Strategies to increase the representation of women on the academic staff of the Faculty of Medicine at Monash University

This study used focus groups to develop strategies to increase the represen tation of women in the senior levels of academia in the Medical Faculty at Monash University. The aims of the study were to: raise awareness of a wide group of Faculty members on issues associated with equal opportunity; achi eve greater involvement in implementation of equal opportunity strategies; and to obtain a broad base of opinions and ideas from which to develop stra tegies that would increase the representation of women on the academic staf f of the Faculty. The focus group method of data gathering resulted in 'fac ulty ownership' of affirmative action and an implementation plan that has h igh priority and incorporates a number of people committed to achieving the target outcomes.