City of Ballarat leads the way in gender equity

The City of Ballarat is working to achieve 50/50 gender equity across the organisation by 2020.

As one of Ballarat’s largest employers, the City of Ballarat yesterday launched its Gender Equity Action Plan 2018-2020 with one of Australia’s leading gender equity advocates, journalist Tracey Spicer AM.

The launch comes as the State Government drafts a Gender Equality Bill that aims to create new obligations for State Government departments, public sector entities and local governments.

It also coincides with City of Ballarat CEO Justine Linley and Director Development and Planning Angelique Lush recognised as outstanding women in local government, presented with awards at the Top 50 Public Sector Women Awards held in Melbourne last night.

Ms Linley says the City of Ballarat is proud to lead the way in gender equity and champion the highest employment standard.

“Our Gender Equity Action Plan is an important tool to address the barriers and behaviours that perpetuate gender inequality and which lead to gender pay gaps, barriers to leadership, glass ceilings and everyday sexism,” she says.

“This plan addresses gender inequality for both women and men at the City of Ballarat. Gender equity isn’t optional. At the City of Ballarat, we are committed to achieving 50/50 by 2020.”

In 2017, when the organisation started to develop the plan, only 26 per cent of women held director and executive management positions at the City of Ballarat while 33 per cent of women held roles as Councillors.

With women making up 60 per cent of the organisation, Ms Linley says it’s reasonable to expect women will make up half of the leadership team and have every opportunity to access information, participate, be respected as colleagues, advance their careers and enjoy their work.

“These actions address the underlying structural foundations of gender inequality and tackle the embedded gender stereotypes and structural power imbalances. This plan aims to achieve a gender equitable workplace and a workplace where women and men are equally represented, valued and rewarded. There are no threats in this action plan, only positive approaches to creating a more inclusive, productive and community-focussed workplace, a workplace of respect.”

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh says gender inequality remains a major issue, from the school playground to sporting fields and in the workplace.

“We know that gender inequality is a leading cause of violence against women and children. We must address gender inequality if we want to end violence against women.”

Ms Spicer applauded the City of Ballarat’s Gender Equity Action Plan.

“The Gender Equity Action Plan is brilliant and I believe it should be adopted by all councils around the country. There are a lot of women working in local government, but the powerful positions are still too often dominated by men,” she says.

“I congratulate Ballarat Council on this important initiative, and was delighted to see that both the Mayor and CEO are women. What they have created is a template for other organisations to follow. A Ballarat first!”

Read the City of Ballarat’s Gender Equity Action Plan 2018-2020.