Three generations of strong and inspirational service women stand behind Wing Commander Janine Tillott. Now she is using their lessons and her skills and expertise to bring gender perspectives to military operations into the 21st century.
Growing up in Brisbane and Caloundra, Wing Commander Tillott was surrounded by stories of the women in her family serving Australia.
Her mother, Private Helen Mourney, was one of the first women to serve in the Army Citizen Military Force Transport and her aunt, Corporal Roslyn Grant, was a cook and a clerk in the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps.
Wing Commander Tillott’s heritage also includes two great aunts. Private Sylvia Maslen, who served during World War 2 and was one of few women deployed to the Pacific and Sergeant Doreen Lodge (RAAF), a signaler who excelled in Morse code.
As a child, Wing Commander Tillott was never limited by the idea that her career options might be influenced by her gender.
“I am one of three daughters who have always been encouraged that we can achieve anything and everything we wish. In our family, we were never held back because of our gender,” Wing Commander Tillott said.
“My mother joined Citizen Military Force, working in transport and signals. In addition, she continued to work in her civilian role following her marriage, breaking traditional mindsets and setting the foundation for her daughters.”
‘I am one of three daughters who have always been encouraged that we can achieve anything and everything we wish.’
Wing Commander Tillott is also a wife and a mum of two. Her son is currently in the process of joining the Air Force, inspired by his mum and the long lineage of family members who have served, men and women.
The flexibility of an Air Force career was vital to her being able to continue working and have a family, especially as her daughter, Grace, has been recognised as special needs and needs extra support.
“The ability to work part-time while our children were at school enabled me to be a mum and still remain in Defence,” Wing Commander Tillott said.
“When I started roles that required increased commitment, my husband took a step back from his job to allow my career to progress.
“Matt has taken on the primary-care duties for Grace, and it is through our joint efforts that we have navigated the complexities of being a mum, a boss and a proud Royal Australian Air Force Officer.”
‘The ability to work part-time while our children were at school enabled me to be a mum and still remain in Defence.’
Having joined as a dentist, Wing Commander Tillott now serves as the Command Gender Adviser in Canberra, applying a gender perspective to the complex terrain in which Air Force operates.
With a balanced workforce of 63 per cent female and 37 per cent male, gender advisers pose the question of how men, women, boys, girls, minority groups, the disabled, elderly and others affect and are affected by Air Force operations and activities.
Wing Commander Tillott emphasised the importance of this role to Air Force and the execution of modern operations and activities in the region.
“A gender perspective means considering the impacts, needs, priorities and influence of diverse groups, and acknowledging these may be different, to understand how our mission will affect the total population,” Wing Commander Tillott said.
“This translates into minimising the adverse impacts of our actions on local populations in which we operate in order to set the preconditions for enduring peace and stability in our region.”
