with MS in Sweden. Dr Julie Campbell (University of Tasmania, Tas) and her research team are interested to see if this is the same in Australia.

This study will be the first in Australia to investigate this phenomenon for people living with MS. Led by Dr Campbell, the study will examine whether women and marginalised groups living with MS, in reality, earn even less than 78 cents on the dollar than men. If this is occurring, Dr Campbell and her team will also look at the reasons why.

The findings from this study will help to raise awareness and provide the evidence needed to help with advocating for wage equality for women and gender-diverse groups living with MS. The findings may also lead the way for people with other complex and chronic neurological conditions in Australia.

lead investigator

co-investigator

total funding

$24,833

start year

2025

duration

1 year

STATUS

Current project

Stages of the research process

Fundamental laboratory Research

Laboratory research that investigates scientific theories behind the possible causes, disease progression, ways to diagnose and better treat MS.

Lab to clinic timeline

10+ years

Translational Research

Research that builds on fundamental scientific research to develop new therapies, medical procedures or diagnostics and advances it closer to the clinic.

Lab to clinic timeline

5+ years

Clinical Studies and Clinical Trials

Clinical research is the culmination of fundamental and translational research turning those research discoveries into treatments and interventions for people with MS.

Lab to clinic timeline

3+ years

Read More

Newsletter subscription

  • Enter your details

Is there decreased income for women and marginalised groups with MS?