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HomeNewsWhy Gender Matters In Demography
Why Gender Matters in Demography

The Honorable MP Alicia Payne opening the symposium

Monday 22 September 2025

The recent Symposium on Population and Gender offered a rich and multifaceted set of insights, demonstrating the importance of placing gender at the centre of population research and policy.

Three key messages were highlighted.

  1. How measurement is done matters. Inclusive census and vital statistics provide the foundation for good policy and for recognising all members of society.
  2. Gender is central to demographic processes. Fertility, mortality, migration, and ageing all carry gendered dimensions that must be acknowledged to achieve fair and effective outcomes.
  3. Context is crucial. Whether examining dementia, First Australians, migration experiences, or fertility decisions, cultural, historical, and social contexts are as important as the numbers themselves.

Organisers thanked the speakers for their contributions and participants for their thoughtful engagement. They stressed that the dialogue initiated at the symposium does not end here. The challenge ahead is to ensure that population research and policy are not only gender-aware, but also culturally responsive and socially just.

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