EOWA Report 2005

Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Report 2005 (.pdf 1.3 MB)

The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 came into effect in January 2000 and replaced the Affirmative Action (Equal Opportunity for Women) Act 1986.

The objectives of the Act are to:

· promote the principle that employment for women should be dealt with on the basis of merit;

· promote the elimination of discrimination and the provision of equal employment opportunity for women in relation to employment matters among employers; and

· foster workplace consultation between employers and employees on issues concerning equal opportunity for women in relation to employment.

The Act requires organisations employing more than 100 people to implement a workplace program that ensures:

· appropriate action is taken to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women in relation to seven employment matters:

· recruitment and selection procedures,

· promotion, transfer and termination of employment,

· training and development,

· work organisation,

· conditions of service,

· arrangements for dealing with sex-based harassment, and

· arrangements for dealing with pregnancy, or potentially pregnant employees and employees who are breastfeeding; and that

· measures are taken to contribute to the achievement of equal opportunity for women in relation to these employment matters.

Under the Act, organisations can elect to submit an annual compliance report which addresses priority issues or apply for waiver from reporting by showing that all reasonably practicable measures have been taken.

In 2002 and again in 2004 the University of New England applied for and was granted a waiver from reporting for one year. The University has recently submitted its report for 2005 (statistical information to 31 March 2006) which also constitutes an application for waiver from reporting in 2006. The University is currently awaiting feedback on the report from the EqualOpportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency.

The University has been awarded the 'Employer of Choice for Women' citation continuously since 2002.

For further information contact:
Lyn Tucker, EE&D Officer,
ph (02) 6773 3242,  email ltucker@une.edu.au

or Employment Equity & Diversity, ph (02) 6773 3591, email equity@une.edu.au