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I have loved February – not just because my kids went back to school (jokes – I really miss them 😊) but also because the team brought to life something that we have been working on for over 10 months now. Our new career development program for early career women – Career YOU!

What makes Career YOU so special is that it puts women at the centre of their career ambitions. I distinctly remember during my first post-doc feeling like I was not in the driver’s seat of my own career; rather, everyone and everything around me seemed to be influencing it. Our hope is this program will provide participants with the time, space and support they need to get clear on not only their unique career goals but also the steps needed to achieve them.

This is part of Franklin Women’s larger vision to provide meaningful support and a sense of community for women across the full life cycle of their careers, dipping in and out as they navigate each unique stage of life and career. Our Mentoring Program has become a credible and impactful initiative designed with mid-career women in mind, and our hope is that Career YOU will be as impactful for women who are at the earlier stages of their career journey. Next…listening to women on their way to or in senior roles to understand what they need. 

In this month’s newsletter, Career YOU facilitator Jo Porter offers some tips on goal setting after our fab webinar earlier this month. You will also find Guddu Kaur’s career profile reflecting on a career in applied epidemiology, as well as a piece on creating connection through online writing groups by research nurse Dr Martina Costello. Sign me up!

Happy reading,

As a woman working in academia, particularly in health and medical research, the pressures can feel overwhelming. Balancing teaching, research and administrative duties – while trying to meet constant demands for publications and grant applications – makes it easy to lose sight of the human connections that keep us grounded. This was especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic, when managing personal and professional life became even more complex. 

In the midst of this, I found solace in an online writing group composed of four women academics from different disciplines. What started as a practical solution to maintain our research outputs during the global crisis became something much more meaningful...

Despite most of us wanting to set and achieve goals, sometimes it can seem like yet another thing we need to do. Here are some practical tips to take the pressure off and help make the process of identifying and achieving your goals a bit easier.

1. Start small and personal... 

Documentaries and docuseries! If you too have a goal of less doomscrolling in 2025, here are some recommendations for your screen time instead:

Till next month, your Newsletter Curator, Amy

Thank you to Sydney Local Health District for investing in Franklin Women and our mission to create a health and medical research ecosystem where women thrive.