The Victorian Government is improving gender equality in the workplace through a new Australian-first pilot program.
Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney and Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams last week met with students and project partners to hear about the program’s success.
The Victorian Government funded the Gender Equity Training Project in direct response to findings from the Royal Commission into Family Violence, which identified a lack of formal training in gender equity across many sectors and industries. The course is the first of its kind in Australia.
The pilot is aimed at new and existing professionals working in community-based organisations and is designed to equip participants with gender equity knowledge and skills to drive change at an organisational level, as well as though interactions with colleagues, partners and clients.
More than 40 students have already completed the course and 130 students have undertaken Gender Equity microcredentials to build their capacity to identify and address gender equality issues in the workplace.
The project is led by Women’s Health Victoria and includes a range of partners, including Adult Community Education Victoria, Knox City Council, RMIT University, Monash University, Coonara Community House, Yarrawonga Neighbourhood House and Women with Disabilities Victoria.
In an Australian-first, Victoria’s Gender Equality Act came into effect in February. The legislation applies to public sector workplaces and will help close the gender pay gap, improve gender equality at all levels of the workforce and reduce workplace sexual harassment.
As stated by Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney
“These resources will enable training providers to build the capability of employees to address gender inequality within workplace systems, structures and practices, and create a more equal Victoria.”
As stated by Minister for Prevention of Family Violence and Women Gabrielle Williams
“We can no longer be satisfied with gender inequality as the status quo – this Australian-first initiative is just one way we’re tackling that here in Victoria and ensuring women get a fair go both at home and at work.”
As stated by the CEO Women’s Health Victoria Dianne Hill
“For the first time gender equity is being brought to Victorians through high quality training that has been developed in partnership with the vocational education and training sector and gender equality specialists, to help create safe and equal workplaces for all Victorians.”
