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.
$24,833
2025
1 year
Current project