Vision - Office for Women Government strategies and reaffirms our ... Under each pillar of action are links with the ... supports the South Australian Government’s Economic Priorities

Achieving

Women’s

EqualitySouth Australia’s

Women’s Policy

The South Australian Government acknowledges and respects Aboriginal peoples as the State’s first peoples and nations and recognises Aboriginal peoples as traditional owners and occupants of land and waters in South Australia.

Vision:

Women and girls in South Australia will be able to fully participate in and share the benefits of living in South Australia.

2 | Achieving Women’s Equality

Contents

Three pillars of action 4

Premier’s foreword 5

Minister’s foreword 5

Women in South Australia 6

Vision and Principles for Achieving Women’s Equality 8

Pillar 1: Improving women’s economic status 10

How will we improve women’s economic status? 11

Pillar 2: Increasing women’s leadership and participation 13

How will we increase women’s leadership and participation? 14

Pillar 3: Improving women’s safety and wellbeing 15

How will we improve women’s safety and wellbeing? 16

Measuring progress 18

How will Government achieve the strategic priorities? 19

3

Three pillars of action

Improving women’s economic status

Increasing women’s leadership and participation

Improving women’s safety and wellbeing

These three priority areas reflect the different dimensions of life and recognise that women’s experiences can intersect at multiple points. Positive outcomes in one area can impact on outcomes in other areas - for example, improving the financial security of women can play an important role in increasing the safety of women and reducing their vulnerability to violence and homelessness.

This policy will enable the unique backgrounds, experiences and situations of all women to be considered in the development of strategies that promote gender equality.

Each pillar identifies critical actions already begun by the South Australian Government as well as the actions we will undertake in the short term and importantly, actions that we will develop and implement moving into the future.

To make change happen, everyone needs to be committed. Achieving Women’s Equality endeavours to build strong collaborative partnerships between all levels of government, business and the community across all priority areas for women, acknowledging the critical nature of these partnerships in achieving results.

4 | Achieving Women’s EqualityBACK

Premier’s foreword

The full and free participation of women and girls in all aspects of society is critical to South Australia’s future.

They must be in a position to fulfil their personal potential, to contribute their ideas and energies to the common good, to help our State prosper and seize opportunities, and, of course, to lead.

But they cannot do these things properly in the face of barriers.

This policy, Achieving Women’s Equality, aims to eliminate barriers and to acknowledge the central role women and girls play in our economy and community.

It provides a strategic, integrated framework in which State Government agencies can foster and achieve gender equality – both in their own work and in the partnerships they forge with business and community.

With a strong emphasis on practically improving lives, Achieving Women’s Equality offers direction so that we, together, can advance the interests of women.

The policy focuses on three specific areas for action: improving women’s economic status; increasing women’s leadership and participation; and improving women’s safety and wellbeing.

I urge you to apply this policy to your day-to-day work, and to use it as a valuable framework when exploring, planning and implementing new initiatives.

Minister’s foreword

The South Australian Government has a strong history of supporting and celebrating women. Our current policy, Achieving Women’s Equality, outlines initiatives that will advance the full inclusion of South Australian women in all facets of our community.

Premised on three important pillars of action, Achieving Women’s Equality, will attention the economic needs of women, leadership opportunities and safety. It builds upon existing State Government strategies and reaffirms our quest toward gender equality, a path that our suffragists blazed more than a century ago.

This policy fortifies women’s empowerment as a priority for the South Australian Government. We understand that excellence knows no gender and we will continue our efforts to ensure that women have access to opportunities and resources, exercise their voices in leadership roles and live free of violence.

Hon Jay Weatherill MP Premier of South Australia

Hon Zoe Bettison MP Minister for the Status of Women

5BACK

Women in South Australia

22% of the SA population live with disability, 52% of these are women.

50.5% of SA’s population are women.

22.4% of SA women were born overseas.

South Australians make up 7.1% of the total population of Australia.

As of 1 April 2016 women held:

47.71%of positions on State Government boards and committees.

38.76%of chair positions on State Government boards and committees.

23.8%of ASX 200 board members are women (AICD August 2016 ).

16.2% is the national wage gap between male and female earningsSA’s wage gap is 11% (second lowest in Australia) (August 2016).


At June 2015 the median age for women in SA was 41.1 years of age.

As of August 2016:

380,300women were employed in SA, equating to 47.1% of the labour force.

56.7%of women in SA were participating in the workforce.

As of August 2016 women account for:

67.8%of part-time workers in SA.

35.7%of full-time workers in SA.

81.1% of all single (or lone) parents in SA are women.

57.4% of SA women aged 15-74 years have a non-school qualification.

The three main fields of study for SA women in the 2011 census were:

19.8% management and commerce

17.7% health

15.5% society and culture

Education

1.9% of the total female population in SA are Aboriginal women.

7

Women generally reach retirement age with 36 per cent less superannuation than men. 39 per cent of women reach retirement age with no superannuation, compared with 8.4 per cent of men.

BACK

Vision and Principles for Achieving Women’s Equality

Vision

Women and girls in South Australia will be able to fully participate in and share the benefits of living in South Australia.

Principles • All individuals, women or men, are equally

entitled to participate in and benefit from living in South Australia.

• Equality, diversity and social inclusion are valued by all South Australians.

• Vulnerable groups of women need targeted support to access services and participate fully in our community.

• Strong partnerships with non-government organisations, business and community are critical to achieve gender equality.

• Measuring and reporting on progress is fundamental to achieving gender equality.

There are many challenges still facing women in today’s society including an increasing gender pay gap, increasing financial vulnerability (particularly for older women), low numbers of women in leadership and continuing unacceptable levels of violence against women.

It is time to renew the focus and commitment of government, business and community on actions that will make real change and ensure everyone − men, women and children − can flourish and live free of violence.

Genuine collaboration between all levels of government, business and the community is critical to achieving positive change for women. Gains already made towards the improved safety and wellbeing of women demonstrate the strength of collaborative partnerships and have led to integrated responses. Achieving Women’s Equality endeavours to build strong collaborative partnerships across all priority areas for women.

Achieving Women’s Equality identifies what the South Australian Government believes are the critical action areas to achieve our vision that all South Australian women and girls will be able to fully participate in and share the benefits of living in South Australia.

Populations of focus across the policyWomen face many deterrents preventing their full participation in the workforce and in the community. These include gender stereotyping, lack of role models, family obligations and expectations and violence and abuse in the home and workplace. These barriers deprive women and girls of opportunities and the chance to achieve their full potential.

For some women cultural differences, poverty, language barriers, lower education levels, physical distance from neighbours and towns, living with a disability, gender identity, sexuality and age can also be barriers to their full participation. Some women experience varying configurations of these barriers in different degrees of intensity.

This policy will enable the unique backgrounds, experiences and situations of all women to be considered in the development of strategies that promote gender equality and increase resilience.


Equality is an issue for men to engage withMen’s action on progress towards equality is critical to ensure a fair and equitable society for all. Bringing men into the conversation on gender equality takes a step toward breaking down the expectations of both genders.

“Gender equality isn’t just a women’s issue. It is an issue for all. It is a rights issue because women’s rights are human rights.”- Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)

Policy imperativeThe South Australian Government is committed to achieving women’s equal participation in all aspects of life.

Working towards women’s equality contributes to the broader Government priority of building a prosperous and resilient community − a priority that is reflected in the development of this policy.

Under each pillar of action are links with the Economic Priorities for South Australia. This highlights the importance of gender equality in successfully building an economy and community that values and benefits everyone.

9BACK

Improving women’s

economic status

Strategic priorities• Increase the number of women

participating in employment, education or training, particularly in non-traditional areas such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

• Improve the financial planning and literacy skills of women.

• Promote gender pay equity.

• Increase access to flexible work options for all workers especially women.

• All women, including vulnerable groups of women, have economic security, enabling them to plan for the future and exercise choice and control over their lives.

PILLAR 1

Ensuring women achieve economic independence requires strategies across their lifespan. These strategies must:

• ensure girls and young women have access to a good education and are supported to take up subjects in science and mathematics as well as those traditionally considered ‘female subjects’ such as the arts

• ensure women can take up secure, safe and well paid employment with access to entitlements such as flexible leave

• address the impact of women’s lower participation in employment that results in women being more likely to have a combination of low savings, reduced levels of home ownership and minimal, if any, superannuation.

South Australia has an opportunity to create innovative strategies that:

• support girls and young women to take up educational pathways in non-traditional areas such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)

• utilise flexible work options to meet the changing demands of the labour market

• recognise and engage women as a critical resource for businesses.


Improving women’s economic status supports the South Australian Government’s Economic Priorities

• South Australia − the best place to do business.

• Growth through innovation.

• The Knowledge State − attracting a diverse student body and commercialising research.

• Unlocking the full potential of South Australia’s resources, energy and renewable assets.

• Adelaide, the heart of the vibrant state.

How will we improve

women’s economic status?

Achievements and ongoing workThe South Australian Government has already implemented and continues to support a number of initiatives to improve women’s economic status including:

• implementing Disability Access and Inclusion Plans in all South Australian Government Departments to identify and address barriers to access and inclusion and developing strategies that meet the participation and service needs of people with disability

• encouraging and promoting the use of flexible work options such as those highlighted in the Flexible Workplace Futures project

• showcasing flexible work success stories

• providing information and advice on issues of economic independence to women and referring them to supports available to help make informed decisions

• facilitating women’s access to information and networks so they can make informed choices

• providing subsidised training places to raise skill levels and address skill demands.

The South Australian Government will continue to improve women’s economic status through further initiatives which will include:

Short term• establishing scholarship support for

women in STEM

• establishing online networks for Indian and South Australian business women

• encouraging women to access training and pathways for employment in high demand non-traditional female industries, such as mining and IT

South Australia’s wage gap is 11% (second lowest in Australia).

Around one in every two South Australian women living with disability participates in the workforce.

Women’s superannuation balances are around half those of men.

As of August 2016, 1 in 4 women in SA employed part time would prefer to work more hours.

16.2% is the national wagegap between male and female earnings (August 2016).

11BACK

• showcasing and increasing the profile of women’s contribution to non-traditional roles and fostering the participation of women across diverse industries

• recognising the significant roles women play in South Australian agribusiness and developing an action plan to promote opportunities, grow capabilities and break down barriers

• developing a program to enable women affected by domestic and family violence to engage in education and move towards engagement, participation and financial security.

Long term• identifying strategies to mitigate the

disadvantage facing older women with limited superannuation and reducing their vulnerability to homelessness

• developing a women’s economic independence strategy that includes a focus on economic empowerment and non-traditional employment

• continuing scholarship support for women in STEM

• undertaking research into the specific causes of the gender pay gap in South Australia

• encouraging business to undertake gender pay audits and implement strategies to reduce the gender pay gap

• raising awareness of the gender superannuation gap

• updating local resources to provide assistance to women and men returning to work after parental leave.

47.71%At 1 April 2016, South Australia had the highest number of women members of Government boards in Australia at 47.71% of membership.

382In 2014 a record 382 women (28.64% of candidates) nominated for election in the South Australian local government elections.

12 | Achieving Women’s Equality

BACK

Increasing women’s leadership and participation

Strategic priorities• Improve the profile of women as

leaders across government, business and community.

• Increase the number of women represented on Government boards and committees.

• Encourage all South Australian workplaces to improve gender diversity in their workforce at all levels.

• All women, including vulnerable groups of women, are encouraged to participate in decision making that impacts their lives.

South Australia has always been a progressive State and was the first colony in Australia and the first place in the world to grant women both the right to vote and stand for election to Parliament. Building on this strong history, the South Australian Government is committed to enabling women to reach their full potential as leaders in every field, in our community, in our public service, on our boards and in our Parliament.

It is equally important to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our women leaders across all areas of our community.

Improving women’s leadership and participation supports the South Australian Government’s Economic Priorities



• The Knowledge State − attracting a diverse student body and commercialising research.

• Unlocking the full potential of South Australia’s resources, energy and renewable assets.

• Premium food and wine produced in our clean environment and exported to the world.

• A globally recognised leader in health research, ageing and related services and products.


PILLAR 2

13

BACK

How will we increase

women’s leadership

and participation?

Achievements and ongoing workThe South Australian Government has already implemented and continues to support a number of initiatives to increase women’s leadership and participation including:

• supporting and encouraging women to pursue leadership positions

• development and promotion of the Premier’s Women’s Directory as an online resource of women who are seeking appointment to boards and committees

• ensuring a women’s perspective is considered in relevant State Government policies by seeking advice from the Office for Women where appropriate

• raising the profile of outstanding women by providing awards and honours to women and/or to organisations that support the full participation of women including the South Australian Women’s Honour Roll, Women Hold Up Half the Sky Award, Gladys Elphick Awards, Augusta Zadow Award, RIRDC Rural Women’s Award and the Excellence in Leadership – Women in Resources Award (part of the Premier’s Community Excellence Awards in Mining and Energy)

• providing professional development programs for women aimed at empowerment.

The South Australian Government will continue to increase women’s leadership and participation through further initiatives which will include:

Short term• developing an action plan for inclusive

leadership within the state public sector with a focus on increasing women’s participation in executive roles and on boards and committees

• recognising the significant role women play in South Australian agribusiness and developing an action plan to promote opportunities, grow capabilities and break down barriers

• continuing to proactively increase the number of women appointed as members and chairs to State Government boards and committees.

Long term• working with the corporate sector to increase

the percentage of women on ASX boards

• encouraging all South Australian workplaces to improve gender diversity in their workforce at all levels

• partnering with industry organisations to broaden opportunities for aspiring women leaders

• working in partnership with the Premier’s Council for Women and other partners to hold events for women seeking board positions and boards seeking women members

• improving the transparency of the advertisement of State Government board positions including advertising through the Premier’s Women’s Directory

• continuing to work with local government to increase the number of women in the local government workforce, in leadership roles and as elected members of Councils

• continuing to support the skill development of women so that they are able to undertake board and executive positions

• developing and rolling out education programs focused on inclusive leadership, challenging stereotypes and unconscious bias

• increasing women’s leadership and participation in sport and active recreation.


Improving women’s

safety and wellbeing

Strategic priorities• Reduce violence against women and their

children, and hold perpetrators accountable.

• Increase community awareness that violence against women is not acceptable by working with business and community partners to implement strategies to prevent violence against women.

• Improve women’s access to and knowledge about safety and justice.

• Ensure women, especially vulnerable women, can access appropriate health care through every life stage.

• Improve young women’s body image.

• All women, including vulnerable groups of women, are able to access and participate in all aspects of our society including having their rights promoted, upheld and protected.

Women experience violence in public places, at work and at home. As part of our commitment to a safer community, the South Australian Government has implemented a strategic and comprehensive approach to violence against women, to make the best use of resources and to guide our future action. Good health and wellbeing are also vital to ensure women live productive lives and can fully participate in their communities.

PILLAR 315

BACK

Women are the majority of health consumers and carers, therefore improving the health of women improves the health of the whole community. Preventative measures and education are key to improving women’s health and wellbeing as well as ensuring that health service provision is inclusive of women’s needs.

Improving women’s safety and wellbeing supports the South Australian Government’s Economic Priorities



• A globally recognised leader in health research, ageing and related services and products.


How will we improve

women’s safety

and wellbeing?

Achievements and ongoing workThe South Australian Government has already implemented and continues to support a number of initiatives which aim to improve women’s safety and wellbeing including:

• implementing the Disability Justice Plan to improve access to the justice system for people with disability and adopting principles in the Plan which include equality between men and women

• ensuring a gendered perspective on the development of sound evidence-based policies, programs and services that better meet the health care needs of women and men

• developing a concerted, multi-faceted strategy to improve Aboriginal health, especially Aboriginal women’s health

• addressing violence against women through:

> A Right to Safety: the next phase of South Australia’s Women’s Safety Strategy 2011−2022. This strategy includes a number of initiatives such as: the Family Safety Framework which has established 19 locally based Family Safety Meetings to support those most at risk of domestic violence; establishing a position within the Coroner’s Office to research and investigate domestic violence related deaths; and establishing 15 violence against women collaborations to support local efforts to prevent violence against women through challenging attitudes and social norms.

35,300The 2012 ABS Personal Safety Survey found that around 35,300 South Australian women had experienced physical or sexual violence in the previous 12 months.

In 2014 –15, 36% of all people requesting assistance from specialist homelessness agencies were escaping domestic or family violence. The majority (92%) of these clients were women aged 15 and over (64%) and children (28%).


> Establishing the Multi Agency Protection Service (MAPS) for gathering and sharing information that results in multi−agency action planning to reduce risk and harm at earlier points of intervention.

> Implementing Taking A Stand, the Premier’s response to the Coroner’s findings into the death of Zahra Abrahimzadeh.

> Providing strong leadership and support for the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children.

The South Australian Government will continue to improve women’s safety and wellbeing through further initiatives which will include:

Short term• introducing amendments to the Intervention

Orders (Prevention of Abuse) Act 2009 that strengthen penalties and administration of intervention orders to better protect victims of domestic violence

• continuing to provide high quality programs such as Breastscreen SA and the South Australian Cervix Screening program

• supporting the National Disability Insurance Scheme

• delivering a body image campaign ‘Building Self-Esteem in Young Women’

• ensuring all South Australian government departments will become White Ribbon Accredited Workplaces

• engaging men and promoting the role of men have in achieving gender equality - particularly as a primary prevention strategy to address violence against women

• introducing amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA) to provide support for victims of domestic violence.

Long term• ensuring the needs of women escaping

domestic and family violence are recognised when they access homelessness service providers for support

• providing support to the National Disability Insurance Scheme

• the criminalisation of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as a form of violence against women through section 26 of the Children’s Protection Act 1993 as it is under section 33A of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935

• developing a ‘perpetrator pays’ system for perpetrators of domestic violence attending court ordered rehabilitation programs to further hold domestic violence perpetrators accountable for their actions

• providing annual funding to Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS) by the South Australian Government

• maintaining South Australia’s membership of national prevention of violence against women and children organisation OurWatch as of August 2014.

2012 ABS Personal Safety Survey shows that since the age of 15:

1 in 6 Australian women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner.

1 in 5 Australian women have experienced sexual violence.

1 in 4 Australian women have experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner.

1 in 3 Australian women have experienced physical violence.

17BACK

“When data is disaggregated by sex, it can provide a more accurate picture of women’s economic contributions to society, and make visible their unpaid labour in the family and in the informal sector.”

- Data for Development, United Nations Population Fund


Measuring progress

The Office for Women will publish a biennial report that will detail progress on initiatives under Achieving Women’s Equality and present relevant data to track changes over time.

The Office for Women will also collect gender disaggregated data from State Government departments and external sources such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics to enhance data on women and girls in South Australia.

“It is important to break down reporting data by gender wherever possible, so that we know where tailored strategies and responses might be needed.”- www.saplan.org.au

How will Government achieve

the strategic priorities?

The South Australian Government will take a whole of government approach to embed the pillars of action across the community. This will involve:

• creating and maintaining strategic partnerships with stakeholders

• continuing to engage genuinely with women in South Australia

• evaluating and improving as we go.

Further Information

For further information about Achieving Women’s Equality, and references for statistics in this document, refer to extensive policy information and additional reports at www.officeforwomen.sa.gov.au

19BACK

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www.officeforwomen.sa.gov.au December 2016 | Publication number: DCSI-911

Documents

Vision - Office for Women Government strategies and reaffirms our ... Under each pillar of action are links with the ... supports the South Australian Government’s Economic Priorities