Griffith supports women to access education, succeed at university and achieve their career and leadership goals.
Through application and admission pathways, scholarships, mentoring, leadership development and career opportunities, we help women thrive at every stage of their journey. More than 60% of Griffith's students and staff are women, reflecting our long-standing commitment to participation, inclusion and success.
Whether you're considering university for the first time, returning to study, exploring a career in STEMM, or seeking opportunities for professional growth, Griffith offers support to help you achieve your goals.
Our commitment to gender equity
Gender equity is central to Griffith University's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. We strive to create an environment where women can access opportunities, participate fully in university life and achieve their academic, professional and personal goals.
Our commitment is reflected through university policies which support women through the entire university journey from application, acceptance, entry, and participation, especially in areas where they have traditionally been underrepresented (e.g. STEMM ). Griffith provides women’s access schemes, including mentoring, scholarships and other provisions including development and leadership programs.
Griffith is also committed in encouraging applications by women in subjects where they are underrepresented, through outreach and collaboration. In recognition of our efforts to address gender inequality in disciplines, Griffith was among the first Australian universities to receive an Athena Swan Bronze Institutional Award. We have subsequently received 5 SAGE Cygnet Awards and are submitting our Athena Swan Silver application at the end of September 2026.
Gender Equity Statement Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is committed to providing inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.
Closing the gap – tracking women’s access and graduation rates
Griffith systemically measures and tracks women’s application, acceptance and graduation rates compared to men, to address inequalities, close any gaps and promote and manage initiatives and schemes designed to support entry, retention and graduation.
Women's participation and graduation rates Women's facts and figures
Applications, acceptances and enrolments by gender
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications | Female | 58.4% | 59.8% | 58.2% | 52.2% | 54.6% |
| Male | 41.6% | 40.2% | 41.8% | 47.8% | 43.9% | |
| Acceptances | Female | 62.9% | 63.8% | 62.8% | 62.5% | 62.4% |
| Male | 37.1% | 36.2% | 37.2% | 37.5% | 36.9% | |
| Enrolments | Female | 62.4% | 63.1% | 61.5% | 61.3% | 61.2% |
| Male | 37.6% | 36.9% | 38.5% | 38.7% | 38.1% | |
Qualification completions (graduation rates by gender)
| Female | Male | |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 72.6% | 66.4% |
| 2021 | 71.6% | 63.5% |
| 2022 | 69.8% | 62.3% |
| 2023 | 69.2% | 61.6% |
| 2024 | 64.29% | 57.34% |
Most completed qualifications in the years since 2020 have been awarded to women, at a rate of almost 10% higher than men. However, to ensure women’s graduation rates remain at this level, Griffith has many schemes in place to support women completing degrees including mentoring programs and support services featured below.
Study at Griffith
At Griffith, you'll study in a supportive and inclusive environment recognised for academic excellence, innovation and social impact.
You'll learn from award-winning educators and researchers while joining a diverse community committed to creating opportunities for all students to succeed.
Our alumni include remarkable women who have made significant contributions across the arts, health, science, literature, public service, education and business. Their achievements demonstrate the impact women can make when supported to pursue their ambitions.
Support during your studies
At Griffith, access is only the beginning. We provide a range of services and programs designed to help women succeed throughout their studies.
Our support services help students build confidence, develop academic skills and achieve their study goals.
Support includes:
- Study skills assistance
- Assessment support
- Information technology support
- Peer-assisted study sessions
- Academic learning resources
GUMURRII provides personalised support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from recruitment through to graduation, including tutoring and academic assistance.
If you are experiencing extreme financial difficulty, you may be eligible for financial assistance to help with living expenses and the costs of studying at university.
Financial support for students
We also have practical information to help you with the cost of living and with working while studying to help reduce financial stress.
Emergency support
Cost of living
The cost of living is going up and we know this is putting pressure on students and their finances. We have gathered the supports available at Griffith University all in one place.
These supports cover areas such as finance, food, transport and learning support.
Working while studying
Having a casual or part-time job can help support you financially while studying. You may also gain relevant experience, contacts and opportunities for graduate employment.
Griffith's Careers and Employment Service has a range of helpful information if you're looking for work.
Career Achievers Program
Financial support for professional development, work readiness, placement, internship, or global mobility activities is now available through the Career Achievers Program (for first year students) and the Graduate Accelerator Program (for students after first year).
This program is available to currently enrolled domestic undergraduate students from particular program areas who are either from a low-SES background and/or from a regional or remote area and/or identify as First Nations.
WIL Placement Bursary
The WIL Placement Bursary is designed to address financial hardship and placement poverty by providing targeted financial support to equity students undertaking work-integrated learning.
There is no need to apply: eligible students undertaking placement in a given trimester will receive an offer email.
Griffith recognises that creating an environment where women feel safe, welcome and supported is an important part of student success.
Flexible study options
We understand that study often needs to fit around work, family and other commitments.
Griffith offers flexible study arrangements, including part-time study options, trimester-based learning, deferrals and leave of absence arrangements when needed.
Accessible campuses
We work to minimise barriers to participation across our physical, digital and learning environments.
Our goal is to ensure all students can participate fully in university life and access the support they need to succeed.
Childcare and family support
Many students balance study with parenting and caring responsibilities.
Griffith recognises the important role families and support networks play in student success and provides information and services to assist students managing these commitments while studying.
Safe campuses
Griffith is committed to maintaining safe, inclusive and respectful learning environments.
Every member of our community has a role in fostering a culture where equity, inclusion and wellbeing are valued and promoted.
Wellness and wellbeing support
Griffith's Wellness Centre offers free programs, resources and support to help students maintain their mental health, build resilience and develop healthy habits that support study and everyday life.
A Griffith education can help you develop the knowledge, skills and experience needed to pursue meaningful employment opportunities.
Career support
Our Careers and Employment Service can help you:
- explore career options
- build employability skills
- market yourself to employers
- prepare for graduate employment
- find suitable work while studying.
Work-integrated learning
Work-integrated learning allows you to apply what you've learned in the classroom to real-world settings.
Depending on your degree, opportunities may include placements, internships, industry projects and professional practice experiences that strengthen your skills and build valuable professional networks.
Mentoring programs
Griffith offers over 30 mentoring programs that support women to develop skills for personal and professional growth, identify career goals, expand professional networks, succeed in studies, and receive career advice.
Our mentoring schemes are open to all female students and have a strong track record of impact, with high levels of participation from women across the university. Women at Griffith have access to mentoring opportunities and support programs that encourage participation, improve retention and support successful completion of studies. These programmes provide mutual support for women through demanding courses with an average cohort of 50% or more women in each program.
Mentoring can help you build confidence, expand your networks and develop strategies for success.
Explore our mentoring programs in the drop-downs below or read more about how some of our mentoring programs have supported women's career and education progress:
Networking for success Balancing the Bar for Female Indigenous Lawyers Griffith industry mentor opens door to Dorsett Gold Coast
Mentoring success stories
Read more about how some of our mentoring programs have supported women's career and education progress
Networking for success Griffith industry mentor opens door to Dorsett Gold Coast Balancing the Bar for Female Indigenous Lawyers
Women in STEMM
Griffith takes pride in our Remarkable Women in STEMM programs, outreach and initiatives that improve women’s access to and participation in STEMM fields. Our STEMM programs support career development for women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine.
We recognise the specific equity issues that women encounter in fields and are committed to addressing these issues by promoting and tracking women’s applications and supporting their progress and graduation through a range of initiatives and access schemes, including development programs, mentoring, scholarships, and leadership opportunities.
In December 2018, we were recognised for our commitment to addressing gender inequality in STEMM , by being among the first Australian institutions to receive an Athena SWAN Bronze Institutional Award (2018-2025) and a SAGE Cygnet Award in 2023.
Griffith is committed to improving access, participation and success for women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) . We recognise the unique challenges women may face in these disciplines and actively support and encourage greater participation through mentoring, leadership opportunities, scholarships and outreach initiatives.
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proportion of women receiving degrees | 60.7% | 59.3% | 60.7% | 61.3% | 60.6% | 60.8% |
| Proportion of women receiving degrees: STEM | 34.0% | 31.6% | 33.3% | 35.5% | 34.6% | 36.1% |
| Proportion of women receiving degrees: Health | 71.1% | 73.4% | 73.8% | 72.5% | 71.9% | 74.2% |
| Proportion of women receiving degrees: Arts, Education and Law | 65.3% | 67.2% | 67.6% | 69.6% | 67.6% | 67.7% |
Explore study options in:
Engineering, information technology and aviation
Bring your learning to life working on real projects with industry
Medicine, dentistry and health
Build your healthcare career with hands-on clinical learning in world-class facilities
Architecture, construction and planning
Develop industry connections and gain valuable experience
Science and environment
Learn from award-winning experts in the classroom and get hands-on experience in the field.
At Griffith, we engage in university outreach to encourage women's participation in STEM . We also collaborate with other universities, particularly those in the Innovative Research Universities consortium, schools, community groups, government and Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in regional and national campaigns.
Programs and initiatives include:
STEM Outreach
Griffith Sciences offer a range of outreach activities to expose young people to the wonders of science. This includes interactive workshops, lab experiences, events, bridging and short courses, and programs that are designed to engage and open young minds to further study in STEM.
STEM Early Reader Home Resources
Griffith offers parents a free 24-book learn-to-read series featuring Suzie, a young scientist, and her sister Millie, a mathematician. Together, they introduce science and maths concepts that help children build reading skills while encouraging parents to learn alongside them.
IBG Circle
The Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics (IBG) Circle champions women in science by supporting female researchers. The IBG Circle helps fund scholarships, travel opportunities and essential research resources for female researchers at all stages in their careers.
WiSE, WiE, and LiTES
There are a range of support networks and initiatives for women studying STEM subjects at Griffith, including Women in Stem and Education (WiSE), Ladies in Technology Engineering and Science (LiTES) and Women in Engineering – which provide opportunities for members to connect with other women in similar fields, and offer mentoring programs, school outreach workshops, professional development opportunities, industry engagement, and social events.
Brighter Futures Scholarship
The Brighter Futures Scholarships support undergraduate students facing educational disadvantages, such as financial hardship, disruption, disability, or similar challenges. Scholarships are available for both new and current students, with dedicated options for students registered with Student Disability and Accessibility Support, First Peoples students, and Permanent Residents.
Soapbox Science Brisbane
Each year Griffith University organising Soapbox Science Brisbane as part of National Science Week, a free public science outreach event bringing cutting-edge research out of universities and onto the streets of Brisbane.
As part of the global Soapbox Science movement, the event showcases women and non-binary scientists in a fun, informal, and interactive environment where you can stop, ask questions, and engage directly with researchers about their work. Soapbox Science aims to make science accessible while increasing the visibility of underrepresented genders in STEM.
In 2025, the event featured scientists researching topics ranging from marine conservation and climate change to health, biodiversity, engineering, technology, and the future of our planet. Instead of lectures or PowerPoints, we will engage with you by using props, demonstrations, storytelling and hands-on engagement to spark your curiosity.
Our researchers are working to address barriers to participation and support the next generation of women leaders.
Projects such as Play STEM use innovative approaches to help culturally and linguistically diverse ( CALD ) female students explore careers in STEM and business through immersive and interactive learning experiences.
The first trial of the PlaySTEM: Empowering CALD Female Students through Gamified Career Exploration initiative—funded by a $100,000 grant from the Strengthening Multicultural Queensland program—kicked off in July 2025 at Logan.
Led by Griffith Business School Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing researchers Dr Jiraporn (Nui) Surachartkumtonkun, Dr Carys Chan and Dr Mai Nguyen, alongside School of Engineering and Built Environment's Dr Jennifer-Leigh Campbell, the project aims to reduce access barriers and inspire the next generation of female leaders in STEM and business fields.
The trial brought together Griffith and Mindflight7 to deliver virtual reality workshops, featuring gamified modules that boost STEM engagement and confidence. Insights from these workshops will help refine the program before expanding to more CALD students in South East Queensland.
This initiative exemplifies Griffith Business School’s commitment to equity, community partnership, and preparing future-ready learners.
Work at Griffith
At Griffith University we believe in, strive for and celebrate the remarkable.
We are known for our high impact research, outstanding student experience, our commitment to social justice and our welcoming environment. We're proud of our remarkable achievements, of our people and their passion for making a positive difference. Together we contribute to the development of knowledge and learning in an attractive environment which values excellence, equity, diversity, and innovation.
Explore our jobs page and join our remarkable team with an opportunity on our jobs page.
Contact Griffith Sustainability
Griffith Sustainability Room 2.40, Building N54, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan QLD, 4111