Equity and Access

Published in the Research School of Physics Event Horizon
Vol42 Issue39 3–7 October 2016

From the RSPE Equity and Access Committee:

Workplace Gender Equality Agency

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency is an Australian Government statutory agency created by the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012. The Agency is charged with promoting and improving gender equality in Australian workplaces. 

About the Workplace Gender Equality Act

The Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Act) replaced the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999. The legislation aims to improve and promote equality for both women and men in the workplace.

The principle objects of the Act are to:

• promote and improve gender equality (including equal remuneration between women and men) in employment and in the workplace
• support employers to remove barriers to the full and equal participation of women in the workforce
• promote, amongst employers, the elimination of discrimination on the basis of gender in relation to employment matters (including in relation to family and caring responsibilities)
• foster workplace consultation between employers and employees on issues concerning gender equality in employment and in the workplace
• improve the productivity and competitiveness of Australian business through the advancement of gender equality in employment and in the workplace.

For more information, please see: https://www.wgea.gov.au/about-wgea/our-role-0