WHISE has worked with a variety of partners and stakeholders in the last 12 months to not just raise awareness about the significance of gender equality, but also to empower and provide them with the tools necessary to implement gender equality in the various settings people live, work and participate in.
While an awareness about the importance of implementing gender equality in our communities is vital, it is equally important for communities to be given the tools to be able to implement gender equality in the many settings where gender inequality still exists.
In empowering our partners, communities and stakeholders with these tools, we can significantly shift and challenge many of the norms and views about gender roles and stereotypes.
Applying a Gender Lens to Where We Live, Work and Play
The WHISE approach to supporting the implementation of the Gender Equality Act 2020
A key part of the work that WHISE in 2021/2022 was to increase knowledge and capability within organisations of the value and role of the Gender Equality Act 2020.
In collaboration with other members of the Action for Gender Equality Partnership (AGEP) WHISE undertook a range of projects in the financial year to help organisations implement the requirements of the Act. Our work across the year was driven by the keen appreciation of the transformational nature of the Gender Equality Act, and the opportunities it provided to lift the position, focus and energy of work to create a gender equal Victoria.
The bulk of the work in the year was supporting the development and delivery of Gender Equality Action Plans (GEAPs). This typically comprised of the WHISE team taking seven indicators.
Based on this report, the WHISE team then worked in partnership with the organisation, to design and implement a consultation process in keeping with the Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector’s guidelines, that was authentic, transparent and enabled a platform for learning and understanding about what the importance and value of gender equality was.
The production of the Gender Equality Action Plans and support to implement Gender Impact Assessments, was in keeping with both the needs of the organisation and the requirements of the Act. The employee consultations also provided an opportunity for WHISE to challenge negative attitudes and behaviours and promote gender equality across a total workforce of 1,815+ people across the organisations listed below.
Key to success was ensuring that the requirements of the Act were not viewed as a compliance exercise but rather, as an opportunity for all staff and stakeholders to learn more about their organisation and, how it could be a better place to work. To achieve this, WHISE deliberately adopted an approach to build the capacity and capability of organisations, using values-based messages and methodology.
- Glen Eira City Council
- Bayside City Council
- Australian Grand Prix Corporation
- South East Water
- Puffing Billy Railway
- Melbourne Recital Centre
- Visit Victoria
- VicPol
- Department of Justice and Community Services
- Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust
As Victoria was still emerging from COVID-19 restrictions and lock downs, much of this work occurred online and WHISE made great use of a range of tools and techniques to maximise input and collaboration with our partners and clients.