Gender Equality Action Plan 2016-19

Secretary's endorsement of the Department's Gender Equality Action Plan.

December 2016—Endorsed

Champion of Senior Women appointed in 2016. Broaden the role of Champion role to include gender equity and rename the role to Champion for Gender Equality.

Release a Departmental Commitment Statement from the Champion, including a business case and benefits for gender equality in the Department.

Secretary endorsement of the Commitment Statement, through the Secretary's update and ENTR news article.

December 2016—Endorsed

March 2017—Formal launch

Raise awareness of ‘White Ribbon’ through promoting ‘White Ribbon Day’ annually. Raise awareness of the Department's Guidelines on Domestic and Family Violence.

November 2016—Event completed

Investigate interest in a ‘women"s’ network, led by senior women from within the Department (and Portfolio).

Establish an Equity Network open to all employees, led by the SES, to support flexible work and rewarding careers.

Access to mentors for women across the Portfolio to support career development, transition and progression.

2017 Calendar Year—In progress

Increase education, and awareness, across the Department on gender equity issues by establishing a Gender Equity Intranet portal.

• Showcase role models and success stories (Department and Portfolio).
• Highlight trends and best practice research.

2017 Calender Year—In progress

Department to:

• Retain our 50% gender ratio;
• Retain our 40/40/20 gender ratio for SES and EL cohorts; and
• Meet the 40/40/20 gender ratio for Portfolio Board membership*.

Targets to be retained through to June 2019

except *June 2017

Building Resilience Program and Leadership Seminar Series for 2017—19 to reflect gender equality in content and representation.

• Identify a key note speaker to celebrate International Women's Day in March 2017

2017 Calendar Year—In progress

Review of employment programs, policies, procedures, systems and practices to mitigate gender bias (recruitment, performance management and learning and development).

Promote the benefits of gender equality across the Department and Portfolio at regular intervals on ENTR, Secretary's Updates and Social Club activities.

Leadership and Middle Management programs to include training on mitigating gender bias.

2017 Calender Year—In progress

Meet WGEA ‘Employer of Choice’ criteria and promote internally and externally.

June 2018

Review of employment programs, policies, procedures, systems and practices to encourage a flexible and supportive workplace (recruitment, performance management and learning and development).

Leadership and Middle Management programs to include training on promoting and supporting flexibility.

Establish a mechanism to keep employees connected to the Department, who may be taking parental leave, maternity leave, study leave and/or other extended period.

2017 Calendar Year—In progress

Report progress of the Gender Equality Action Plan to the Finance Reporting and Performance Meeting bi-annually.

Integrate Gender Equality data into monthly HR reports to Executive Directors and General Managers.

Continually monitor and assess progress of the Gender Equality Action Plan and update as required.

Contribute and report on gender equity data as required. Report results of WGEA diagnostic to APSC.

2017 Calendar Year—In progress

December 2016—completed