Portfolio Budget Statements 2008-09 

• 1.1 Strategic direction
• 1.2 Agency resource statement
• 1.3 Budget measures

1.1 Strategic Direction

The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) is chartered through the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 with both regulatory and educative functions and responsibilities.

EOWA’s stated outcome is Equality of Opportunity in Employment for Women.

It is EOWA’s objective that every working woman in Australia should have the same opportunities as her male counterparts.

The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 requires relevant employers to ensure equal treatment for women in the following areas:

• recruitment and selection
• promotion, transfer and termination
• training and development
• work organisation
• conditions of service
• arrangements for dealing with sex-based harassment
• arrangements for dealing with pregnancy, potential pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 applies to private companies, higher education institutions, voluntary bodies, trade unions and group training schemes that have 100 or more employees.

The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 requires relevant employers to lodge a yearly report with EOWA on their Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace program. It also requires Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency to provide expanded educative assistance to employers and promote equal opportunity to increase community understanding and acceptance. EOWA assists these organisations by providing:

• education programs and information services to assist employers in improving equal opportunity for women in the workplace through linking equal opportunity outcomes for women with their human resource management and business priorities and strategies
• on-line information and educative tools to assist employers to develop workplace programs and to comply with all aspects of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999
• recognition of leading-practice employers to inspire action.

Throughout 2008–09 EOWA will work closely with relevant employers to improve awareness and understanding about the issues impacting women’s workforce participation. EOWA will focus on report assessment, training, research and a communications campaign which will deliver increased awareness of the business benefits of equal opportunity initiatives including paid maternity leave, reducing the pay equity gap, reducing harassment and advancing merit and improving the quality of part-time work at all levels.

EOWA will work with 7000 employers through its education and regulatory functions to help them implement workplace programs that improve opportunity for women and report in accordance with the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999.

Partnerships with business will enable the agency to conduct leading research and profile best practice, providing knowledge welcomed by business, government and the community.

[ top ]

1.2 Agency Resource Statement

Table 1.1 shows the total resources from all origins. The table summarises how resources will be applied by outcome and by administered and departmental classification.

Third Party Drawdowns from and on behalf of other agencies

EOWA does not have any Third Party Drawdowns from and on behalf of other agencies.

1.3 Budget Measures

EOWA has no measures in the 2008–09 Budget.