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REFERENCE

WOMEN'S BUDGET

WOMEN'S POLICY CO-ORDINATION UNIT 19 9 1-19 9 2 DEPARTMENT OF THE PREMIER AXD CABINET VICTORIA ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Women's Budget 1991-92 was prepared by the Women's Policy Co-ordination Unit, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, from entries provided by government agencies in August 1991. The Unit welcomes readers' comments on the report, and will endeavour to accommodate recommendations for improvement of the Women's Budget 1992-93.

Address all enquiries and requests for copies of this document to the Women's Policy Co-ordination Unit, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne 3002.

ISSN 1030-3189 FOREWORD

The 1991-92 Women's Budget demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to improving the status of women. Despite economic constraints, Ministers have ensured that programs and services for women will operate effectively in 1991-92. Priorities for the Government continue to be policies and programs that improve women's safety and security; increase women's access to education and training; remove barriers to more equal participation by women in the workforce; meet the child-care requirements of Victorian families; and ensure that the particular health needs of women are met.

In 1991 the Government introduced to Parliament amendments to the Crimes (Sexual Offences) Act to reduce the stress experienced by complainants in court cases where sexual assault is alleged, particularly complainants who are children or people with intellectual disabilities. Further amendments to the law of rape and sexual assault will be introduced to Parliament later in 1991.

A community awareness campaign which included a television advertisement aimed at changing male attitudes to violence; the promotion of articles and programs on the issue in the media; and the distribution of information on services for victims of violence was launched in June 1991 by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. This initiative will be further developed in 1991-92.

Recognising that the economic security of women is closely associated with more equal participation by women in the workforce, Ministers for Labour, Education and Training, Small Business and Community Services have ensured that the interests of women remain a priority. An important initiative of the Government over the past year has been the establishment of the Office of Preschool and Child Care. The Office is responsible for improving the planning, co-ordination and delivery of all child care and preschool services and administering the $84m allocated for capital and recurrent expenditure.

Funding will be maintained to Victoria's six women's health services, fourteen sexual assault centres, twenty four women's refuges, fourteen domestic violence outreach services, a 24 hour seven day a week referral and interim accommodation service, and health and domestic violence information services. An additional $lm is provided to match funding of $lm from the Commonwealth, under the National Women's Health Program. This funding will be used to extend women's health services in metropolitan and rural Victoria.

As Premier and Minister Responsible for Women's Affairs, I am pleased to accept Victoria's sixth annual Women's Budget report from Government agencies.

JOAN E KIRNÍ Premier CONTENTS

Foreword Introduction 1 Overview of Programs and Services for Women 4 Aboriginal Affairs Victoria 17 Department of Agriculture 20 Ministry for the Arts 25 Attorney-General's Department 33 Community Services Victoria 40 Department of Conservation and Environment 52 Ministry of Consumer Affairs 58 Office of Corrections 66 Ministry of Education and Training 74 Office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity 94 Ministry of Ethnic, Municipal and Community Affairs 96 Department of Finance 112 Health Department Victoria 114 Department of Labour 125 Department of Manufacturing and Industry Development 140 Ministry of Planning and Housing 146 Ministry for Police and Emergency Services 157 Department of the Premier and Cabinet 167 Office of Preschool and Child Care 179 Department of Small Business 182 Department of Sport and Recreation 186 Victorian Tourism Commission 194 Ministry of Transport 196 Department of the Treasury 200 Equal Employment Opportunity for Women in the Victorian Public Sector 202 Chart of Key Programs and Services Index INTRODUCTION

The 1991-92 Women's Budget is the sixth Women's Budget for Victoria. It sets out the effects on women of government spending over the previous financial year and outlines commitments for the coming year.

The main purpose of the Women's Budget is to provide the women of Victoria with information about the services available through government departments and agencies, and to provide details of government spending on programs and services.

The report is concerned with all operations of agencies. Every dollar that government agencies spend has an impact on women. Accordingly agencies have been required to examine the effect of all their operations on women, not just those programs specifically directed to women.

Despite efforts at both a national and a State level, discrimination remains a factor in the lives of many women. Women's unequal access to income security and positions of status is evidence of this. Government agencies are now beginning to realise that many of their policies and programs have traditionally been geared more to the needs of men. The annual preparation of their entry for the women's Budget helps agencies to evaluate their programs in the light of their responsibilities to the community as a whole, and to find ways to address imbalances.

Preparation of each ministry's entry is the responsibility of the relevant department in co-operation with statutory bodies within that portfolio. The Women's Policy Co-ordination Unit of the Department of Premier and Cabinet manages the overall process on behalf of the Premier who is also Minister Responsible for Women's Affairs.

The major part of the report is devoted to entries from the twenty-three budget sector agencies. Each entry begins with an introduction which defines the objectives or aims of the agency and identifies relevant statutory bodies for which the Minister has responsibility. Total recurrent budget figures for the past and future financial year for the agency are included in this section to provide readers with a budgetary context for programs, schemes or initiatives with which they are involved or concerned.

Where detailed funding information is available for a program it is set out at the end of the description of that service or program. Three sets of figures are generally included. The first, Budget Estimate 1990-91, represents the appropriation made in August 1990 for the 1990-91 financial year. Actual Expenditure 1990-91 is the actual amount spent to 30 June 1991 and Budget Estimate 1991-92 shows the allocation for the program or service for the coming year.

INTRODUCTION • 1 A department's recurrent expenditure is allocated by the Treasurer into program areas with agencies having, on average, five programs. Departments divide this allocation into sub-programs and then into components, which is the level at which most services for women will be found. Information in the Victorian Budget Papers is at the program outlays level. Allocations to sub-programs and components are not published, apart from in the Women's Budget, until later in the financial year, when agencies table their annual reports.

The Appendix entitled Identification of Key Programs and Services at the back of the Women's Budget report identifies significant programs, referred to in this report, by agency, program, sub-program and component. This information can be read in conjunction with 1991-92 State Budget Papers No. 3, The Consolidated Fund 1991-92, and No. 5, Program Budget Outlays 1991-92.

Calculations of the benefit to women in financial terms of budget allocations depend upon knowledge of how the service applies to women. Thus if 50 per cent of clients of a service are women, the assumption is that 50 per cent of the budget allocated for the program went to women. This will not always be the case, and the collection of gender-disaggregated data by agencies is very important.

Overall there is a growing awarenness of the need for more comprehensive methods of data collection. Until these are in place, the capacity for agencies to accurately report how women have been affected by programs or by the general services provided is limited. It is apparent that the process of preparing material each year for the Women's Budget causes agencies to become aware of areas of deficiency in this respect, and encourages them to address this issue.

The challenge for the Women's Policy Co-ordination Unit is to continue to persuade departments and ministries that the collection of gender-disaggregated data and the evaluation of programs will assist them to improve service delivery for all their clients.

As 1991 is a Census year, and also the year in which the Australian Bureau of Statistics in conjunction with the Women's Policy Co-ordination Unit, is conducting its survey on Women's Patterns of Work, the Women's Policy Co- ordination Unit will be bringing out a publication based on the data gained from these two important sources. In anticipation of this publication being available by April or May next year, the usual chapter on statistical information is not included in this year's Women's Budget.

Information on action taken by government departments and agencies to promote equal employment opportunity for their employees is not included in agency entries. However, a chapter on Equal Opportunity for Women in the Victorian Public Sector includes information on equal employment in two areas: a report of progress by government agencies toward equal employment opportunity has been prepared by the Public Service Board from information supplied by agencies and a section is included on the implementation of the Public Authorities (Equal

INTRODUCTION • 2 Employment Opportunity) Act, proclaimed by Parliament in July 1991. More detailed accounts of progress and planning are to be found in Agency Action Plans. These are available from the agencies concerned or from the Public Service Board. Readers wanting further information on departmental structures and objectives of programs should obtain annual reports from Information Victoria in Melbourne, or direct from agencies. More details are to be found in the State Budget Papers prepared by the Treasury. These papers are also available from Information Victoria.

Last year 3000 copies of the Women's Budget were published. These were distributed to women's organisations, consumer groups, libraries, community centres, members of parliament and government departments and agencies. Readers of the Women's Budget 1991-92 are invited to make comments on the format and information contained in the report, and to offer suggestions on how it can be improved in future years.

The Women's Policy Co-ordination Unit strives to keep the doors of government departments open to women by ensuring that each government agency accounts, annually, to the women of Victoria for the way in which its operations affect them. However, without the co-operation of Victoria's twenty-three budget sector agencies and many statutory authorities, this report would not be possible. Accordingly, the Unit expresses its thanks to Chief Administrators and to the many Officers within agencies who contributed to the Women's Budget 1991-92.

Rosalyn Hunt Director Women's Policy Co-ordination Unit Department of the Premier and Cabinet

INTRODUCTION • 3 OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR WOMEN

In Victoria, a dual approach to the development of policy, programs and services for women has been adopted. In a number of areas specialist programs and services targeted specifically to women have been established. Many of these services, including the Cervical Cancer and Breast Cancer Screening projects, meet particular biological needs of women. Strategies and programs, such as women's employment strategies, housing programs and child-care initiatives take account of women's life experiences in our society.

Additionally, mainstream Government systems such as education and public transport have developed and implemented policies and strategies that increase the access of women to these key systems. The Equal Opportunity Plan for Girls in the Ministry of Education and Training is an example of such an access strategy.

The Women's Budget 1991-92, as in previous years, reports on policies, programs and services targeted to women and also on initiatives within mainstream government programs that aim to increase women's participation and access.

This chapter of the Women's Budget provides an overview of key policy and program initiatives and commitments affecting women. These initiatives are described in more detail in agencies' entries in the main body of the Women's Budget. Other initiatives not covered in this chapter, such as the work of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity; women's participation in rural affairs and natural resource management; and women's role in bringing about change to policies for women offenders, can also be found in the main body of the report.

This chapter is organised around six themes that are fundamental to improving the status of women. These are: • safety and security for women; • economic security for women; • access to education, training and employment; • the provision of appropriate child-care services; • access to appropriate health services; and • participation by women in decision making.

Although this year's State Budget was prepared during a period of severe economic constraint, entries in this report show that women's services in Victoria will continue to be funded and supported in 1991-92. Where cuts have occurred departments have made every effort to target these to central administrative areas rather than service or program delivery.

WOMEN'S SAFETY AND SECURITY

In 1991 safety and security for women continued as a priority for the Government with programs that focus on the prevention of family violence, the reduction of

OVERVIEW • 4 violence against women and improvements in public safety being further developed. Funding for programs and services in these key areas has been maintained or increased for the 1991-92 financial year.

In Victoria, the response to family violence has occurred through the provision of accommodation and support services for victims; through legislative change; and through programs that aim to change behaviour that engenders violence towards women. Responsibility for policy, programs and services concerning family violence lies with a range of agencies including the Attorney-General's Department, Community Services Victoria, the Ministry of Education and Training, Health Department Victoria, the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Over the past decade, as demonstrated in the Community Services Victoria entry, a wide range of accommodation, information and support services for women who are victims of family violence have developed. These services include: • twenty-four refuges; • fourteen domestic violence outreach services; • a 24 hour, seven-day-a-week referral and interim accommodation service: the Women's Refuge Referral Service; and • the Ethnic Worker Refuge Program which assists women from non-English- speaking backgrounds and their children placed in a refuge.

In 1991-92 funding for these services will be maintained with an estimated allocation of $7.94 million.

In the last financial year, the Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre (DVIRC) received $373,500 to operate a telephone counselling service for women and their children who are victims of family violence including incest. DVIRC also maintains a resource library on family violence and incest that is used extensively by students, workers in the field and academics. Funding for DVIRC will be $390,100 in 1991-92.

To provide additional legal remedies to the criminal justice system for victims of family violence the Crimes (Family Violence) Act was passed in 1987. The Act allows victims of family violence to take out an Intervention Order prohibiting violent or harassing behaviour towards them. Intervention Orders are intended as a complementary remedy to criminal law options; not a substitute for other sanctions.

The Family Violence Prevention Committee, which reports to the Attorney- General, was established to monitor implementation of the Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987. The Committee has representatives from community groups, the Courts, government departments and Victoria Police.

A number of sub-committees report to the Committee including the Professional Education Task Force, based in the Ministry of Education and Training. In 1990-91

OVERVIEW • 5 the Task Force prepared and published a text book, 'Family Violence: Everybody's Business, Somebody's Life'. The book was written for use in tertiary courses such as law schools, teacher education, nursing schools, interpreting training and social work and medical courses. The book provides information on the incidence and nature of family violence and strategies to assist professionals deal with clients who are victims of family violence.

In 1989, as one of a number of initiatives responding to the level of violence in the community, the Community Council Against Violence (CCAV) was established. The Council consults with the community and advises the Government on strategies to reduce the incidence of violence.

Although much of the CCAV's work is not aimed specifically at women, Community Services Victoria provided $45,000 to the CCAV in 1990-91 to conduct an inquiry into family violence. Following its inquiry, the CCAV has produced three reports on issues of family violence: 'Background and Overview'; 'The Legal System and Family Violence'; and 'Treatment and Counselling of Perpetrators of Family Violence'. Changes proposed to the Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987 in the CCAV's report on The Legal System and Family Violence' are presently being considered by the Attorney-General's Department.

In 1990-91 Community Services Victoria (CSV) funded twenty projects on family violence through the Family Violence Initiatives Fund. Many of these projects had a community education focus providing information to community workers and the wider community on family violence. Six of the projects were for perpetrators of family violence. These projects aimed to assist men stop their violent behaviour.

Responsibility for the Victorian Committee on Rape was transferred from the Health Department to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in 1991. The Committee provides advice to the Government on all matters relating to policy, programs and services for victims and survivors of sexual assault and policy, programs and services to reduce the incidence of sexual assault.

As part of its Inquiry into Violence in Public Places the Community Council Against Violence undertook a study into sexual assault. The first stage of the inquiry was an examination of statistics of sexual assault cases from 1987 to 1990. A report on the findings of the study, 'Source Book of Victorian Sexual Assault Statistics 1987-90' was published by the CCAV in April 1991 and a second report will be released in October 1991. The CCAV in its research on sexual assault worked closely with the Law Reform Commission on its reference on Rape Law Reform.

In the Autumn sittings of Parliament 1991 the Crimes (Sexual Offences) Act 1991 was passed. The legislation particularly assists people with an intellectual disability and children, who have been sexually assaulted, to give evidence.

OVERVIEW • 6 The Attorney-General, also in early 1991, requested that the Victorian Law Reform Commission (LRC) examine the Crimes (Sexual Offences) Act 1991 and consider the issue of consent and services for victims of sexual assault. The Commission is due to report to the Attorney in September 1991 and further amendments to the legislation are anticipated in the Spring sittings of Parliament, 1991.

There are currently fourteen centres against sexual assault in metropolitan and rural Victoria. The centres provide crisis counselling and ongoing support to victims of an assault. In 1990-91 centres received $2,605,429 through Health Department Victoria (HDV) and an estimated $2,848,560 will be provided in 1991- 92.

In March 1991, the After-Hours Sexual Assault Service pilot project, funded by HDV, was established. The pilot extends the provision of sexual assault support services to women. Funded until November 1991, the service provides telephone counselling and support services to sexual assault victims from 5.30 pm Friday to 9 am Monday. Approximately $195,000 was allocated to the pilot by the HDV in 1991. Negotiations with the Commonwealth for a continuation of funding are under way.

Strategies to increase public safety in Victoria have also been introduced in the past year. The Ministry of Transport's Travel Safe package of strategies includes increased patrols by Transit Police, increased station lighting, station renovations, anti-graffiti strategies and closed-circuit television at railway stations. The Safe Travel Forum, which includes representatives of women's groups, was established by the Ministry of Transport. In 1990-91, $20.92 million was allocated for the Travel Safe package and in 1991-92 this will be increased to $23 million.

A new initiative for 1991-92 has been the development and promotion of Safety Audits through the Ministry of Police and Emergency Services. Audits, conducted by municipalities and community groups, will concentrate on increasing safety in public places in local communities and focus on safety issues for women.

A Safety, Security and Women Working Group comprising representatives of the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services and Victoria Police was established in late 1990 to provide advice on safety and security initiatives for women. A key initiative of the Working Group was a Community Awareness Campaign conducted in 1991. Over $550,000 was allocated by the Ministry to the campaign.

The first stage of the campaign was the production of a television advertisement, 'Violence is Ugly', aimed at changing male behaviour towards violence. Television, radio and print-media stories on violence against women were products of the campaign and information on services for victims of male violence was distributed through a leaflet inserted in Victorian copies of a popular women's magazine. The issue of violence was also highlighted by street theatre

OVERVIEW • 7 performances at shopping centres.

A Public Safety and Anti-Crime Council, to be chaired by the Premier, will meet for the first time in October. The Council will bring together community leaders, representatives of the legal profession and business, Ministers, the Chief Commissioner of Police and the Chairperson of the Community Council Against Violence. The Council will co-ordinate Government activities across all areas of public safety, prevention of violence and crime prevention.

ECONOMIC SECURITY

In Victoria approximately seven per cent of families are headed by a single parent. The great majority of these families are headed by women and nearly one in five Victorian women are over 60 years of age. Additionally, women continue to earn less than men and have less access to employee benefits than men. Because of these factors many women require income support and a range of government services and programs to ensure economic security for them and their children.

Although income security matters are largely the responsibility of the Commonwealth, Victoria provides a range of concessions to those on low incomes, particularly holders of Commonwealth Health Care Cards. Concessions are available on water, sewerage, gas and electricity charges, as well as fares for public transport. Community Services Victoria co-ordinates the provision of Victorian concessions with approximately 59 per cent of concession recipients being women.

The Older Person's Planning Office, located in the Ministry of Ethnic, Municipal and Community Affairs, co-ordinates the Seniors' Card which was launched in March 1991. The Card provides a range of government and private sector concessions to Victorians over 60 years of age, who are not in full-time employment. Nearly 60 per cent of the holders of Senior's Cards are women.

In 1991 the Women's Policy Co-ordination Unit of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet made a submission to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for the State Supplementary Survey. The Unit's submission was successful and the survey will be conducted by the ABS in October in conjunction with the monthly labour market survey.

Approximately 6000 women will be interviewed about their work patterns, including whether and why they had taken any extended breaks from work since 1975, what their experience had been in returning to the workforce, whether or not they worked full-time and what if any child-care needs they had. Findings of the survey will assist with the further development of policy and a report on findings will be published by the ABS and the Unit early in 1992.

A vital element in economic security for women is the provision of stable, secure and appropriate accommodation at a reasonable price. Many women because of

OVERVIEW • 8 their financial situation seek public rental accommodation. The Ministry of Planning and Housing estimates that 30 per cent of applications for emergency housing come from single parent families headed by a woman while 60 per cent of all public- tenant households are headed by a woman.

In 1990, the Women in Supportive Housing Group were funded by the Ministry to consult with women on their housing needs. Their report 'Speaking of Housing' was released in March 1991. The report outlines recommendations in the area of tenure, issues facing women in the private and public rental market, and the needs of special groups such as Koori women and young women.

Safety was identified as a major issue for women consulted and many of the recommendations in the report propose strategies to increase access to public rental housing by women leaving family violence and improvements to increase safety on public housing estates.

The Ministry of Planning and Housing also recognises that it is essential to women that community and support services are established in new housing estates or suburbs at a rate that is commensurate with the need for those services. Women, living in new and outlying suburbs, have been disadvantaged in the past due to the lack of human services such as public transport, health centres and schools. The Ministry in 1991-92, will be looking at ways to ensure that women's interests in issues of planning are recognised.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The Women's Budget 1991-92 reports a range of initiatives to improve access to and participation by girls and women in education and training. The Ministry of Education and Training's entry in this years' Women's Budget demonstrates the range of approaches necessary to enhance the access of women and girls to education and training options. These approaches include: the establishment of State policies; the provision of assistance to schools to implement policy; the provision of teacher training on educational opportunity matters; the development of strategies to meet the needs of particularly disadvantaged groups; and monitoring of the effectiveness of policies and programs.

The 1991-93 Equal Opportunity Action Plan for Girls in Education, recently prepared by the Ministry, builds on the 1988-90 Action Plan which included strategies to implement the National Policy for the Education and Girls in Australian Schools. The 1991-93 Action Plan focuses on raising awareness of the educational needs of girls through publicity, professional development and input into teacher training courses.

In 1991-92 education professionals will continue to be assisted in implementing the Action Plan by staff from the eight regional Equal Opportunity Resource Centres, the State Equal Opportunity Resource Centre, and the new Maths, Science and Technology Education Centre for Girls: Hypatia's Place.

OVERVIEW • 9 Hypatia's Place was opened in March 1991 to provide professional development, materials, and programs which facilitate the teaching of gender-inclusive mathematics, science and technology communication in schools. In 1991-92, $191,250 has been allocated for Hypatia's Place. Funding for the Equal Opportunity Resource Centres will be $200,000 in 1991-92.

However, responsibility for the implementation of equal educational opportunity rests with primary and secondary schools across the State. In 1991-92 implementation of this policy will continue as a priority in Government schools.

The apparent retention rate for girls in Government schools increased from 53.7 per cent in 1987 to 84.1 per cent in 1990. For boys the rate increased from 40.8 per cent to 67.7 per cent. Although the retention rate for girls is higher than for boys, the percentages of girls studying chemistry, mathematics and physics in Year 12 is significantly lower than the percentage of boys. Strategies to increase the participation of girls in these subjects are being developed by the Ministry.

Mechanisms have been established to monitor the effectiveness of Ministry initiatives. Enrolment and assessment data on Year 12 students is collected and analysed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board (VCAB). A Social Justice Framework has been developed in the Office of Schools Administration to assist schools to monitor the educational experiences of groups of students known to be disadvantaged in education. Data, disaggregated by gender, will be collected from schools on Aboriginal students, students living in poverty, rural students, students from non-English-speaking backgrounds and students with disabilities. Information from this project will assist the Ministry's Social Justice Audit, a systematic analysis of social justice initiatives and expenditure across the Ministry.

The effectiveness of existing policy and programs designed to achieve equality of education for girls is also a concern to the Counter Sexist Advisory Committee and the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women and Girls (MACWAG).

In 1990-91 MACWAG released a publication for rural women 'Returning to Learning', a resource kit for women students in Technical & Further Education (TAFE), and a report on strategies and initiatives for women in higher education.

During the last financial year, Victorian women continued to participate in further education. There are approximately 350,000 adult community and further education students in Victoria, an estimated 75 per cent of whom are women. In 1990-92 further education courses were offered in over 700 venues. Providers include 500 community-based groups such as neighbourhood houses and learning centres. More than 80 per cent of users in these centres are women and approximately 70 per cent of adults studying VCE are women.

In the areas of adult literacy and basic education more than 60 per cent of students

OVERVIEW • 10 in 1990-91 were women and 60 per cent of participants in Adult Migrant Education courses are women. Ten per cent of the estimated budget of $19.5 million for Adult Migrant Services for 1991-92 is to be allocated to immigrants who have been in Australia for more than 5 years, many of whom will be women who have not previously been able to participate in English courses. The interest of immigrant women in learning English is demonstrated by data which shows that seventy- three per cent of the 1271 participants in the State Training System's Advanced English Program for Migrants, in 1990, were women.

The Ministry for Education and Training is also working with Aboriginal organisations and community groups to increase the participation of Koorie women in further education. In 1990, 45 per cent of the 1001 Koorie students in TAFE colleges are women.

Women's access to employment has been an important focus of the Ministry's State Training System. Approximately 50 per cent of students undertaking pre- employment training for a Certificate of Occupational Studies in business, hospitality, breadbaking and pastrycooking, electronics, retailing, horticulture, engineering, rural, social and community services, information technology, sign painting and recreation, are women. Forty such courses were conducted in 1990 in TAFE Colleges. An additional 1800 training places have been made available in the Certificate Course for Child Care Assistants and the Advanced Certificate in Residential and Community Services. These courses attract women in greater number than men.

Additionally, research is being conducted by the Broadmeadows College of TAFE into ways of recognising skills and knowledge obtained through informal training, work and life experience, and a National Competency Based Training Secretariat is also being developed at Holmesglen College of TAFE.

The proportion of women in the apprentice intake for 1990 was 39 per cent and women now represent 41 per cent of participants in the $200,000 Industry Training Development Program. For 1991, regions have been asked to concentrate on increasing placement of young women in non-traditional trades.

EMPLOYMENT

Women's access to education and training is enhanced by the provision of accurate and current information about the workforce, employment services and about the range of training opportunities available. The Job and Course Explorer (JAC) package was developed for this purpose, as were other information programs.

JAC is a computerised data base of education and training information. By September 1991, 121 JAC computers will have been located in neighbourhood houses, and training has been provided to two persons from each neighbourhood house. By 1993 two hundred computers will have been located in neighbourhood houses and training provided for houses to run JAC and other software programs.

OVERVIEW • 11 Other information strategies conducted by government agencies have included a TV commercial targeting women at home during the day, screened in August 1991, and a radio commercial "Making it possible' programmed on community and ethnic radio in 1990-91. The aim of the TV commercial, shown on regional networks, was to raise women's awareness of training opportunities in TAFE colleges. The radio commercial advised women of the availability of a printed guide on Commonwealth and Victorian government education and employment programs and child-care services for women. Thirty-five thousand copies of the booklet 'Making it possible', were distributed in 1991 in response to direct requests and through TAFE colleges, neighbourhood houses and Commonwealth Employment Services.

Information for women in paid employment was provided, by way of a lift-out in the Herald-Sun newspaper, in March. The Guide for Working Women, prepared by the Women's Employment Branch of the Department of Labour, contained information on employees' obligations, wages and conditions, superannuation, occupational health and safety, maternity leave, unions, child care, recognition of overseas qualifications, and the entitlements of out-workers. The Branch also produced guidelines for employers which aimed to reduce sexual harassment in the work force.

Women's access to paid employment and participation in the labour market is monitored by the Women's Employment Branch and reported twice a year in a statistical bulletin, 'Women Count'. As part of its responsibility to address causes of disadvantage in, and access to the labour market, the Branch focused on issues of classification and training in the Hospitality Industry in 1990-91. A report of this project was published in September 1991.

A major program for women experiencing unemployment, has been the Department of Labour's JobLink program. Funding for JobLink in 1991-92 has been maintained at $3.4 million. In the last financial year, fifty-eight per cent of those assisted by JobLink were women compared with fifty-three per cent in 1989-90. In 1991-92, through WorkStart, JobLink will target services to women who are at risk of becoming long-term unemployed.

The Women's Business Assistance Program of the Small Business Development Corporation commenced in 1988. The Program provided a range of services to women either running or intending to run their own small business. Services included: conducting research into the business needs of women; providing advice to women in small business; educating service providers to small business to be more responsive to women; and managing the Victorian Women's Trust Guarantee Loan Fund.

An evaluation was conducted of the Program in early 1991. The evaluation recommended that an Enterprise Connection be established as a joint project between the Small Business Development Corporation and the Victorian Women's

OVERVIEW • 12 Trust. The Corporation will continue to provide direct business advice and referral to women and $75,000 has been allocated for 1991-92.

Access by women to employment in the public sector has been enhanced by Action Plans developed for the Victorian Public Service by the Public Service Board and through the introduction of legislation to cover employment practices of public authorities.

The Public Authorities (Equal Opportunity) Act, introduced by the Premier, was passed in the Spring sittings of Parliament 1990. The Act extends equal employment opportunity protection to workers in statutory and other public authorities. The Act covers approximately 121,174 women employed in 3000 public authorities, including hospitals and educational institutions.

The Public Authorities Unit of the Department of Labour is responsible for monitoring implementation of the legislation.

CHILD CARE

Affordable, quality and appropriate child-care services are key to improving women's access to education, training and employment. In Victoria a range of child-care services are supported through Commonwealth-State funding. Late in 1990 the Office of Preschool and Child Care was established to plan and co- ordinate the delivery of child-care and preschool services. The Office administers an $84 million budget for capital and recurrent expenditure for services.

Child care is provided at twenty-nine TAFE College locations. This number will be increased by five in the 1991-92 financial year. The importance of child-care services attached to community education providers is also recognised with funding provided to neighbourhood houses and community learning centres for occasional child-care. These services enable women to undertake courses while their children are cared for.

In addition, the Office regulates delivery of programs in commercial and employer-sponsored child-care centres and funds and co-ordinates the provision of community child care, out-of-school hours programs, and vacation-care and occasional-care programs. Twenty-two new long-day-care centres have been established, and in 1991-92 two work-based pilot projects will be undertaken to test different service delivery models and determine the most cost effective approaches to public sector work-based child care.

WOMEN'S HEALTH

Developments in health services for women have occurred through the provision of specific programs and services targeted to women; through the development of a women's health policy such as 'Why Women's Health'; and through changes to

OVERVIEW • 13 mainstream health services to ensure that appropriate, accessible and quality health care for women is available.

'Why Women's Health' (1989) forms the basis of Victoria's women's health policy. Monitoring the implementation of the policy is the responsibility of the Women's Health Policy and Program Unit in Health Department Victoria. The Unit will continue to work with women's health services, regional offices of the Health Department and other health-service providers to implement Victorian and Commonwealth Government policies enunciated in the National Women's Health Program Policy.

Under the terms of this specific purpose program, the Commonwealth and Victoria will each provide an additional $1 million in 1991-92 for the development and expansion of women's health services in Victoria.

Health Department Victoria (HDV) funds six Women's Health Centres in Victoria. The role of women's health centres is to: • investigate and model new ways of providing health care to women; • work with and support individuals and groups of women to take action on health issues of concern to women; and • work with health planners, policy makers and service providers at the regional level to ensure that services are planned and delivered in a way which is sensitive to women's needs.

Centres provide gynaecological, nutritional, occupational and other health services in a community-based setting. The establishment of two further Centres is currently under discussion with local communities. Since 1988-89 Victoria has been conducting a pilot breast cancer screening project. Following the successful completion of the pilot the Essendon Branch of the Royal Melbourne Hospital will be established as a Mammography Centre. The Centre will target its services to women most at risk of developing breast cancer. In 1991-92, $2,547,000 has been allocated for the establishment of the Mammography Centre and associated programs.

The Well Women's Health Project was established in 1989 to increase the rate of cervical cancer screening amongst traditionally under-screened or unscreened women. The Project was conducted in four metropolitan and two rural community health centres. A report on the project was launched in August 1991. The Project recommended that all women's health providers should adopt more preventative health strategies and make their services more accessible to women. Additionally, the Project recommended that the Well Women's Health model should be extended into other locations.

In 1991, a cervical cancer screening program, funded through the Better Health Program of the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, commenced. Over $400,000 has been allocated to the Program in 1991-92.

OVERVIEW • 14 Victoria's Birthing Services Review Report, launched in 1990, covers all aspects of medical intervention in birth and community-based delivery options such as home birth. The Report recommends action to make mainstream birth services more responsive to women. Its recommendations are being progressively implemented. In 1991-92, $841,265 has been allocated to implement the Review's recommendations.

Three women's health information services, Healthsharing Women; Women's Health Information and Resource Collective; and Women in Industry, Contraception and Health are funded through the Health Department Victoria. These services provide information on health issues of concern to women including reproductive health, preventative health and occupational health. Funding for these services will be maintained in 1991-92.

Finally, although funding for the Maternal and Child Health Program, which provides specialist maternal and child nursing advice, has been reduced by $500,000 in 1991-92, a Maternal and Child Health After Hours Service, funded by Community Services Victoria, has commenced. The Service, staffed by qualified maternal and child-health nurses, provides advice and assistance on maternal and child-health issues outside normal business hours.

DECISION MAKING

In 1990-91, the participation of women in key areas of decision making continued to increase. Recent figures indicate that in 1990, 27.5 per cent of all appointments to Government boards and committees were women. This is an increase of 3 per cent since 1989.

Women also provided advice to Government, in 1990-91, through a broad range of advisory bodies including: the Family Violence Prevention Committee; the Women and Credit Task Group; the Women Prisoners and Offenders Advisory Committee; the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Girls and Women; the Victorian Advisory Committee on Rape; the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women and Housing; the Consultative Committee on Women in Leisure and Recreation; the Safety, Security and Women Working Group; and the Premier's Victorian Women's Consultative Council.

A major role of the Council is to ensure that women's views are considered on issues of importance to them and to Victoria. In 1990 the previous Council consulted with over 1000 Victorian women on the establishment, funding, management and future use of a women's centre on the site of the former Queen Victoria hospital. The women's centre, to be run for women by women, is a project of immense symbolic and practical importance. It will, when completed, be the first of its kind anywhere in Australia.

The first reference for the Victorian Women's Consultative Council (VWCC) 1991- 93 concerns the role of women in the economy of the 21st century. The VWCC will

OVERVIEW • 15 consult with Victorian women and canvass their views on paid and unpaid work, community issues, women's role as carers and their participation in decision making. The consultation will provide the Government information which will assist in planning for the next decade.

The Victorian Women's Study Grant, auspiced by the VWCC, was announced by the Premier on International Women's Day 1991. The Grant of $15,000 will be awarded annually with the first grant being announced in October 1991. The 1991- 92 Study Grant will be awarded to an individual or organisation undertaking study in an area relevant to the current reference of the VWCC. Over one hundred inquiries regarding the Study Grant were made to the VWCC, from individuals, community groups, neighbourhood houses, industry training boards, tertiary institutions, unions and research centres.

In February 1991 the inaugural Conference of Ministers for the Status of Women was held in Canberra. Nine Ministers from the Commonwealth, States, Territories and New Zealand will attend the second meeting of Ministers to be held in Melbourne in September 1991. The meeting will be chaired by the Premier, the Hon Joan Kirner, and recommendations from the Conference will go to Heads of Government and to other Ministerial Forums.

OVERVIEW • 16 DEPARTMENT OF ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS (ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS VICTORIA) 1 Treasury Place MELBOURNE 3002 Telephone: (03) 6515510

Under the Social Justice Strategy the Victorian Government has provided significant assistance to Aboriginal communities and people. The Government is committed to the "principle of self determination and the enhancement and protection of Aboriginal culture". The establishment of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria as a separate department illustrates the Government's commitment to Aboriginal people.

The two major programs administered by Aboriginal Affairs Victoria have been established to promote achievement of these aims. In particular, the Capital Projects Grants Program assists the Aboriginal community to develop and enhance its community facilities and its economic base. This is of benefit to all members of the Aboriginal community. Aboriginal Affairs Victoria also has a policy co- ordination role and works with other government agencies to identify and meet the needs of Aboriginal people in Victoria.

Aboriginal Affairs Victoria works closely with the local Aboriginal communities to deliver its Capital Projects and Cultural Heritage program. Any incorporated Aboriginal organisation is eligible to apply for funding through these programs. While neither of these programs provides specifically for Aboriginal women, Aboriginal women play an important role in administration of organisations, consultations about policy and program initiatives, and in delivery of programs. For instance, seventeen organisations have women administrators. The role of the administrators is to manage the many programs and projects operated by these organisations, and which are funded by a range of Commonwealth and State Government agencies.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $7,199,630 $6,903,858 $6,809,340

ABORIGINAL CAPITAL PROJECTS PROGRAM

Aboriginal communities across Victoria lack the financial equity to promote their own development and attract funding from other sources. The Capital Projects Program seeks to redress economic inequality through the establishment of a resource base to achieve a greater degree of economic self-sufficiency as well as supporting cultural heritage needs of a capital nature.

Initiatives are put forward by community organisations and focus on the purchase of land and the establishment of facilities which are controlled by Aboriginal people and which provide resources for the local Aboriginal community.

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS • 17 The Capital Projects Program has enabled communities to work with business consultants to carry out feasibility studies and establish economic enterprises. The program has assisted communities to acquire land and build administration and cultural centres, such as those at Bairnsdale, Bendigo, Lake Tyres, Morwell and Cann River. In Melbourne, the program has assisted the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and the Fitzroy Stars Gym to establish their own permanent facilities. In addition, the program has assisted communities to establish community service and welfare facilities, such as those being developed for Aboriginal Community Elders Services in Brunswick and Yappera Children's Service in Thornbury. In both of these facilities, initiatives and programs to meet the specific needs of Aboriginal women will be an integral part of the services available.

In 1991, Aboriginal Affairs Victoria has provided $28,000 to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ASTIC) and the Victorian Women's Trust to assist with the "Koori Women Mean Business Conference". The Conference will explore issues involved in establishing and expanding business and co-operative enterprises. The Conference will involve up to 100 Aboriginal women and will hold three regional seminars and a state-wide conference. The women will produce a personal plan, a business plan and an information kit for further action. There will also be training program for Aboriginal women involving organising and co-ordination skills, strategic planning and liaison skills.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990 91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $2,892,875 $2,892,875 $3,000,000

ABORIGINAL CULTURE HERITAGE PROGRAM

The Cultural Heritage Program is primarily a community-based program which enables Cultural Heritage Officers to be employed by local Aboriginal organisations. This program acknowledges that cultural identity and awareness is a key factor in asserting the pride, dignity and identity of Aboriginal people. The Cultural Officers identify, maintain and protect significant cultural sites and have an important task in enhancing awareness of Aboriginal history, society and culture throughout Aboriginal communities as well as in the wider community. Within the Aboriginal community, women are recognised as playing a major role in the preservation and continuation of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The Cultural Heritage Program has also provided funding to the Victoria Archaeological Survey for the development of an information kit on cultural heritage. The first part of this kit contained information on pre-contact Aboriginal society and made specific reference to the role of women. In 1991-92 a post-contact kit will be produced, and material in the earlier kit will be up- dated. Funding to the Victoria Archaeological Survey has been used to employ a physical anthropologist and to conduct surveys of archaeological sites of significance across Victoria.

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS • 18 The Koori Oral History Program based at the State Library of Victoria is also funded through this program. The Oral History Program acknowledges the importance of the oral traditions of Aboriginal people and is developing and processing a collection of oral history material which will provide a valuable insight to the history of Aboriginal people in Victoria.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,442,000 $1,442,000 $1,442,000

POLICY CO-ORDINATION

Aboriginal Affairs Victoria also has a policy co-ordination function in relation to Aboriginal Affairs in Victoria. In this role the department works with other government agencies to ensure that the needs of Aboriginal people are met in policy development and program delivery. Aboriginal Affairs Victoria is therefore involved in a broad range of state and Commonwealth inter- departmental committees and working groups. These committees include a number which include women's issues as part of their work.

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS • 19 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 166-176 Wellington Parade EAST MELBOURNE 3002 Telephone: (03) 651 7011

The objectives of the Department of Agriculture are to: • maximise long-term economic employment and income growth through agricultural and horticultural products and industries; • develop and promote initiatives to meet the needs of rural people; • promote the availability of nutritious and varied produce of reasonable quality and price; • promote sound animal welfare practices; and • provide special community services to the people of Victoria.

Clients of the Department include farmers, agricultural businesses and related commercial operations, industry organisations and rural communities. The focus of activities in recent years has tended to reflect the changing nature of farming, and there is more recognition of the important and influential role played by women in farming and in the rural community, especially in troubled times. The Department is developing and improving ways in which its services can help all of its clients, particularly women, and be easily accessible to them.

The Minister of Agriculture is responsible for a number of statutory authorities including: the Animal Preparations Board, Australian Barley Board (joint with South Australia), Egg Industry Licensing Committee, Egg Prices Review Panel, Melbourne Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market Trust, Murray Valley Citrus Marketing Board (jointly with New South Wales), Tobacco Leaf Marketing Board, Tomato Processing Industry Negotiating Committee, Veterinary Board of Victoria, Veterinary Specialists Qualification Committee, Victorian Abattoir and Meat Inspection Authority, Victorian Broiler Industry Negotiating Committee, Victorian Dairy Industry Authority, Victorian Dried Fruits Board, Victorian Egg Marketing Board and the Wine Grape Industry Negotiating Committee. There are a total of one hundred and eight representatives sitting on these various boards, and of these, nine are women. The Minister of Agriculture is also responsible for Daratech which is a company wholly owned by the Government; there are six Daratech of directors, of which one is a woman.

There are seventeen Ministerial Advisory Committees, generally industry based, but four are advisory committees to the Department in the regions. On all the Advisory Committees, 8 per cent of the members are women. However, women represent 20 per cent of the four regional Department advisory committees. There have been informal meetings with women in various areas to ascertain their needs and priorities. This has helped raise the awareness of the requirements of the Department's women clients.

The Department of Agriculture has recognised the importance of women in agriculture and in the rural community and has a policy to encourage women to be

AGRICULTURE • 20 involved at all levels with the Department.

Recognising the major contribution of women in farming, an in-house training course, 'Working with Women as Clients', was piloted in 1990, and another course has been organised for 1991. Additional training sessions have been conducted with staff to assist them to attract women to departmental activities. Most extension activities are now organised with the whole farm family in mind. This has resulted in the provision of child-minding facilities, appropriate venues, timing of meetings to fit in with family life, inviting the farm families to attend, more use of electronic media, such as morning television, and the provision of materials to appeal to the whole family. Where charges are made for Departmental programs, discounts are provided for families.

The Department regularly assists groups, such as the Country Women's Association and the Victorian Farmers Federation, to organise events such as the Country Women's Forum at Swan Hill and the Women on Farms Gathering held at Sea Lake, which attracted seventy, and one hundred and twenty participants respectively.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $107.8m $107.6m $98.0m

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

The aim of the agricultural development program in the Department is to maximise sustainable economic growth through agricultural products and industries. The three main areas of activity in agricultural development are research, regulation and extension. The budget allocation is 80 per cent for research and regulation, and 20 per cent for extension. It is in the area of extension that there is the most interaction with clients.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 86.9m $87.5m $79.679m

Participation of Women The increasing awareness and targeting of women as clients seems to be having a beneficial effect. The number of women participating in Departmental programs delivering technical information relative to Agriculture is increasing, with as many as 40 per cent of the participants being women. The use of discussion groups and special seminars appears to be a favourable format. At seminars conducted by the Department addressing the current rural downturn and looking at financial and farm planning, 20 per cent of the audiences were women.

Project Officer: Women in Agriculture The Department of Agriculture provides financial and office support to this program, which is managed by the Office of Rural Affairs. Designated staff in each region assist in this program as part of their job. A report on this project is in

AGRICULTURE • 21 the section from the Office of Rural Affairs.

Farm and Financial Management Courses These seminars and courses have been run for varying periods of time in the different industries and regions of Victoria. They are continuing to be successful, particularly in the dairying industry, where 35 per cent of the participants have been women. More workshops will be run for dairy farmers this coming year.

However in other areas the numbers attracted to these courses have dwindled. A study is being undertaken to see if it is lack of self-confidence and self-esteem that are barriers to participation in financial management training. This research will enable the Department to identify and remove these barriers to allow more farming families to obtain these skills.

Farm Skills Courses The Department actively supports training in farm skills for rural women, to encourage more involvement in the farm partnership. The short courses are run in conjunction with tertiary and adult learning facilities, such as Victorian College of Agriculture and Horticulture and TAFE, and are directed specifically at women. A range of courses were provided in the past two years, and these attracted up to forty participants each.

While these courses are not run by the Department, staff are generally involved in providing technical assistance and in attracting funding. In one region a farm discussion group was established as a follow-on from the course, and it has been meeting regularly since January 1991 with organisational, technical and secretarial support from the Department.

Farmers' Support Groups Throughout the State, groups have been set up to support communities affected by the rural downturn. These support groups have played a valuable role in reviewing family support services and providing rural counselling services. Their committees of management include departmental staff, and some support services are provided by the Department. Women are represented on all committees.

Clean Agriculture The Department's Clean Agriculture program aims to promote the responsible and minimal use of chemicals to control pests and diseases in agriculture. This program also monitors the level of chemical residue in produce. The Department generally provides assistance to any interested groups on chemical awareness. These activities are relevant and beneficial to both women and men.

The Department has conducted a Chemical Awareness Week for the past three years. In 1991 the Clean Agriculture Awareness Week provided a focus for chemical awareness and included a wide range of activities. Some activities were targeted to women, for example talks and seminars at community and neighbourhood houses, talks to the Country Women's Association, and displays at

AGRICULTURE • 22 locations frequently visited by women. Programs are also delivered to schools. Departmental monitoring in 1990 showed the dissemination of information on chemicals was highly effective.

The Farm Chemical User's Course, a training program in safe chemical use, will be targeted specifically at women in 1991-92 as part of the broader objective of providing further training in farm skills for women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 1.92m $1.6m $1.3m

Sustainable Agriculture, including Landcare The Department's Sustainable Development Program focuses on research and the provision of technical support for Landcare, and related community groups and on- farm practices that are environmentally sound as well as economically competitive.

This year the Department of Agriculture has nominated over twenty Landcare support officers to ensure that these groups receive sound advice on farming systems that protect the environment while maintaining farm profitability.

Women play a major role in initiating and participating in community Landcare groups. The Department recognises the importance of these groups in promoting the adoption of sustainable land management practices.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 1.5m $1.4m $1.4m

Salinity The Government's Salinity Strategy, 'Salt Action : Joint Action', involves a close partnership between government agencies and rural communities in developing and implementing Salinity Management Plans in salt-affected regions. This approach recognises the importance of community ownership of the problems and a strong commitment to on-ground action. Women, in particular, play a key role in raising community awareness about environmental issues, such as salinity, and are actively involved in community education programs through schools.

This year the Department continued to place a high priority on community education and awareness campaigns on salinity. Specific projects, including Saltwatch, Drain Watch, Watertable Watch, Teaching Farms and Community Salinity Grants, are targeted at schools and community groups. They have been successful in achieving a marked increase in understanding of the causes and costs of salinity, and awareness of control strategies. Women have been particularly active and supportive of these programs.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1.92m $1.6m $1.6m

AGRICULTURE • 23 SPECIAL COMMUNITY SERVICES

Garden Advisory Service This service provides advice and assistance on gardening and horticultural pursuits and nuisance pests to the general community through telephone and personal inquiries, radio talk-back, garden notes, lectures, seminars and meetings. Many activities are being held on weekends to attract the whole family. Gardening is a recreational pursuit with over 56 per cent of the population enjoying it; the therapeutic value of gardening is well recognised. Approximately 50 per cent of the Garden Advisory Service clients are women.

There is increased interest in organic gardening, alternatives to chemicals, more natural foods and home-grown produce to meet this need. In conjunction with the Health Department, an occupational therapist-horticulture has been located at the Garden Advisory Service at Burnley to develop and encourage gardening for people of all ages and people with disabilities. These projects are ongoing and funded through State appropriation and special community funds.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $234.000 $235,000 $235,000

Careers in Agriculture The Careers in Agriculture initiative has been the focus of the presentations on agriculture at career expos, and is made widely available to schools. There are five regional career co-ordinators who promote and deliver this program. Liaison with other agencies, such as Conservation and Environment, is undertaken in provision of information to schools and interested groups. The Department has encouraged schoolgirls to participate in work experience programs provided by the department on request. In view of the current economic circumstances, the program is undergoing a review to determine future directions.

Rural Policy and Marketing The Rural Policy and Marketing division was formally Policy and Rural Affairs and, as such, implemented marketing initiatives and developed policies for all people in rural areas and rural industries. During 1990-91 the Office of Rural Affairs was transferred to the Ministry of Ethnic, Municipal, and Community Affairs.

AGRICULTURE • 24 MINISTRY FOR THE ARTS 2 Kavanagh Street, SOUTH MELBOURNE 3205 Telephone: (03) 649 8888

The Ministry for the Arts aims to foster a vigorous cultural life and to contribute to the social and economic development of the State through the support and development of a range of cultural activities and resources. The major objectives of the Ministry for the Arts are:

• to develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the arts in Victoria; • to increase the availability of the arts and cultural resources and to extend public access; • to assist in the provision of facilities for the performance and display of arts and related cultural products; • to conserve, develop and exhibit the State's cultural heritage, collections and archives. The Minister for the Arts has responsibility for the following statutory bodies and major cultural institutions: Museum of Victoria; National Gallery of Victoria; State Library of Victoria; Victorian Arts Centre Trust; State Film Centre of Victoria; Film Victoria; Geelong Performing Arts Centre Trust; and the Archival Heritage Program (incorporating the Public Records Office).

Half of these institutions are headed by women, and women make up 42 per cent of the membership of their governing bodies, which are appointed by the Governor in Council.

The Minister for the Arts appoints and receives policy advice from a number of statutory and non-statutory bodies, including the Victorian Council of the Arts, Museums Advisory Board, Libraries Board of Victoria, Public Records Advisory Council, Ministerial Advisory Council on Multicultural Affairs and Public Galleries Advisory Board. Thirty-nine per cent of the members of these advisory bodies are women.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990 -91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $92,565,730 $93,504,028 $116,133,000

Annual statistical data collected by the Ministry for the Arts and its branches, which include attendances at major cultural venues, library use and the availability of library services, are generally not gender-specific. However, detailed user surveys providing information on a range of demographic characteristics, including gender, are carried out on an occasional basis. Such surveys almost invariably confirm the fact that women are the major users of cultural resources and services.

ARTS • 25 In the development and implementation of arts funding and support programs, the Ministry for the Arts consults with industry and community groups, such as the Arts Industry Council, the Association of Local Arts Development and various regional networks. Advisory Panels in each art-form area, which assist in the task of grant assessment, are appointed annually following consultation with the arts industry. In selecting these panels, attention is given to the appropriate representation of women, and in 1991 women made up 49 per cent of their membership.

International Women's Day In 1991, for the first time the Ministry for the Arts, its branches, arts organisations and women in the arts, came together in a concerted effort to celebrate International Women's Day. A comprehensive program of events and activities was developed, the highlights being: the second IWD exhibition at The Women's Gallery; a seminar on women in the visual arts at the National Gallery; a week-long program of women's films at the State Film Theatre; 'The Book Night' - a series of literary dinners throughout Victoria; and foyer performances and a photography exhibition at the Victorian Arts Centre. Additionally, an exhibition on the history of IWD at the State Library was held, and displays and programs on women and work were arranged at the Museum of Victoria.

A special edition of the Ministry's newsletter, 'Arts Victoria', on women and the arts was also produced. It publicised events and included a guide to arts resources for women.

Although the Ministry has no discrete programs targeted specifically to women, its programs and services are well used by women, and a number are of special benefit to women.

FILM

State Film Centre In both its collection and its screening program the State Film Centre has sought to represent the work and interests of women. Its collection contains a substantial number of films and videos made by, for, or about women. In 1990-91 a total of forty-four films by women were screened in the twenty-seven programs presented in the State Film Centre.

During 1991-92 the operations of the State Film Centre will be reviewed in light of reduced funding.

Film Production and Marketing Film Victoria assists in the production, distribution, marketing and broadcasting of films for entertainment and educational purposes. The corporation provides funds for commercial productions, government documentaries and cultural activities related to film and television, either through investment or direct

ARTS «26 grant. The major objective of Film Victoria's programs is to support and develop the Victorian film and television industry. Assessment for financial support and funding is based on the criteria of quality, innovation and commercial viability of specific projects. Between July 1990 and May 1991, investment and financial assistance committed by Film Victoria totalled $3,811,632, funding sixty-four drama projects, twenty- one documentary projects and twenty-six cultural organisations and events. Of these, thirty-five drama projects, fourteen documentaries and twenty cultural organisations or events involved women in key creative areas, and received $2,279,132 in financial support, representing 60 per cent of overall funding.

In terms of the number of projects or activities supported by Film Victoria, 62 per cent involved women in key creative and managerial areas. These areas include: producer, director, writer or script editor in drama and documentary projects; and director, co-ordinator, administrator or board member for cultural events.

During 1990-91, Film Victoria has assisted a number of women producers and directors to attend international film markets to promote their projects. Programs directed at assisting new filmmakers to gain experience in the industry have also benefited women. Film Victoria's Independent Filmmakers Fund funded two projects in 1990-91, one of which was produced by a woman, while two of the eight projects funded under the New Writers Scheme involved women writers.

State Film Centre: Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,360,500 $1,396,977 $569,000

Film Victoria: Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $2,700,000 $2,700,000 $3,000

LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES

State Library of Victoria The State Library is Victoria's major public library for research. It provides general information, and specialist and research services to the community. It also collects and preserves publications with Victorian imprints and has a statutory responsibility for the recorded heritage of the State. In 1991-92, an estimated 800,000 users will visit the State Library. Approximately 45 per cent of its users are women.

Collections Women's issues are emphasised in the State Library's selection policy and are collected in depth. Several major collections relating to women are now held. These include the Gerritsen Collection of Women's History: records of women's groups ranging from the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom to the Nursing Mothers Association of Australia; women's photographs; and

ARTS «27 extensive collections of popular women's magazines and feminist journals of the nineteenth century.

Exhibitions During 1990-91, five exhibitions of special interest to women were held in the State Library, including the history of International Women's Day, and an exhibition to mark the 80th anniversary of the Melbourne Society of Women Sculptors and Painters.

Public Library Services The Ministry for the Arts provides substantial financial support for sixty-two library services throughout Victoria, including the Braille and Talking Book Library and the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, which received funding for the first time in 1990-91. In the 1990-91 municipal year, financial assistance totalled $20.7 million. All library services provide a home delivery service for people unable to visit the library, especially the aged and disabled, and most provide material in languages other than English. The public library collections include materials in print, audio and visual formats on women's issues, such as health, child care, and welfare rights.

Surveys undertaken in 1989 produced, for the first time extensive data on library users, including age and gender data, and reasons for visiting libraries. The results confirmed that women, particularly in the 39-59 year age bracket, are major users of public library services.

Archival Heritage In January 1991, responsibility for the State's Archival Heritage Program was transferred to the Minister for the Arts. The Archival Heritage Program is responsible for the management and conservation of Victoria's public records, those documents relating to the State's administrative history from settlement to the present.

Public access to the state archives is provided for in three public search rooms. It is estimated that at least 60 per cent of the search room users are women.

Archival Heritage has mounted a number of exhibitions and displays of archival material. Currently, a display, "Lucy's Story", is on tour to various regional venues around the State. "Lucy's Story" is an example of how a family history can be traced through government records. It follows the birth, immigration, marriage, property transactions and death of an ordinary nineteenth-century woman.

State Library of Victoria Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $9,322,250 $9,499,018 $9,691,000

Public Library Subsidy

ARTS • 28 Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $10,920,000 $10,615,903 $21,504,000

Archival Heritage Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,935,100 $1,910,220 $1,806,000

MUSEUM OF VICTORIA

The Museum of Victoria is committed to providing access to its collections, exhibitions and other resources, to the widest possible community. A number of initiatives of the Museum are of special interest and benefit to women.

Scienceworks The exhibitions and education programs being developed for the new Scienceworks Museum at Spotswood recognise the barriers to female entry into the fields of science and technology. Interactives have been designed to encourage female participation.

Work in the Home The Museum is continuing its recent focus on Work in the Home, based on the collection of the History Department. This collection deals with women's lives, changing social status, and responsibilities of work in the home. The collection has formed the base for successful and popular Community Outreach and Education Programs which explore issues relating to unpaid work and the status and self-image of women.

Aboriginal Programs The Museum is actively involved in supporting Aboriginal communities in conserving and interpreting their culture. Building on the success of 'Daughters of a Dreaming' in Melbourne in 1989-90, the exhibition travelled to Aboriginal communities throughout Victoria in 1990-91, and will be toured to other venues within Victoria and interstate in 1992. A catalogue and calendar were published in association with the exhibition.

Aboriginal women have been actively involved in identifying and collecting photographs for special collections, and an education program, which deals with Aboriginal food collection and processing before white settlement, highlights women's role and skills.

The Aboriginal Liaison Unit conducted a series of programs for Aboriginal women at Fairlea Prison. Participants learned about Aboriginal material culture and the museum's collections, discussed current issues and their relation to the past, the diversity of Aboriginal culture in Australia, kinship and the role of women. The material was also used for literacy work with the participants.

ARTS • 29 Community Outreach The Community Outreach Program, a mobile 'hands-on' service, focuses on groups unable to visit the Museum because of social, economic, and physical circumstances. During the period of July 1990 - June 1991, a total of forty-four outreach programs were conducted, predominantly for women in nursing homes, day centres, church and other community groups. To mark International Women's Day, special programs were run in Eltham Shire. As well, a successful week of sessions on 'The Backyard at Mum's' was conducted, and 80 per cent of those attending were women.

Future Initiatives Work has begun with the Hmong Women's Association, on planning community- based exhibitions for October 1991, that will feature the culture and experiences of a hill tribe of South East Asia. Similar exhibitions in conjunction with the African Women's Organisation, are scheduled for 1992 . In 1991, a special oral history project, which focuses on women textile workers from five different language groups, was begun. The aim of the project is to develop collections which illustrate the important role women play as agents of cultural development, adaptation and change.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $9,262,370 $9,468,698 $10,725,000

NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA

The National Gallery of Victoria has the oldest, largest and most comprehensive collection of art in Australia. The Gallery's collections and programs are a major asset of Victoria. The Gallery runs an extensive program of exhibitions and related activities to enhance public knowledge and enjoyment of the visual arts.

Collections In the past the Gallery had no active program of collecting work by women artists. Today, however, the collection sets out to represent the contribution of women artists in Australian art. The Margaret Stewart Endowment purchases works by young emerging artists for the Gallery. Over the past few years, approximately half of these acquisitions have been of work by women artists.

Exhibitions Over the next five years, the Gallery's exhibition program will recognise the contribution of women artists, with major retrospective exhibitions of Bea Maddock, Rosalie Gascoigne, Inge King, Susan Norrie and Ethel Carrick Fox. The exhibition program for 1991-92 includes an exhibition of two important Australian ceramists, Fiona Murphy and Deborah Halpern, whose major work, 'Angel', in the Gallery moat, has become a Melbourne landmark.

Access The Gallery has over 575,000 visitors per annum, and market research conducted

ARTS • 30 in 1989 indicated that 67 per cent of regular visitors are women. The Gallery is committed to attracting families and people from all social and cultural backgrounds to its programs. A major seminar on women artists, chaired by writer Janine Burke, was held to celebrate International Women's Day 1991, and is to be an annual event. A new initiative in 1991 is the establishment of an Access Gallery for exhibitions by community groups. Considerable interest has already been shown in the space, which will enable the art and crafts created by women from the various ethnic communities and other groups to be displayed.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $6,203,850 $6,347,883 $6,154,000

VICTORIAN ARTS CENTRE TRUST

The Victorian Arts Centre aims to make its programs accessible to all sectors of the community. Market research has indicated that women are the largest users of cultural product of the Arts Centre. In particular, older women patrons are attracted to Morning Melodies, the Open Mind project and matinee performances. In 1991, the Victorian Arts Centre celebrated International Women's Day with an exhibition of women's photography and women's performances.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $5,157,200 $ 5,205,200 $5,067,000

ARTS FUNDING

The major arts funding program of the Ministry for the Arts is targeted to art-form areas rather than specific populations. In certain art forms, such as crafts and community arts, the majority of participants and practitioners are women. Across all art forms, women are to be found in the senior management area. Of arts organisations receiving grants of over $50,000, 58 per cent are headed by women as chief administrator and/or artistic director. In the visual arts, six of the sixteen regional art gallery directors are women, and over 80 cent of the metropolitan public galleries are headed by women.

The Ministry for the Arts funds a number of programs employing artists or commissioning works of art, such as artist residencies and the painted trams project. In these programs every effort is made to ensure that women artists are adequately represented. To date, under the 1991 Artist-in-Community Program, 63 per cent of the artists employed in twelve projects are women, and the same proportion, nineteen of thirteen artists, in the Artist-in-Schools Program are women. Half of the painted trams have been executed by women artists, and at least 50 per cent of individuals listed on the Artist Register available for public art commissioning are women artists.

A number of projects funded by the Ministry for the Arts are oriented towards the interests of women. In 1991 these included:

ARTS • 31 • Women's Art Register ($7,500): a public access and archive collection with over 12,000 images and other documentation representing over 2,000 women artists, predominately Australian; • Australian Feminist Book Fortnight ($5,000): a biennial two-week festival of literary events - workshops, readings, performance - to celebrate women as writers and readers, to be held in September 1991; • Australian Women's Book Review ($5,000): a quarterly journal established in 1989, publishing and reviewing women's writing; and • Warrnambool Women's Festival (2,800): an annual multi-arts festival to be held for two weeks in October-November 1991.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $8,636,900 $8,626,900 $8,910,000

ARTS «32 ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT 200 Queen Street MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03)603 7777

It is the purpose of the Attorney-General's Department to deliver accessible, responsive and equitable systems of justice and legal services to the community and the Government. The Department does this through:

• providing efficient administrative support and facilities for the Court system throughout Victoria; • increasing access to the legal system and alternative methods of dispute resolution; • providing high-quality legal and policy advice to the Attorney-General and Government agencies; • identifying and reviewing the need to reform civil and criminal law so that civil liberties and human rights are protected; • providing expert legal drafting services to the Government and members of the Parliament; • ensuring as far as possible, that Victoria is a society free from unjust discrimination and prejudice; • promoting monitoring and regulating those aspects of business and co-operative affairs that come within the Attorney-General's responsibilities; and • promoting and protecting the rights and interests of people with disabilities. The Attorney-General has ministerial responsibility for a number of statutory authorities including:

• The Legal Aid Commission. The Commission provides legal aid and controls and administers the Legal Aid Fund. Legal aid includes legal assistance for eligible applicants, free legal advice through offices of the commission and community agencies, free duty lawyer services at court, and community education and information. • The Victorian Law Reform Commission. The Commission examines, reports and makes recommendations on matters referred to it by the Attorney-General, and monitors and co-ordinates law reform activity in Victoria. • The Office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity. The Commissioner receives, investigates and conciliates complaints of discrimination under the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act (1984), Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act (1984) and the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act (1975). The Commissioner handles complaints of discrimination in areas of employment, education, goods and services, accommodation, clubs, advertising and sport. A separate entry from the Office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity can be found on page 94. • The Equal Opportunity Board. The Board hears and determines complaints

ATTORNEY-GENERAL • 33 conciliated. The Board has power to order remedies where complaints before the Board are deemed justified. • The Office of the Public Advocate. The Office promotes the rights and dignity of people with disabilities to strengthen their position in society and to reduce their exploitation, abuse and neglect.

Other statutory bodies for which the Attorney-General has responsibility are: Guardianship and Administration Board; Administrative Appeals Tribunal; Crimes Compensation Tribunal; and the Estate Agents Board. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Land Titles Office, Births, Deaths & Marriages and the State Trustee Corporation of Victoria are also within the Attorney-General's portfolio.

The Attorney-General's responsibility for the legal system in Victoria requires the involvement of the Department and statutory authorities within the portfolio, in a range of activities which have significant impact on the lives of Victorian women. Responsibilities include the implementation and monitoring of legislation, management of the court system, and the provision of legal aid and law reform.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $212,875,000 $233,673,000

IMPLEMENTING AND MONITORING LEGISLATION

Family Law Although Family Law is a Commonwealth Government responsibility, the Attorney-General's Department is responsible for the administration of Family Law Orders relating to maintenance payments, access to children, custody and a range of other property and economic security matters. The State Government is reimbursed by the Commonwealth for maintaining these services.

Family Violence The Crimes (Family Violence) Act came into force in December 1987. The Family Violence Prevention Committee, with representation from community groups and relevant government departments, was established to monitor implementation of both the Act and non-legislative measures against family violence. The Committee is convened by the Attorney-General's Department. Task forces, which report to the Committee, address such issues as housing for victims of family violence, and education for professionals such as doctors, lawyers, teachers social workers and the clergy. The Committee has formal links with the Commonwealth/State Committee on Violence Against Women, convened by the Office of the Status of Women in the Prime Minister's Department.

The Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987 provides for Intervention Orders in cases of family violence. An intervention order is a civil remedy designed to complement existing criminal law remedies. Since the introduction of the

ATTORNEY-GENERAL • 34 legislation, Magistrates' Courts have granted more than 10,000 intervention orders. Training of registrars in relation to this matter has been undertaken across the State. New registrars receive information and training on the Crimes (Family Violence) Act, and are encouraged during their initital ten-week training session to develop sensitivity to the plight of victims of family violence.

Sexual Offences In 1991, Parliament enacted reforms to the laws relating to sexual offences. A number of the reforms are intended to ease the stress the criminal justice system puts on complainants in sexual offence cases and are, therefore, of particular relevance to women, who are the main victims of such offences. The legislation will be implemented in the course of 1991-92.

In 1991, the Attorney-General also asked the Victorian Law Reform Commission to undertake a further examination of legal and other issues that may deter victims from reporting sexual offences, and may hinder the prosecution of offences.

DISPUTE SETTLEMENT CENTRE PROGRAM

The Dispute Settlement Centre Program has been developed to provide Victorian citizens with the opportunity to settle disputes in an informal and confidential setting. Centres are located in shop-front facilities in Preston, Wantirna South, Geelong, Bendigo, Morwell, St Kilda and Frankston. The Dispute Settlement Centre Program is community based and managed, and women have played a major role in the planning, development and management of the centres.

In 1991, centres have initiated two projects of direct relevance to women. These are a pilot project to assist the early resolution of family law matters; and a project to assist the early resolution of parent-adolescent disputes, with the objective of reducing the risk of youth homelessness.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $l.lm $1.065m $1.087m

LEGAL AID

The Legal Aid Commission provides legal services to applicants assessed as being eligible for legal assistance on the basis of financial means and the reasonableness of providing assistance in a particular case. Grants of legal assistance can be referred to the Commission's salaried solicitors or to private practitioners.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 62.6m $64.7m $69.2m

Commission solicitors have developed special skills in certain areas of legal practice that have particular importance for women. These include social security matters, equal opportunity law, family law and consumer credit law. Family law

ATTORNEY-GENERAL • 35 matters in which Commission solicitors have special skills include: obtaining urgent injunctions to protect a spouse from harassment or violence; applications for sole occupancy of the former matrimonial home where there have been instances of domestic violence; urgent applications to recover children abducted from a custodial parent; the recovery of maintenance for custodial parents living overseas, where the spouse is living in Victoria; and the representation of children in Family Court and County Court proceedings where the judge has ordered that a child should be separately represented. Such orders are often made in cases where an allegation of child abuse has been made.

Legal Assistance was granted to 36,170 persons in 1990-91. In 1990, the annual sample survey of 1,200 applications for legal assistance indicated that men comprised 63.3 per cent of applicants and women, 36.7 per cent. The 16 -24 year age group represented the largest proportion of men (24.9 per cent) whereas the largest proportion of women were in the age group 25-34 years (15.2 per cent). The rate of acceptance of applications varied between men (80 per cent) and women (78 per cent) in 1990. Matters for which women most often apply for assistance included (last year's figures in brackets) - criminal offences involving property 26.5 per cent (29.2 per cent), maintenance and property 18.6 per cent (17.9 per cent), custody and access 15.1 per cent (12 per cent), drugs 4.5 per cent (5.5 per cent) and criminal offences against persons 3.1 per cent (3.4 per cent).

Community Legal Centres Community Legal Centres provide free services to their local communities on a wide range of legal problems. They are funded through the Legal Aid Commission by the State Government and Commonwealth Government, but are independent of Government and the Commission.

One of the community legal centres funded by the Legal Aid Commission is the Women's Legal Resource Group. The group received $93,822 from the Commission for the 1991 calendar year. The Commission has budgeted $99,426 for the group for 1992. K

Duty Lawyers Services Duty Lawyer Services involve the attendance at Magistrates' Courts of solicitors who advise and appear for persons charged with criminal or traffic offences, but who have come to the Court without legal representation. As with legal advice, the service is free and is not subject to a means test.

LEGAL ADVICE

The Legal Aid Commission provides free legal advice at its ten metropolitan and regional offices. It also provides regular visiting advice services at various institutions and locations, including custodial institutions such as Fairlea Women's Prison, Winlaton Youth Training Centre and Winbirra Remand Centre, Pentridge and Barwon prisons and Allambie Reception Centre.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL • 36 In 1989-90, 6,644 people were advised by visiting Commission solicitors at prison and the detention centres, an increase of 3.5 per cent over 1988-89. A further 34,672 persons were advised at Legal Aid Commission offices, an increase of 3.1 per cent over 1988-89. In 1989-90, telephone advisers handled 50,584 calls at the Melbourne office. It is expected that 62,000 people will receive telephone advice in 1990-91, an increase of 23 per cent. Staff report that the majority of callers are women. Free legal advice is also provided through Community Legal Centres.

Non-English Speaking Telephone Services (NESTS) The Commission has continued to specifically target programs for non-English- speaking women with Family Law problems. It is being extended to include six languages (Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Polish, Spanish and Turkish). The program continues to involve broadcasts on ethnic radio and community radio, advertisements in ethnic community newspapers, production of multilingual posters, seminars and consultations with ethnic community workers, and upgrading of the skills of the workers involved in providing the telephone information. The project has been extended from once a month to twice a month with a long term aim to integrate this into mainstream services in six or eight community languages.

Child Support Service The Commission has established a unit in its Family Law Division to provide information, advice and assistance on the Child Support Scheme. The unit consists of one solicitor and two paralegal staff, and conducts seminars to enable custodial parents, normally women, to obtain maintenance orders and register them with the Child Support Agency.

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE

The mission of the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) is to promote the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, to strengthen their position in society, and to reduce exploitation, abuse and neglect of them. The Office's clients include people with intellectual disability, mental illness, brain damage, senility or physical/sensory disability.

The number of individual clients has increased from 766 last year to 1,053 this year, that is, 287 or 37.5 per cent more people. Men and women are evenly represented (49.4 per cent and 50.6 per cent) as OPA clients. However, women are more likely to be over 60 years of age (55 per cent of all female clients and 43 per cent of all male clients).

The observation that OPA's female clients are more likely to be older is confirmed when considering the statutory disabilities of OPA clients. Almost one-third of the female clients (32.1 per cent) have what are viewed as age-related disabilities of pre-senile dementia or senility-related disabilities. On the other hand, male clients are more likely than women to experience disabilities through brain damage due to either chemical or trauma-related causes (20.6 per cent).

ATTORNEY-GENERAL • 37 GUARDIANSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION BOARD

Under the provisions of the Guardianship and Administration Board Act 1986, the Guardianship and Administration Board (GAB) protects the personal and financial affairs of persons who, because of disability, are incapable of making reasonable decisions and who are in need of legal guardians and/or legal administrators.

Included in these decision-making responsibilities are those involving major medical procedures such as the sterilisation of women who are classified as being unable to make informed judgements or reasonable decisions about their personal well being.

Section 37 of the Act permits the appointment of a guardian for the purpose of allowing the following medical procedures to be performed. It should be emphasised that the GAB considers applications of this type in great detail before appointing a guardian to act on behalf of the person with a disability. The three procedures are: sterilisation (female and male); termination of pregnancy; and donation of non-regenerative tissue material.

In conjunction with the proclamation of the Medical Treatment (Enduring Power of Attorney) Act 1990, on 6 August 1990, GAB issued 'Incapacity and Consent for Health Care Guidelines', which had been developed in conjunction with the Medical Directors of Victorian Public Hospitals and the Office of the Public Advocate. These guidelines list the specific matters that the board and health care professionals need to address when applications for the procedures are being considered.

CO-OPERATIVES AND SOCIETIES DIVISION

Among other activities, the Co-operatives and Societies Division provides a range of services and advice to people involved in the establishment and operation of general co-operatives.

There are a variety of co-operatives registered under the Co-operation Act 1981, and these provide a range of services, including primary production, trading activities and the provision of community services. A number of the community advancement co-operatives provide services which are of benefit to the community and to women in particular.

For example, membership of child-care and housing co-operatives, of which there are currently 137, appear to have a higher percentage of women participants. This also appears to be the case for co-operatives involved in provision for ethnic communities. There are also co-operatives, such as the Kensington Catering Co- operative, formed exclusively to provide employment opportunities for women.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL • 38 While there is no specific budget allocation attached to the provision of services to women, nor services specifically targeted to women, it is considered that the Division provides a function which is of direct benefit to women. Assistance is provided in terms of the formation of co-operatives, training courses and advice regarding the application of legal requirements.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL • 39 COMMUNITY SERVICES VICTORIA 115 Victoria Parade FITZROY 3065 Telephone: (03) 412 7777

Community Services Victoria (CSV) aims to increase people's capacity to manage their lives, improve their communities, provide support in times of individual or family stress and need, and ensure that there is a safe environment in which family life can flourish and people can feel secure.

CSV works in collaboration with the local and non-government sectors to ensure that Government policies in the community services area are implemented and that priority is given to accessible, culturally relevant and accountable services.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-2 $801m $791.6m $876.0m

Women are the major users of CSV's programs due to their disproportionately high representation among groups vulnerable to poverty, violence and exploitation. Many of CSV's services, though not targeted to women, impact on women as carers of elderly or disabled family members and children. Women also provide the bulk of volunteer labour in the community services sector, and the social and community services industry is a major employer of women.

CHILD PROTECTION AND FAMILY SERVICES

The Child Protection and Family Services Division provides a range of services for parents to assist them to ensure the development and safety of their children. Specialist services are also available to support children and families with extra needs, so these people can participate as fully as possible in the community.

Specialist Child and Family Services Community Services Victoria is the lead agency for Specialist Child and Family Services. These services are funded by the Health Department Victoria, the Ministry of Education and Training and CSV to co-ordinate services for children with additional needs.

The program involves parents in a range of projects to improve the way that services are delivered to these children and their families. This is of special relevance to women who carry the major responsibility for caring for children with disabilities. The program, in its present form, will conclude at the end of 1991. CSV is currently developing strategies to ensure a high level of support to parents after 1991.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1.2m $l.lm $0.55m

COMMUNITY SERVICES • 40 FAMILY HEALTH AND SUPPORT

Early Intervention Early Intervention services are directed towards children below school age who have disabilities or significant developmental delays. Services provide support and specialised programs to maximise the child's development, increase the capacity of parents to maintain their child within the family and enable access to local early childhood services. During 1991 five parent support groups in rural regions have been funded to increase the diversity of services available to families.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $6.7m $6.5m $6.9m

Maternal and Child Health Service This service is offered through Local Government and provides community-based primary health care to all families with children aged from 0-6 years. There are 860 Maternal and Child Health Services located across Victoria. They provide early identification and intervention in health problems, information, advice, support, and access to local health and social networks.

A significant number of maternal health and social problems are dealt with by Maternal and Child Health Nurses. These include delay in post-natal recovery, difficulty with lactation, post-natal depression, substance abuse, poverty and domestic violence. The role of the Maternal and Child Health program in addressing maternal health needs is currently being examined by CSV.

Following the release of the Ministerial Review of Birthing Services in 1990, $100,000 was allocated by CSV in 1990-91 to establish the Maternal and Child Health After Hours Service, which provides health information, advice and support to families with children aged 0-6 years. This service commenced in May 1991. In order to provide rural access, a 008 telephone number was funded. Women from non-English-speaking backgrounds will have access via the Telephone Interpreter Service.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $15m $15.06m $14.6m

Family Support The Family Support Program provides family counselling, family aides and parent resource co-ordination to families experiencing problems due to stress or difficulties with parenting or relationships. Services have a direct impact on women as care givers and because they are over-represented in low-income households.

In 1990-91, administration of the Financial Counselling Service was transferred from the Family Support program to the Community Support program to

COMMUNITY SERVICES • 41 strengthen the links between the service and policy development in the area of income security.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $9.8m $9.9m $10.1m

PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Child Protection Services are provided to children and young people up to 17 years of age who are at risk of harm as a result of abuse or neglect. Departmental staff investigate and assess notifications of child abuse and neglect, and provide support to enhance the family's capacity to protect the child. When children live away from the family to ensure their protection, the Child Protection Service is responsible for providing a safe living environment. In 1990 there were 5,124 notifications, of which 52.4 per cent concerned girls and young women. Girls or young women constitute 82.4 per cent of children who were sexually abused, and sexual abuse constituted 10.2 per cent of all registered abuse cases.

An analysis of 1,943 child protection (registered) cases in 1990 showed that 43.9 per cent were from sole-parent families, and that 89.2 per cent of sole-parent families were headed by a female parent; 60 per cent of parents were not in the paid labour force, compared with 21.8 per cent in the general population; 62.5 per cent of the people surveyed were living in rented accommodation. It is evident from these figures that women and children in the child protection client population are particularly vulnerable, both socially and economically.

An additional $1.6m was provided for Protective Services in 1990-91. These funds provide for the full-year cost of the transfer of a welfare-based protection service in four CSV regions. Additionally, the development of a pilot program for children who have been subjected to sexual abuse has commenced with a full-year cost of $200,000.

The Professional Education Unit undertook a range of major projects during 1990 targeting professional groups and the community. Initiatives to raise public awareness of child abuse and neglect and to facilitate appropriate professional and community response, included resourcing education and training for professional groups and the community. The ongoing campaign focusing on sexual abuse includes training for workers, teachers and doctors, and the production of an education package, including a video and guide for general practitioners.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $24m $21.1m Not available

Adoption and Permanent Care The Adoption and Permanent Care Program provides a placement service both adoption and extended family placement services for babies and children with special needs. The children with special needs include those with disabilities,

COMMUNITY SERVICES • 42 older children and sibling groups. In 1990-91 the Adoption and Permanent Care Program placed approximately 105 children. The service was decentralised, with six teams each covering two to four CSV regions. The teams provide extensive counselling, support and a referral service to birth parents, who are predominantly single young women enquiring about adoption for their child. In many instances, single women are assisted to keep the child with support from CSV and community agencies.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1.67m $1.9m $1.8m

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

The Community Support Division promotes the development of a wide range of community support programs, networks and activities.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ASSISTANCE

Community Support and Development Grants Community Support and Development Grants give priority to projects that foster initiative and self-reliance in communities. Funding is provided, through grants, to support neighbourhood houses, public housing tenants, low-income people, and services for Aboriginal people and those from non-English-speaking backgrounds. In addition, forty grants are made to specialist women's groups and initiatives for women. Approximately 750 groups were funded in Victoria in 1991.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $4.7m $4.6m $4.7m

Neighbourhood Houses The Neighbourhood House Co-ordination Program aims to reduce the incidence of social problems in the community by encouraging self-help, community contact and reducing the isolation of women at home with young children. The program provides funds for co-ordinators' salaries, on-costs and operating grants to 191 neighbourhood houses in Victoria. The Houses offer a wide variety of programs and activities, including play groups, domestic-violence support groups, return to work programs and other learning activities. The Neighbourhood House Co- ordination Program has proven successful in reducing social isolation and providing opportunities for women who may have diminished confidence and self- esteem.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $3.9m $3.8m $4m

Family Violence Initiatives Through Crimes (Family Violence) Act payments, $100,000 has been allocated under the Community Support and Development Grants Project for a special

COMMUNITY SERVICES • 43 Family Violence Initiatives fund. In 1991, twenty projects have been funded, fourteen of which are targeted at adult women who are victims of family violence; six groups receive funding to work with male perpetrators. Some groups train staff to work in the area of family violence, or these have a community education focus that seeks to raise awareness of the structural causes of family violence in society.

In 1991, the Victorian Community Council Against Violence (CCAV) was funded by CSV to employ a full-time Family Violence Project Officer. The role of the project officer is to report on support services for survivors, and counselling and treatment services for perpetrators, and to develop and recommend practicable strategies to promote the use of such services. Additional funding was made available to CCAV for the publication and dissemination of six educational booklets for both field workers and people directly affected by family violence.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $224,858 $153,030* $320,000 * The unused community education allocation will be used in 1991-92.

Women's Information and Referral Exchange The Women's Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE), funded under a Community Support and Development Grant, provides a free telephone information and referral service to women and contributes to policy development and community education on issues of particular relevance to women. WIRE advocates on behalf of women, particularly those from non-English-speaking backgrounds, in relation to access to information and skills development. WIRE also undertakes research and data assessment and contributes to community education through the media and other forums. WIRE is one of three women's services currently being reviewed by CSV.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $285,000 $292,090 $311,000

Poverty Action Plan The Poverty Action Plan assists people on low incomes to contribute to government decision making and encourages the development of skills and methods for overcoming the effects of poverty. Approximately 80 per cent of the membership of funded groups are women, many of whom are sole parents.

Funded groups include: the Council for Single Mothers and Their Children, Prostitutes' Collective Victoria, Community Links and the Western Association of Community Centres' Sole Parent Self-Help Groups. A ministerial review of future directions for the program is underway.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $lm $997,096 $787,000

COMMUNITY SERVICES • 44 HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE

The Home and Community Care (HACC) program is designed to assist frail or at- risk older people and people with disabilities, to remain living in their own homes. It does this by providing a range of integrated maintenance and support services for these people (and their carers), without which the recipients may have to seek long-term residential care. Services include home help, home maintenance, food service, respite and day care. Of the estimated 92,180 recipients of HACC services in 1990-91, 56 per cent were women aged 70 years or more; a further 18 per cent were women younger than 70 years. These women received services either for their own needs or because they were primary carers of a person with a disability.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $93.5m $93.2m $100.0m

SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Supported Accommodation and Assistance Program (SAAP) provides a range of accommodation and support services for individuals and families who are permanently homeless and who require assistance to move toward independent living, and for women and their children who are escaping domestic violence.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $32m $32m $3 5.4m

Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre The Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre (DVIRC) was established in 1988 as part of a Government strategy to reduce the incidence of family violence. The Centre provides information, support and referral services to survivors of family violence and incest, conducts community and professional education seminars and workshops, facilitates the development of self-help networks, and acts as a resource centre for information on domestic violence and incest. DVIRC is funded through the Commonwealth-State Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP). The State Government also contributes, through Crimes (Family Violence) Act payments, a recurrent grant of $227,942 in 1990-91.

A review of DVIRC and other information and referral services for women is being conducted by CSV from March to July 1991. The aim of the review is to identify gaps and duplications in service and to provide options for more effective and efficient service delivery.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $362,600 $376,500 $390,100

Women's Refuges and Outreach Services A wide range of services is provided for women and their children escaping

COMMUNITY SERVICES • 45 domestic violence. There are currently: twenty-four women's refuges; a 24-hour, 7- days-a-week referral and interim accommodation service; and a refuge ethnic worker service. This last service employs workers from a diversity of cultures to provide support to women from non-English-speaking backgrounds who are in the work force or who are residing in refuges. Of the twenty four refuges, one is targeted at Koori women, one at women from non-English-speaking backgrounds and one at young women who have been victims of incest. Refuges provide secure accommodation, personal support and assistance in obtaining legal advice, medical services, social security payments and appropriate housing.

Women who do not require a refuge or who are unable to move into one, may be supported through one of the fourteen domestic violence outreach services. There are four more of these than in 1989-90, and further expansion of this service model for domestic violence problems is expected in 1991-92.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $7.5m $7.544m $7.94m

CONCESSIONS FOR PENSIONERS AND BENEFICIARIES

CSV, through the Income Maintenance and Projects Unit, advises the Victorian Government on income security issues. CSV also co-ordinates, monitors and reviews the State concessions system to ensure that the system benefits the most disadvantaged groups in the community. CSV reimburses local councils, the Board of Works, water and sewerage authorities, energy authorities, and the Public Transport Corporation and private bus companies, for the cost of providing rebates on rates, energy charges and transport.

The State Government targets concessions to the most disadvantaged groups in the community, primarily to holders of Commonwealth Health Cards. Concessions are also provided to veterans and war widows as compensation for injury and personal loss. Approximately fifty-nine per cent of concessions recipients are women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $100.9m $105.5m $130.1m

CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES

The Children & Youth Services Division develops and coordinates a range of programs including alternative accommodation for children who are unable to be cared for at home, and services for young people who commit offences and who receive a custodial sentence or community order.

Adoption Information Service The Adoption Information Service provides information about birth and family background to persons involved in an adoption. Adoption information

COMMUNITY SERVICES • 46 applications by birth parents come predominantly from birth mothers, often enabling these women and the children they relinquished to be reunited. The ability to seek information became possible through access information provision under the Adoption Act (1984). At the end of April 1991, there were 14,811 registrants. Of this total 3,696 are birth parents (who are predominantly female), 927 are relatives (including natural sisters, grandmothers and aunts), 699 are adoptive parents, 28 are children of adopted persons, and 9,458 are adopted persons (approximately 60 per cent of whom are female).

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1.14m $l.lm $l.lm

ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION AND CARE

Extended Family Care is responsible for a range of alternative accommodation and care programs, including, foster care, reception services, residential care, supported youth accommodation and adoption information.

Differing expectations in the community and the youth correction and child protection systems have lead to differential treatment by police and welfare organisations of young women and men. Young women are more likely to be incarcerated as non-offenders if community services are not suitable for them or available to them. Extended Family Care will co-ordinate the development of a Young Women's Policy and implementation strategy that will address these issues. The strategy will include new practice and service initiatives and will be implemented in stages during 1991.

During 1990-91, significant service developments have occurred in Extended Family Care that provide alternative community placements for young women. These include the Napier Street Project that caters for young women who are on Protection Applications, and the Burwood Medium Term Unit that accommodates young women who are difficult to place.

To reduce the incarceration of young women at Winlaton Youth Training Centre, a remand advocacy program was established at the Centre to ensure that alternative community placements are used wherever possible. In the latter half of 1991, a secure welfare service for young women will be developed as an alternative placement to Winlaton for young women who are at substantial and immediate risk of harm to themselves.

With the expansion of the Adolescent Community Placement program and the increase in the number of Medium Term Units (small residential units) to seven by June 1991, more placement options will be available to young women. Similarly the development of the Behaviourial Intervention Support teams will increase CSV's capacity to provide support and assistance to young women who would be subject to statutory intervention.

COMMUNITY SERVICES • 47 A comparative study of reception and medium-term units undertaken in late 1990 and early 1991, has highlighted the need for additional gender-specific service developments and gender policies for services that cater for both males and females. These policies and development will occur during 1991 as part of the Young Women's Policy and implementation strategy.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $75.4 m $74.4m $79.3m

YOUNG OFFENDERS SERVICES

Youth Support Services The Youth Support Branch provides advice to staff in institutions and community- based services for young offenders, and is responsible for young persons who commit offences, appear before the Criminal Division of the Children's Court, or who are on custodial or community-based orders. The Youth Support Branch is responsible for the development of new programs and services supporting the implementation of the Children and Young Person's Act 1989.

In 1990-91 a major focus of the Branch's work was the implementation of co- ordinated young offender services and the Youth Attendance Order into rural areas, the establishment of the Young Offenders Health Board, and the development of Individual Program Planning Guidelines for young offenders in Youth Training Centres. There are currently four Youth Training Centres. Winlaton is for young women only.

The redevelopment of services for children and young people requiring secure care and custody was announced in March 1991, with significant implications for young women. Young women requiring secure care will now be accommodated in a Secure Welfare Service rather than at Winlaton Youth Training Centre. Young female offenders receiving sentences will be placed in custody at a redeveloped Nunawading complex, which will incorporate a Youth Residential Centre (YRC) for 10-15-year-old females and a Youth Training Centre (YTC) for 15-21-year-old females. The redeveloped Nunawading complex will be established in late 1991 with separate provision for 10-15-year-old males sentenced to a Youth Residential Order.

The implementation, in 1991-92, of the Youth Supervision Order for 10-17-year- olds, will increase the range of dispositions available to young offenders, further supporting the community (re)integration of young offenders.

The HIV/AIDS peer-education pilot at Winlaton Youth Training Centre in 1989- 90 has provided a successful model for further development of peer-education strategies. The Pilot Winlaton Outdoor Experience program highlighted the benefits to young women of access to challenging physical recreational programs, and suggests it is worthy of future replication.

COMMUNITY SERVICES • 48 The appointment of a female representative to the Youth Parole Board occurred in 1991, and this will be replicated in an appointment to the Youth Residential Board when it commences in late 1991.

A reduction has occurred in the number of young women in a Youth Training Centre. At 30 June 1991 there were eighteen young women in Winlaton Youth Training Centre (two remandees, seven sentenced and nine wards) compared with twenty- eight at 30 June, 1990. In a twelve-month period from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 1990, a total of eight hundred and sixteen young people received community supervision for probation or Youth Attendance Orders (YAO). Seventy seven or 9.4 per cent of these young people were female. The YAO is available for 15-17-year-old offenders for whom a Youth Training Centre sentence is being considered by a magistrate. In the twelve-month period from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 1990, females comprised 5.6 per cent of young people receiving a Youth Training Centre sentence, and 3 per cent of those receiving a YAO.

In 1990-91, Youth Support Branch commenced developing gender policies, objectives, strategies and guidelines for all young offender programs and services that recognise the specific needs of young women and promote equal opportunity outcomes. In 1991-92, further development and implementation of these will occur in all areas of youth support programs and services.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $25m $24.8m $22.3m

Employment Access Program CSV has an overseeing role for the Employment Access Program (EAP), which was transferred to Department of Labour (DOL) on 15 October 1990. The Employment Access Program continues to provide targetted employment, education and training advocacy services for CSV's adolescent clients, with specific targets for young women. A CSV/DOL EAP protocol establishes the ongoing parameters of the program, and CSV Regional Contact Officers liaise closely on a regional basis with DOL's Employment Access Officers. From 1 July 1990 to 31 December 1990, EAP had six hundred and ninety nine referrals (29 per cent female); achieved two hundred and five long-term employment placements (25 per cent female); and one hundred and three long-term education and training placements (39 per cent female); with an additional three hundred and fifty seven short-term placements (32 per cent female). Overall, females comprised 31 per cent of all placements by EAP, although they comprise only 28 per cent of the client target group.

Health Services The recently established Young Offenders Health Board (joint CSV/Health Department Victoria) has responsibility for ensuring that the health needs of young offenders are met - either through the provision or development of specialist services, or by utilising general health services. Identification of the specific health needs of young women will be addressed by the Young Offenders Health Board in 1991-92.

COMMUNITY SERVICES • 49 DISABILITY SERVICES

The Disability Services Division develops and delivers services which advance the position within the community of people with intellectual disabilities. It also assists people with long-term physical and sensory disabilities to live independently in the community.

INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY SERVICES

The aim of the Intellectual Disability Services is to develop services to advance the dignity, worth, human rights and full potential of people with an intellectual disability. Funding under the State Plan has expanded the level of services to clients in the community, reducing the number of clients living in institutions and providing services for women as the primary care givers of children with disabilities.

As of April 1991, there were 14,045 registered clients receiving services. Of the total client population, 6,151 are women.

Residential Services Residential Support Services are provided to people with intellectual disabilities in accordance with need. They are not gender based. Services are provided in both the community and in Training Centres.

An increase in funding has been provided through the State Plan to enable clients to develop their skills and gain, independence and control over their lives and become active members of the community. New funding will, provide for the establishment of additional 990 people with intellectual disabilities and give them the same opportunities as other Victorians to live in their own home. There are 1080 women in training centres and 367 women in community residential facilities in Victoria.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $144m $142m $165.1m Training Centres $ 87m Community Residential $ 57m

Adult Day Services Adult day services provide a range of educational and employment initiatives aimed at improving self-help skills and employment opportunities for people with an intellectual disability. Adult education services provide training in such self-help skills such as independent travel, budgeting and accessing community facilities, for women with intellectual disabilities in.

Open and supported employment programs provide on the job training and ongoing support to women in order to obtain and retain employment. Some of these programs aim to assist women to obtain employment in non-traditional occupations. Work experience aims to increase the range of skills and

COMMUNITY SERVICES • 50 occupational choices available to women with intellectual disability.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $33.7m $33.1m $34.8m

Specialist Individual Family Support Services Family-focused services are of direct benefit to women as they are the primary carers of people with an intellectual disability. Services targeted at families of individuals who are intellectually disabled include: respite care in community residential settings (staffed group houses); overnight respite care with host families (the Shared Family Care Program); in-home specialist services provided by part of the Community Living Support Services; and psychologists working with families. Approximately 2,300 families benefit from these services. Additionally, a permanency planning program has been proposed inl991- 92, involving family-focused case management for highly stressed families and/or those where there is a risk of a child being placed away from home.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $3.5m $3.3m $4.0m

Behaviour Intervention Behaviour Intervention Support Teams provide intensive training and on-going support to assist families and residential and non-residential agency staff to meet the needs of individuals who have behaviours that are difficult to manage. They also provide a range of consultancy, training and education services to build expertise in dealing with people with challenging behaviours.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $958,000 $709,142 $1.7m

Case Management The Corporate Case Management Project is a major initiative focussing on improving the predicability and consistency of service delivery. While the project is not gender specific in purpose or outcome, the intended focus is on CSV is women clients. The model will be piloted in selected regions from August 1991.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY DISABILITY SERVICES

Program of Aids for Disabled Persons This program provides aids and equipment for people with long-term disabilities living independently in the community. In 1989-90 the program provided equipment for 5,600 women, 60 per cent. The program does not have a particular focus on either gender, and the over-representation of women is most probably attributable to the fact that there are more women in the 80-plus age group.

Budget Estimate 1990-1 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $4.5m $4.5m $4.94m

COMMUNITY SERVICES • 51 DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT 240 Victoria Parade EAST MELBOURNE 3002 Telephone: (03) 412 4011

In January 1991, the Minister for Conservation and Environment assumed responsibility for the Environment Protection Authority and the Land Conservation Council. An Office of the Environment was also established. These changes direct the Government's attention to urban environmental concerns, such as air and water pollution, recycling and waste minimisation.

The Department of Conservation and Environment's mission is to conserve Victoria's land and water environments while making provision for sustainable use of natural resources by the community in ways which are environmentally sound, socially just and economically efficient. This involves conserving Victoria's resources by protecting our natural heritage, conserving flora and fauna, restoring the land, rehabilitating rivers, coasts and wetlands, improving the urban environment, preserving our cultural heritage, protecting Victoria from wildfire and developing clear environmental policies. It also involves ensuring sustainable use and management of timber, fisheries, water resources, public land, recreation, tourism and community use and promotion of better resource use. Additionally, it involves improving performance by improving business self- sufficiency, involving the community, working better together, and ensuring efficient administration.

Eight statutory bodies report to the Minister including, the Environment Protection Authority, the Land Conservation Council, the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works, the Rural Water Commission, the Victorian Conservation Trust, the Victorian Institute of Marine Science, the Zoological Board of Victoria and the Engineer of Water Examination Board.

Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $327.8m $316.3m

The delivery of the Department's programs involves community participation and consultation in the data collection and policy formulation stages, as well as in program implementation. The effectiveness and viability of major programs and management of natural resources depends on community understanding of, and participation in, Departmental activities. As well, the Department is an important source of specialist advice to the public.

While the Department has a strong commitment to consultation, there is opportunity for further development in providing appropriate mechanisms for women to be involved in making decisions. The role of women in Departmental activities of influence is under-developed, and women appear not to be

CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENT • 52 significantly involved despite their contributions. Programs are being established and are continuing in 1991-92 to increase women's access to services and the Department's activities, and their involvement in decision-making .

Women in Natural Resource Management A project was established in 1989-90 to encourage women's participation in natural resource management. The project has two inter-related objectives: to establish a Women's Conservation and Environment Network, focusing on women in urban, outer urban and provincial city areas; and to improve service delivery to women as clients of the Department. The Women's Participation in Natural Resource Management project employs three major methods to achieve its objectives: 'Conserve', a quarterly newsletter provides women with contacts and a forum for sharing ideas and experiences. Circulation is currently five thousand.

Networking has been a high priority for the project. Ideas, information and skills are developed and passed on to women throughout the State. Organising and facilitating Environment Women's Conferences and Seminars in the metropolitan area, provincial cities and rural areas is another method of recognising women's conservation and environmental interests and provides further opportunities for women to contribute to actions at their local level, and to utilise their knowledge, skills, abilities and experience to initiate activities and strategies. Communication links with neighbourhood houses, community centres, local government, libraries, women on farms and individual women have been established. Links have also developed between women's organisations and groups and government agencies which assist the Government consider the views of women in regard to conservation and environment projects and programs.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $75,000 $69,867 $67,000

Women in Landcare Women are active in most of the eighty-three registered LandCare groups in Victoria, and the fifty or more still-developing LandCare groups and other single issue groups such as rabbit, ragwort, salinity and farm tree groups. They are also active in roles as Advisory Officers, working as group-employed co-ordinators organising field days and rabbit control programs, and as facilitators, stimulating interest in forming LandCare groups. Women have influenced the way that training for LandCare group members has been organised. Whole-farm planning workshops are held in the farm shed, as far as possible, to provide easy access to landholders. Child-care arrangements are organised as part of the general administration. Family partners are encouraged to develop whole-farm plans together, to bring all perspectives to the process. State and regional LandCare Conferences attract at least one-third of women as participants, and childcare is part of the conference organisation.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $149,000 $143,000 $165,000

CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENT * 53 Grants to community groups A range of programs across the State have been funded to support efforts addressing conservation and environmental issues. Special project grants to voluntary community-based conservation, cultural heritage and environmental groups assist women and men involved in community groups to undertake projects which meet the conservation, cultural heritage and environmental objectives and programs of the Government. Grants have been provided to a range of voluntary groups and in 1990-91 two community-based women's groups undertook projects. The Deer Park Services Co-ordinating Group received $2,000 to conduct workshops and seminars in main community languages, providing information displays and demonstrations of environmentally friendly household products and systems. The Thursday Girl's Group received $500 to buy a set of tools for the members, aged from 60 - 80 years, to use. The group have used their own resources to retain and restore indigenous growth at Britannia Park, Yarra Junction.

Two groups received funds from the Greenhouse Community Grants Scheme to carry out projects of significant impact to women. The Soroptimist International Club of Bruce was funded $4500 to conduct an Environmental Awareness Day. The Soroptimist Club is a business women's club which has been an active service club in the Dandenong area. The Brunswick Neighbourhood House was funded $570 to conduct an environmental awareness program, which focused on parents and preschool children. The majority participants were mothers of young children.

The Greenhouse and the Neighbourhood project aimed to train a number of women from within the community to act as educators on Greenhouse and related environmental issues. The neighbourhood house network provided an opportunity to reach the community. The program has encouraged many women to act as educators about such issues as the greenhouse effect and ozone depletion, and individual and community actions possible regarding energy conservation, waste reduction and household management. Financial assistance was offered to cover transport and child care. Participants were provided with resources to develop courses. The total budget for 1990-91 was $7000.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $375,000 $374,000 $375,000

Women's Peace Garden The Women's Peace Garden was proposed in 1986 as the Department's contribution to the International Year of Peace. The first olive tree was planted on International Women's Day in March 1989. A Friends of the Women's Peace Garden was constituted in October 1990 and management of the garden was transferred from the Department to the Melbourne City Council in March 1991. A Management Plan, developed by the Department, the Council and the Friends group was accepted in April 1991.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 163,000 $82,348 Project transferred

CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENT • 54 Assistance to Low-Income Households The Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works has a number of schemes to assist low-income households including the Water Conservation Assistance Scheme, the Rebates and Concessions Scheme, the Easyway Payment and Special Arrangements Scheme and the Rates and Charges Relief Grant Scheme. The schemes are available to all eligible customers. They are of particular help to single mothers on a pension. In the 1990-91 financial year a total of 166 applications for the Rates and Charges Relief Grant Scheme were approved, of which 66 per cent were women applicants. Under the Water Conservation Assistance Scheme, 64 per cent of home visits conducted in 1990-91 were requested by women, and 48 per cent of retrofits carried out were for women. (A retrofit may involve the installation of a dual flush cistern, a water efficient shower rose or the repair of leaking taps at no cost to eligible customers.)

Environmental Choice A national program, Environmental Choice produces bulletins periodically. Each bulletin provides consumers with information to raise awareness of environmental consequences of day-to-day purchasing activities. Practical alternatives are given so that consumers will make informed choices in their purchase of goods and services. In 1991-92, Environmental Choice will be operating a National Education and Labelling Program. This Program will bring certainty to the minds of shoppers by ensuring that environmental claims made for goods and services are truthful. These issues, as well as the health and safety aspects of products, are of interest to household managers, the majority of whom are women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $210,000 $210,000 $210,000

WOMEN IN DECISION MAKING

Committees of Management There are over 1700 publicly-elected Committees of Management of Crown Land Reserves across Victoria that have, in the past, been comprised of predominantly male members. Strong traditions and social forces have discouraged women from participation in decision-making positions. In 1985, the Department set an objective to achieve one-third female membership of committees of management within three years. The Department has since pursued a policy of affirmative action to encourage increased participation by women on these committees. Though the target of 33 per cent female membership has yet to be reached, the number of women members of committees has doubled over the period 1987-1990. Overall, membership of women has increased from 12.5 per cent to 23 per cent. Several departmental regions have at least 30 per cent women members on committees, and the majority of committees now have one or more women members. The Department will continue to pursue a policy of affirmative action to further increase women's participation on committees of management, and will focus particularly on the one-third of elected committees that still do not have women members.

CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENT * 55 Advisory Councils and Committees The Department has a number of advisory councils and committees to provide independent advice to the Minister, the Director-General and the Department on specific issues. There is an ongoing policy to encourage women to nominate for committees and councils, and women's representation on these bodies is increasing. The Department aims to achieve a minimum target of 33 per cent female membership. At the present time 26.7 per cent of Cabinet-approved appointments to boards and committees are women.

The National Parks Advisory Council has four women members out of a total of nine members, the Alpine Advisory Committee comprises seven women out of a total of sixteen members, the Land Protection Council has three women out of eleven members, but Land Protection Regional Advisory Committees have only twenty-one women of a total of one hundred and fifty three members. Three out of fifteen chairpersons of these committees are women. Female membership of timber and forest-related committees and advisory bodies in 1990-91 includes one woman among the ten members of the Timber Promotion Council (10 per cent), and two women of the twelve members of the Forest Planning Policy Advisory Group (17 per cent). Of a total of seventy-eight members appointed, twenty-one are women (27 per cent). There are two women members of the Victorian Recreation Fishermans Advisory Council (15 per cent) and one woman of seven members of the Scientific Advisory Committee (14 per cent).

In the past, the Rural Water Commission has had very little involvement from country women on advisory boards. Through continual advertisement, both within and outside the Commission, this problem is being slowly redressed. As the regional boards are elected at Annual General Meetings in August and September, it is planned in 1991 to concentrate more advertising prior to this time, offering child-minding facilities as an incentive for women to attend. The goal is to increase women's representation on the Commission advisory bodies to 10 per cent on each body. The increase so far is 2 per cent, and it is hoped more women will become involved and nominate for these boards. The commission has a woman as Commissioner in the role of Deputy Chairperson. The Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works has a number of advisory councils and committees providing direction on specific issues. Women's representation on these bodies is increasing, and currently women represent 22 per cent membership.

International Women's Day This is the third year of Departmental activity around 8 March. In 1990, the Department celebrated International Women's Day with sixteen different activities. Regions undertook a variety of activities; many were focused on familiarising female staff with the range of responsibilities of the Department. Divisional activities included open days, speaker's programs and photographic displays. These activities provided an opportunity to recognise the role women play in departmental activities, generate positive publicity for the Department, and enable women staff members to interact with staff from other disciplines.

CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENT • 56 Technical Skills for Young Women The Rural Water Commission was involved in the 'Technical Skills for Girls' Program in 1990-91. The program involved two one-day tours of Commission offices and the Werribee depot by two groups of women students. These tours were designed to show young women the technical areas of work in which they might be interested, but had not previously considered. The tours were also designed to encourage these young women to continue studying maths and science. The program included the employment of work-experience students. The Department and the Commission have been placed on the register of employers willing to offer young women suitable work experience in non-traditional areas of work. The Rural Water Commission awarded four women and four men with engineering scholarships in 1990-91, each worth $3,000 per year and also offering vacation employment. The Rural Water Commission also participated in the 1990 'Engineering for Girls' seminar.

Aboriginal Employment and Training Strategy Since the development of the Aboriginal Employment and Training Strategy in 1989, the Department has offered employment to Aboriginal women and men through direct recruitment and the Aboriginal Ranger Training program. In 1990 five employees, two of which were women who commenced this training program in 1989, graduated after completing their final year at Dookie College. Currently there are thirty-seven Aboriginal people employed by the Department, nine of whom are women.

Women in Archaeology An initial study of the career movements of women archeologist honours graduates was conducted via a questionnaire to these women in Victoria. The study aimed to find those women who wished to continue in this field, and how to readdress the situation if they were not continuing in this area. The findings were presented at the 'Women in Archaeology Conference' in 1991, and will be published. Future research will also be incorporated into papers and into overseas workshops. An Aboriginal Site Officers Training Scheme has grown over the past two years and women are encouraged to apply. One of the six current trainees is a woman.

Work-based Child Care Having completed a Child-care Feasibility Study in 1990, the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works is considering establishing child-care centres for the greater metropolitan area of Melbourne. With increasing numbers of women in the work force, the need for affordable, good-quality, convenient and plentiful child care is increasing. By establishing work-based child-care centres, the Board can meet the needs of its employees as well as assisting the community by creating more child-care places and so ease the burden on existing centres. In addition the Board may be in a position to offer child-care places to the general community, when there are places surplus to its short-term needs.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $20,000 $24,920 $20,000

CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENT * 57 informal, accessible and timely mechanism to resolve disputes between consumers and traders, tenants and landlords. The total number of complaints conciliated is about 10,000 per year. Statistics indicate that approximately 42 per cent of complaints are lodged by women.

Regional Services As well as telephone, counter enquiry and conciliation services, community education and information activities are conducted by the Ministry's regional offices located in Dandenong, Footscray and Ringwood. Outreach activities which benefit women and girls include: shopping centre promotions, industry workplace activities (office, hospital and nursing staff), information seminars for caravan park residents' and senior citizens' groups, information sessions for non- English-speaking people, school groups and voluntary community groups in country towns. Locations for information and education activities are chosen to maximise the likelihood of contacting the Ministry's potential clients, including women. Outreach visits to country centres, combined with the funding of community consumer and tenancy advice services, improve access for remote dwellers. The Ministry is also developing and strengthening links with ethnic community organisations and other organisations used by people of non-English- speaking background.

A number of programs in the Outer Eastern Regional Office located in Ringwood have addressed issues for women. For example, regional staff have, in conjunction with the local community sector, run regular information and consumer education sessions with groups of young women. Sessions have also been conducted with women's groups, clubs and organisations. It is estimated that approximately 75 per cent of clients of the Outer East Regional Office are women.

The Western Regional Office located in Footscray also provides a range of programs and activities in conjunction with agencies funded under the Consumer and Tenant Support Programs, many of which target the needs of women. These include the location of services either in or close to the major shopping facilities in the region, the provision of direct service delivery from neighbourhood houses and/or community centres, displays and stalls at major events focusing on women in the community (e.g. women's health week), and talks and presentations to women's groups, primarily those associated with neighbourhood houses.

In order to ensure women's access to these services, women's needs are considered when determining the timing and location of activities. Child-care has been provided at all presentations and/or workshops run by the regional office; activities are advertised through community-based organisations and industries where women are major participants; and some sessions are provided in a range of community languages.

The region has negotiated with Migrant Education Centres and Skillshare Projects in the Western Region to provide education on consumer and tenancy issues, and with Commonwealth Employment Service and Department of Social

CONSUMER AFFAIRS • 60 Security offices to place information displays on site during major advertising campaigns run by the Ministry. The region has consulted with women's groups on their needs in relation to information about consumer and tenancy issues.

A number of outreach activities conducted by the Westernport Regional Office located in Dandenong affect women. Industry/workplace information displays, shopping centre promotions and consumer/tenancy seminars conducted through the Adult Migrant Education Service all target women. A range of information seminars are conducted jointly with funded Consumer and Tenant support workers; these target women through the Neighbourhood House Network. The regional office works closely with funded workers to establish close links with women who are particularly disadvantaged, and consults with agencies representing women. Child-minding facilities are provided where possible and appropriate, and many activities are conducted at times which facilitate women's participation.

Tribunal Services The Ministry has responsibility for three tribunals: the Small Claims Tribunal, the Residential Tenancies Tribunal and the recently established Credit Tribunal. Twelve of the twenty-one statutorily appointed Tribunal Referees are women.

Tribunal Hearings are conducted in the city, in Ministry regional offices, and also on circuit to major country and metropolitan centres. If appropriate, hearings can be conducted by phone link with people in urgent circumstances in remote rural areas. Information on nearby child-care facilities is provided to users of Tribunal services with every Notice of Hearing. While complaints lodged with the Ministry are not yet collected by gender, it is intended that this will occur in 1991- 1992.

LEGISLATION AND REGULATION DIVISION

The Ministry's legislative and enforcement areas provide the regulatory mechanisms for consumer transactions and tenancy. The Ministry develops and maintains fair trading standards and works to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation, undertaking prosecutions where necessary.

One aspect of this work is the licensing of a number of industry groups. Women comprised 6 per cent of finance brokers who renewed their licence in 1990 and 6 per cent of applicants for licences in 1990-91. Of the sole traders, partners or directors involved in the motor car trade, women comprised 30 per cent. Most credit provider licences are held by corporations. Women comprise 6.7 per cent of the directors of such companies.

The Licensing Branch provides up-to-date information on requirements, to the Small Business Development Corporation. Industry groups whose role it is to inform and advise members, are informed about licensing procedures and requirements by the Branch, through their nominees on the licensing authorities. The Ministry encourages the nominating bodies to propose suitably qualified

CONSUMER AFFAIRS • 61 women for such positions. It would appear however that this policy has not been as successful as it might be, with participation of women on licensing authorities remaining low.

The Legislation and Regulation Division also receives enquiries and complaints about alleged breaches of legislation. Of those enquirers identified by gender, 65.3 per cent were women. The majority of callers to the Product Safety section are women. Complaints and enquiries covered a wide range of areas including credit, house building, tenancy, unlicensed trading, problems with retail traders and unsolicited mail. Complaints by women involving allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct on the part of various traders, also featured on a regular basis.

The Weights and Measures Branch ensures that correct measurements are used for physical quantities of goods sold. The Product Safety Branch, as well as testing items, ensures that information about product safety is widely disseminated through the media.

DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

Research and Economics A number of projects which address the information needs of the Ministry have been undertaken by the Research and Economics Branch in the past year, in addition to normal monitoring of Ministry services.

A study of conciliation services found that while more men than women made complaints, women were more likely than men to use the telephone for initial contact. Women made smaller value claims than men, and their claims were more likely to relate to personal or day-to-day types of goods, often of a domestic nature. Women who lodged complaints tended to be involved in home duties, part- time work or were pensioners (other than retired aged pensioners) rather than full- time employees.

A number of projects currently being undertaken within the Branch will enable collection of statistics on a gender basis, to provide data for further analysis of women's needs as consumers and as clients of the Ministry. These include a survey of caravan park residents, the evaluation of data collected by financial counsellors, analysis of Rooming House Tenants Survey data, and the collection of data under the Consumer and Tenant Support Programs. A Study of Protected Tenants found that of the 235 prescribed premises, 59.6 per cent were occupied by women only, 24.7 per cent by men only, and 9.8 per cent by married couples.

Prices The Ministry monitors prices, an activity which, while benefiting all members of the community, has particular relevance to women. The 1987 National Time Use Pilot Survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that, on average, women spend 21.25 per cent more time than men purchasing goods and services. The Ministry prints and distributes a quarterly newsletter, Price Action.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS • 62 Prices Action Groups, which help to identify issues for attention supported by the Ministry, are located in suburban and rural areas. There are eight active groups, of which six are co-ordinated by women.

Community Grants Program The grants program extends the Ministry's capacity to meet its objectives by funding a range of consumer, tenant and community groups across Victoria. The grants program provides advocacy, education, information and support services to consumers, traders, tenants and landlords, and helps to identify emerging issues and matters for policy development.

The Consumer Support Program funds groups to provide services to educate and assist consumers. While no programs are funded specifically for women, a number of funded groups target their programs at women. More than half of the funded workers in thirty-three projects are women. Groups funded under the program prepare half-yearly summary statistics on the number and types of complaints and enquiries handled, the type of service provided, and some demographic data about users of the service, including gender.

The Tenant Support Program provides funding for a range of services and projects to assist tenants who are particularly vulnerable in the rental market. The report Speaking of Housing: A report on a Consultation with Victorian Women on Housing for the Minister for Planning and Housing, identified women as a particularly vulnerable group in obtaining rental housing. A priority area for the Tenant Support Program is the needs of women, particularly women with children, in gaining access to and retaining accommodation in the private rental market. While in 1990-91 no groups focusing on the tenancy needs of women were funded, the Council of Single Mothers and their Children will receive funding in 1991-92. Ministry-funded groups also conduct or participate in particular activities targeted at women as part of their overall service, such as talks and workshops with women's groups. Representatives of the Tenants Union, funded by the Ministry, participate on the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women and Housing.

Tenancy Advice Project As a result of Recommendation 55 of the Review of Residential Tenancy Programs and Services, a project team has been set up to identify reasons for non-attendance of tenants at Tribunal Hearings, and to provide advice and support to tenants to encourage them to attend. Approximately 50 per cent of tenants assisted so far have been women.

Public Information A number of information and education campaigns have been conducted by the Public Information Branch in the past year. The guide to the purchase of safe nursery furniture, 'Safety Rules', successfully distributed in 1989-90, was reprinted (170,000 copies) for national distribution in 1990-91 with the sponsorship from Myer Grace Bros, who contributed $52,000 to supplement the Ministry's

CONSUMER AFFAIRS • 63 contribution of $16,000. The Ministry has also supported other initiatives in the area of product safety and children, including the National Children and Product Safety Conference run by the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Victoria.

Credit has continued to be a high profile area for the Ministry. In late 1990, the credit awareness campaign 'Credit Costs You - Think Twice or Pay the Price' was repeated. The campaign targeted television advertisements to women aged 20 - 40 to raise awareness of the cost of credit. The campaign budget was $223,000.

In recent times the Ministry has become aware of the difficulties experienced by women who become guarantors or co-borrowers for someone else's debt. To redress these difficulties, the Ministry has undertaken educational initiatives to inform women, credit providers, and the community generally, about a woman's right to make an informed decision about accepting liability for someone else's debts.

A pamphlet was produced in 1990 to warn women of the consequences of signing their partner's loan contract as either a co-borrower or guarantor. This pamphlet and a poster complement an existing guide for workers assisting women in these situations, titled 'How to get out of Sexually Transmitted Debt' which was produced by the Women and Credit Task Group and funded by the Ministry.

In March 1991, as part of International Women's Day events, the Victorian Consumer Affairs Committee held 'Women and Credit: A Forum on Sexually Transmitted Debt'. The forum was attended by more than one hundred people and aimed to provide an opportunity for industry, consumer and legal sectors to discuss issues relating to women becoming tied to other people's debts. The budget for the forum was $2,000. The forum was co-ordinated by the Ministry and convened by the Victorian Commissioner for Equal Opportunity. Speakers included the Australian Banking Industry Ombudsman and representatives from the financial and community sectors. The forum's recommendations have been circulated and the Ministry is giving consideration to those recommendations which affect the Ministry's areas of responsibility.

A proposal is being developed for a tenancy awareness campaign, to be implemented in late 1991. While this campaign, will focus on the needs and problems of youth, it will also take account of the problems of women as tenants.

LIQUOR LICENSING

The Liquor Licensing Commission administers the Liquor Control Act 1987. One of the four statutory appointees to the Liquor Licensing Commission is a woman.

While the activities of the Liquor Licensing Commission tend to be gender neutral, a number of specific projects relating to alcohol abuse have particular relevance to women. The Liquor Licensing Commission co-operates with a number of agencies, government bodies and community groups in order to minimise alcohol abuse. This affects women both in terms of their own abuse of alcohol and as victims of

CONSUMER AFFAIRS • 64 violence in which alcohol abuse is a contributing factor. The Liquor Licensing Commission provides information and assistance to a number of committees working on issues relating to alcohol abuse, including the Co-ordinating Council Against Alcohol Abuse and the National Committee Against Violence.

The liquor and hospitality industry is a large employer of women. At the last national .census, women comprised 53 per cent of employees in restaurants and cafes, 50 per cent in hotels, and 43 per cent in licensed clubs. These figures include working partners and proprietors.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $4,176,000 $4,397,000 $3,746,000

CONSUMER AFFAIRS • 65 OFFICE OF CORRECTIONS 20 Albert Road SOUTH MELBOURNE 3205 Telephone: (03) 689 6666

The Office of Corrections (OOC) is responsible for the secure, safe and humane supervision of adult offenders who have been deprived of their liberty by the courts. This responsibility emphasises the provision of opportunities for the personal development of offenders and for their reparation to the community.

The OOC is responsible for community-based corrections and for custodial services. The community-based order is a direct sentencing alternative to imprisonment, and was developed as part of the Government strategy of ensuring that imprisonment is used as a sanction of last resort.

Two statutory authorities are accountable to the Minister for Corrections, the Victorian Prison Industries Commission and the Adult Parole Board. The Victorian Prison Industries Commission has responsibility for the development and provision of work and training opportunities for prisoners. The Adult Parole Board has responsibility for determining the release of prisoners serving maximum/minimum sentences and the release of prisoners onto the Pre-Release Program.

Budget Estimate 1990-1991 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1263m $126.6m $125.05m

COMMUNITY BASED CORRECTIONS

Community Based Corrections provides supervision and programs for adult offenders sentenced to a correctional program or released from prison by order of the Adult Parole Board to serve a period of Pre-Release or Parole. Parole and Pre- Release provides for the conditional and supervised release of prisoners to assist their reintegration into the community. The majority of offenders under supervision in the community have been sentenced by courts to serve a community- based order. Community Based Corrections also provides an advice and assessment service to the Adult Criminal Courts and the Adult Parole Board, which assists the courts to decide the most appropriate sanction for each case.

Budget Estimate 1990-1991 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $12.9m $12.9m $13.02m

At the end of April 1991 there were 6,511 offenders under the supervision of Community Based Corrections, of whom 980 or 15.1 per cent were women. Women comprised 17.4 per cent of offenders on community-based orders, down from 205 per cent, and 6.2 per cent of offenders under post-prison supervision, up from 5 per cent. By contrast at the end of March 1991, women comprised 4.6 per cent of the prison population.

CORRECTIONS • 66 The pattern of womens' offending differs from that of men. Major offence categories for men on community-based orders include assault, burglary, break and enter, motor-vehicle theft, other theft, and driving while exceeding .05. Overwhelmingly the major offence categories for women on community-based orders were fraud, deception and theft. Men committed 16.4 per cent of their offences against a person compared to 8.6 per cent by women.

Women offenders are likely to be older than their male counterparts and are more likely than men to be married or separated/divorced. Women are also much more likely to be unemployed at the time of reception.

In terms of their ability to fulfil the conditions of community-based orders, data collected by Community Based Corrections since early 1991 indicates that of the sixty-one community-based orders cancelled by breach in April, nine (14.8%) were breached by women. When this figure is compared to the proportion of women undertaking these orders (17.4%) it provides an indication that women may be slightly more successful than men in completing community-based orders.

In 1990-91, Community Based Corrections developed a policy in relation to the management of women offenders that aims to place them in programs that will improve their ability to achieve economic and social independence and power. This includes seeking to improve women's access to employment opportunities in the community. Close liaison is maintained with agencies such as VACRO, Joblink and the Second Chance program, which maintains a register of businesses willing to offer employment to ex-prisoners and offenders. The policy is also considered when women are directed into community work and personal development programs.

Orders administered by Community Based Corrections have three major conditions that may be imposed by the sentencing authority or the Adult Parole Board. They are supervision, personal development and community work. These, along with the advice and assessment program, form the core elements in the community-based management of offenders.

Advice and Assessment The Advice and Assessment program provides the first point of contact between prisoners or offenders and Community Based Corrections. The goal of the program is to provide efficient, reliable and credible advice regarding prisoners and offenders to the Adult Parole Board and the criminal courts. Legislation requires that prior to making a community-based order, the court must obtain a report from a community corrections officer regarding the suitability of the offenders for such an order and the availability of facilities and programs to give effect to the order. Sentencing advice is based upon the community corrections officers' assessment of the offenders' likelihood of completing the order, and the need for intervention. If no intervention is warranted, the community corrections officer may recommend a less intrusive penalty, such as a fine or a bond.

CORRECTIONS • 67 Supervision The goal of supervision is to monitor, evaluate and respond to the individual needs and risks of offenders, and ensure their compliance with court and Parole Board orders. This is performed in such a way as to meet the expectations of courts, the Adult Parole Board and the community. Approximately 80 per cent of all offenders subject to community-based orders have a supervision condition placed on their order. Supervision frequently entails one-to-one counselling of offenders who present as having high needs and/or who are at a high risk of re- offending. Offenders who are assessed as presenting low levels of need and risk do not receive intervention beyond that which is necessary to ensure compliance with their order.

Community Based Corrections has a policy which requires that where offenders are providing the primary care to children or aged or invalid relatives those responsibilities will be recognised and accommodated in the supervision of an offender's order. A child-care policy has been developed which provides that where necessary OOC will subsidise the cost of child care for the offender, and this has been done in several cases.

Offenders may present individual needs and risks in a variety of areas that relate directly or indirectly to their offending behaviour. The supervision of the offender will assist her accept her needs and will seek to help her develop the necessary skills to overcome her difficulties. Developments in 1990-91 have included creation of a group program for single mothers in the Westernport Region, and preparation of a program to be piloted with women offenders who have been victims of abuse. The Westernport program was very successful and will be more widely utilised in 1991-92. The program for women victims of abuse is being developed in the Eastern Region and will be piloted early in 1991-92.

Personal Development Over 14 per cent of offenders are required by their community-based order to undergo a period of personal development. Personal development conditions are designed to meet the needs of individuals that relate directly or indirectly to their offending. Women undergoing personal development programs may, depending on their needs, participate in programs in their local community that: enhance marketable employment skills through vocational training; enhance basic literacy and numeracy skills; address substance-abuse problems through drug or alcohol treatment programs; enhance parenting skills; develop personal skills through assertiveness training; and link women with other people in their community.

A continuing focus of Community Based Corrections in the personal development area during 1990-91 will be the provision of vocational and pre-vocational programs relevant to the employment needs of women. In 1990-91 a joint program was developed between Prahran College of TAFE and the Inner Urban, now Central, Region of Community Based Corrections. Funding of $8,600 was provided over two years to assist young women offenders gain access to the work force

CORRECTIONS • 68 through a course of pre-vocational training. This program will continue through 1991 and has a child-care budget.

Community Work Community work provides a range of unpaid work projects for offenders. It is designed to enable offenders to fulfil the requirements of their order, while engaging in socially valuable work which utilises existing skills or develops new ones. Over 80 per cent of offenders have a community work condition on their community-based order. Individualised and specialised work sites with community agencies that can employ and develop the skills of women are used in all regions. Regions also allow flexibility in community work hours, so that women with work or family responsibilities are not required, against their wishes, to perform more than the minimum number of hours community work per week, that are necessary for the fulfilment of their order. Disruption of their daily lives and responsibilities is kept to a minimum.

Placements are negotiated with each offender, with some women indicating a preference for traditional types of work, such as office work, or work with children, aged or invalid persons. Other women express a preference for non- traditional work such as labouring, painting and assisting in construction work. The Western Region is negotiating places for women offenders in a proposed Women's Circus being established under the auspice of the Footscray Community Arts Centre. This will be a combined Personal Development and Community Work program involving both performance, and set and prop construction.

CUSTODIAL SERVICES

Budget Estimate 1990-1991 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $103.7m $103.82m $102.93m

Estimated capital expenditure for custodial services for 1990-91 was $27,387 million. Actual expenditure for 1990-91 was $26,603 million. Preliminary estimated capital expenditure for 1991-92 is $21,937 million.

Women prisoners are currently accommodated in four prisons; Fairlea, Tarrengower 'Unit 3', K Division (Drug and Alcohol Unit) at the Metropolitan Reception Prison, and Banksia Unit at Barwon. Victoria has the lowest imprisonment rate of any mainland Australian state. The low rate is attributed to Victoria's criminal justice strategy of diverting offenders to community-based programs wherever appropriate. On average during 1990-91, there were 101 women in custody daily.

Women prisoners tend to be better educated than men prisoners. On 30 June 1990, 18.4 per cent of women prisoners had completed secondary school or had a technical or trade qualification compared with less than 4 per cent of men

CORRECTIONS • 69 prisoners. However, women prisoners are more likely to be unemployed (80 per cent women and 54 per cent men) or not participating in the labour force, for a variety of reasons such as home duties or receipt of pension (10 per cent women and 2 per cent men). Women prisoners are also more likely to married than men prisoners, and are also more likely to have responsibility for the care of children.

Prison Management All women prisoners are accommodated in modern facilities and OOC's aim is to ensure that all prisons meet the needs of women prisoners, particularly in those prisons where facilities for women were not purpose-built.

Unit management operates in Tarrengower, the Women's Drug and Alcohol Unit in VK' Division and the Women's Unit (Banksia) at Barwon, and is scheduled to be introduced at Fairlea Women's Prison during 1991-92. Unit management is a method of managing prisoners in small groups, with a permanent staff team who use a mixture of custodial interpersonal programs and individual management skills.

Prisoner Programs Prisoner programs provide prisoners with opportunities for work, education, health, welfare and recreational facilities so that their time in custody is constructive and they are able to become more responsible members of the community. OOC is responsible for the co-ordination of services to prisoners provided by other departments. It is also responsible for providing recreational, welfare, psychological, employment, chaplaincy and vocational training services' to prisoners.

Working Party to Prevent Acute Distress among Women Prisoners A Working Party involving custodial and professional staff was established in 1988 to develop prevention strategies to reduce self-mutilation by women prisoners. The Working Party has ensured the ongoing development of strategies to reduce self-mutilation; the monitoring and review of incidents; and the development and maintenance of strict procedures for the assessment, placement and observation of suicidal prisoners. Since last year, OOC has established 'quiet rooms' at Fairlea and Tarrengower Prisons where distressed prisoners may seek privacy. Observation cells have been redeveloped at Fairlea Prison in line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

Health Services Health Services to prisoners and offenders are co-ordinated by the Corrections Health Board, comprising senior representatives from OOC and the Health Department Victoria. Primary and specialist services are available to all women prisoners and include: general practitioner services, nursing services, emergency and in-patient services, dermatology, gynaecology, communicable diseases clinic, psychiatry, dentistry, physiotherapy and optometry.

CORRECTIONS • 70 Education and Training Services Educational programs for prisoners are co-ordinated by a Corrections Education Committee, consisting of senior representatives from OOC, Office of the State Training Board, the Victorian Prison Industries Commission and the Division of Further Education. Courses are delivered by TAFE Colleges.

Children's Access and Residence Program In association with the Women Prisoners and Offenders Advisory Committee, the OOC has developed a policy on the access of imprisoned mothers to their children. The key elements of the policy are that every means possible will be made available to prisoner mothers to enable them to maintain relationships with their children; the opportunity will be provided for prisoner mothers to have access to visits and residential programs with their children; and the best interests of the child are of paramount importance in the placement of children in prison with their mother.

Specific Programs at Each Prison for Women Specific programs have been developed to meet the needs of women prisoners at each facility. Fairlea Prison is a maximum security prison with accommodation for eighty-six women prisoners of all classification levels. Programs which have been developed and are conducted for women at Fairlea include: a drug rehabilitation program; a course on womens health issues; a violent offenders program with the emphasis on women's safety issues; and various recreational activities.

Industry programs in sewing and plastering are also available and approximately fifty women are enrolled in educational and vocational training at any one time. A Summer School was held in January 1991 for women facing release between February and April, and concentrated on skills training in the areas of hospitality and business services and employment-seeking services.

Tarrengower Prison is a minimum security prison with accommodation for thirty- two prisoners. Programs conducted at Tarrengower are primarily organised around re-integrating prisoners into the community and include: the provision of day care for the elderly at the local Maldon hospital; meals on wheels to senior citizens in the local community; a horticultural program; restoration of equipment for the Maldon Steam Society; and assistance to the local Heritage Committee in restoration and maintenance of local historical sites.

In addition, a range of personal-development skills programs are conducted, including cookery classes, community awareness, job interview and resume preparation. Health programs on various health issues, such as stress nd anger management and personal hygiene are conducted on a regular basis. A Summer School program was also conducted at Tarrengower in January and February 1991. Barwon Prison has accommodation for forty-eight women and is designed for the imprisonment of women who have a high security rating and are serving longer sentences. Because Barwon Prison was designed and built as a single-gender

CORRECTIONS • 71 prison, modification has been required to ensure that the segregated management of men and women prisoners could be maintained with minimum disruption to prison routine. Special routines have had to be introduced to ensure that program activities for women could be conducted, particularly where the same facilities were also to be used by male prisoners.

A range of activities has been achieved in Barwon, including employment in the toy making and laundry industries and contact visits on Saturdays and Sundays. Women who have children who are in the care of others also receive visits on a Friday. One half day and one evening per week women have use of the Education Centre. The prison and TAFE are currently examining ways by which the number of available education hours can be extended. Similarly a number of industry training options for women are under consideration, including training in hospitality and dry cleaning operations.

Personal development programs, including drama, aerobics, calligraphy, cooking and sport and hobby activities, are also readily available for women in Barwon Prison.

K Division, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Unit was established to specifically meet the needs of women prisoners who wish to undertake a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. This program concentrates on the use of consultancy and group therapy techniques for women prisoners who volunteer for the program. Other programs available in the Unit include: life-style programs; preparation for release; horticulture; sports and recreation; computer-related studies; hospitality training; and basic education.

The Women Prisoners and Offenders Advisory Committee In July 1990 the Women Prisoners and Offenders Advisory Committee was established following a review, by OOC of the management and treatment of women prisoners and offenders. The Advisory Committee had women representatives from community groups and a number of Government departments and senior correctional officers. The terms of reference of the Advisory Committee were to make recommendations to the Minister in relation to the establishment of:

• appropriate objectives and policies for women prisoners and offenders; • the priority programs, services and systems to be implemented over the next five years; and • an appropriate implementation strategy to achieve the successful introduction of policies and strategies.

The recommendations of the Advisory Committee will form the basis of all major initiatives for women prisoners and offenders over the next five years. The report of the Committee's work will be launched in August 1991. The Advisory Committee undertook consultations with correctional and other staff, women prisoners and offenders, community agencies and individuals who expressed an interest as part of their work.

CORRECTIONS • 72 Major Issues Arising from the Consultation Process The consultation process highlighted many issues relating to management of women prisoners and offenders including: OOC's practice of locating women prisoners in units in men's prison facilities; the lack of a totally integrated prison system for women, including the management of women under unit management principles; the provision of health services to women prisoners; the necessity for parent prisoners, in particular women, to maintain contact with their children; the need to ensure that imprisonment was being used as a sanction of last resort; the need to ensure appropriate child-care arrangements existed for women offenders while they were supervised on Court and Parole Board orders; and the review of existing data collection systems to ensure relevant data on the women prisoner and offender populations was collected.

Major Recommendations of the Committee The major recommendations of the Committee were that OOC establish a totally integrated prison system for women, which would provide women prisoners with opportunities to effect change in their lives through the provision of education, vocational training, work and health programs and services; that OOC would ensure that women prisoners receive appropriate and equitable access to programs and services; and that OOC ensure that all women prisoners be managed under unit management principles and practices.

The Committee also recommended that OOC establish a Reception and Orientation Program in all women's prison facilities in order to provide women prisoners with opportunities to facilitate their adjustment to prison and to enable them to participate in decisions which will effect their lives while incarcerated. The Committee proposed the implementation of a health policy, which includes the provision of psychological services and recreation programs. In the policy, priority is given to the establishment of Unit 3-K Division as a Health Care Unit, and the involvement of women's health service providers in the provision of health services to women prisoners.

Additionally, the Committee proposed that a Children's Access and Residence Program be implemented in all women's prison facilities, with immediate provisions made for the accommodation of children in Fairlea.

In relation to Community Based Corrections, the Committee recommended that:

• a Child Care Policy be implemented, which places priority on community- based correction centres establishing arrangements with community child- care agencies to provide care for the children of women offenders fulfilling their orders; and • a Community Work Policy be implemented to ensure that women offenders are provided with a range of appropriate community work locations, which are free from discrimination and harassment and which allow women to fulfil their commitments as carers to children and aged relatives.

CORRECTIONS • 73 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING Rialto Towers 525 Collins Street MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03) 628 2211

The Ministry of Education and Training provides education and training for young students and adult students. The Ministry's programs are all based on the principles that education is a basic human right and that high-quality education and training are necessary to Victoria's economic and social development.

The largest part of the Ministry is the system of government secondary schools. Adult education and training, however, are also large operations within the Ministry. The pursuit of excellence and the achievement of equality of opportunity are major aims in all sectors.

The main objective of government secondary schools is to encourage more students to stay at school to complete twelve years of high-quality education. To achieve this, secondary schools are co-operating with one another to make sure that a full range of educational opportunities is offered in every district in Victoria. The new Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is being introduced into all secondaiy schools in order to achieve this goal.

High-quality training for industry is provided by the Ministry's network of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) colleges. These colleges work in partnership with industry to expand training opportunities and enhance the skills of the work force. TAFE colleges also provide further education for adult learners. In addition to the colleges, education in literacy, numeracy and language skills is provided in a large network of adult education and adult migrant education centres.

The key objectives of the Ministry are: • achievement of excellence in education and training; • expansion of opportunities in education and training; • strengthening of community and industry confidence and partnerships in education and training; • contribution of education and training to economic development; and • enhancement of the skills and confidence of the education work force.

The Ministry consists of five agencies: The office of Schools Administration, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board, the Office of the State Training Board, the Division of Further Education and the Victorian Post-Secondary Education Commission. In addition, the Ministry Services Division provides co- ordination within and between the agencies of the Ministry.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $2,809.3m $2,852.0m $2,961.3m

EDUCATION • 74 The Ministry evaluates the progress of women and girls in education and training in a number of ways: through tracking the outcomes of school education, attainment and translation into higher education, TAFE or work; through the implementation of a Social Justice Audit, which will provide a systematic evaluation of social justice activities across all sectors within the Ministry; through the negotiated targets strategy in the TAFE sector; and through regular analysis and publication of participation rates in higher education.

MINISTRY SERVICES

The Ministry Services Division provides advice to the Minister and Chief Executive on education and training issues, and co-ordinates the development of Ministry-wide polices and programs in line with current Government and Ministry priorities. The Division has a major role in the promotion of the principles of equity, access and participation across the portfolio. The Division is currently undergoing a restructure. A number of its activities may be relocated.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $9.5m $9m $7.7m (Recurrent)

Co-ordinated Area Program The Co-ordinated Area Program aims to increase student participation, particularly the participation of girls and young women, in mathematics, science and technology throughout schools and beyond, with the support of schools, higher education institutions, business and industry.

Six pilot programs have been established at Geelong, Northern, Southern Eastern and Western Metropolitan regions, Ballarat and Bendigo. A number of programs are specific to girls, including Girl's Computer Camps to increase girl's confidence in interacting with computers and to increase awareness of computing as a career- publication of 'Lets Get Cracking, Women, Science and Technology in the Petrochemical World', and a 'Girls in Engineering Seminar'.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $205,000 $205,000 N/A

International Literacy Year During International Literacy Year (1990), the International Literacy Year Consultative Committee established by the State Government allocated $420,000 in small grants to 227 community aftd school literacy projects. Although the majority of projects had a broad focus, a number targeted such groups as adult workers, unemployed youth, Koorie, people with disabilities, people of non- English- speaking background and those from rural or isolated communities.

Nine projects were targeted to women, including: a Koorie women prisoners' health issues literacy course; readers for migrant women at Collingwood TAFE;

EDUCATION • 75 and a publication on women in rural communities, compiled by girls from Hawthorn Secondary College.

A number of projects identified women as a major focus, in particular programs conducted in neighbourhood houses, community awareness programs and union projects where a large number of workers are women, such as Federated Clerks Union and Food Preservers Union. Many of these activities will be continued within ministry agencies during 1991-92.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $100,000 $99,650 Project completed

Rural Education and Training The cross-agency Rural Education Reference Group was set up following the release of the Rural Education and Training Report in 1989, with the aim of enhancing education and training in rural areas. The recommendations of the report are being implemented in two stages.

As Stage One, a Rural Education Working Party has been established in the Goulburn North region to trial methods of education service co-ordination and resource sharing, and identify suitable allocations for accredited courses. Stage Two includes strategies to assist school support centres to become more accessible to communities; to include a rural perspective in the curriculum; to provide greater support for education networks; and to work towards reducing rural isolation. Those strategies are aimed at the rural population, with special emphasis on the needs of women and low-density populations.

In conjunction with the Interdepartmental Human Services Task Group, which reports to the Rural Affairs Committee of Cabinet, the Reference Group is also developing strategies to meet the immediate education and training needs of rural communities in the context of the rural downtown. Specific target groups are women, young people and farmers.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $25,000 $25,000 $10,000

Students at Risk Students at Risk is a Commonwealth-funded program aimed at young people at risk of not completing their school education, or those estranged from the education system. Strategies include the development of cross-agency co- operation through seven pilot projects involving more than seventy schools, provision of accommodation for homeless students, a co-ordination project in youth training centres, and the Innovative School Structures Project, which encourages a mix of part-time education and work.

The Education Action Plan and Information Kit being developed during 1990-91, includes services and strategies specifically for girls. Protocols on child abuse and

EDUCATION • 76 neglect have recently been developed between the Ministry of Education and Training and Community Services Victoria. Co-operation between schools and women's refuges is currently being promoted.

Social Justice Audit The Social Justice Audit is a detailed and systematic analysis of social justice initiatives and expenditure across the Ministry. The audit will enable programs for women and girls (as one of the target groups) to be mapped across the education sector, so gaps in support can be identified. It will enable better evaluation of the relationship between resource allocations and the achievement of desired social justice outcomes.

Family Violence Professional Education Taskforce The Professional Education Taskforce was established within the Ministry in December 1987. The task force seeks to improve the education and training of professionals who will come into contact with victims of family violence, in particular those with special needs including rural isolated women, Koorie women and women from non-English-speaking backgrounds. The task force has representatives from universities and colleges, community groups and other government agencies.

A text book, 'Family Violence, Everybody's Business, Somebody's Life', will be published in July 1991. Along with the promotion of the book will be the encouragement of curriculum development in the tertiary sector on the topic of family violence. The schools of law, medicine, social work, education and interpreter training are targeted.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $150,800 $117,800 $50,000

Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women and Girls The Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women and Girls (MACWAG) provides advice to the Minister for Education and Training on educational and employment issues relevant to women and girls. In 1990-91 MACWAG released a publication for rural women 'Returning to Learning', a resource kit for women students in TAFE, and a report on strategies and initiatives for women in higher education.

Major projects for 1991-92 are 'Parents and Education and Girls in Schools', a project to encourage parent participation in decision making related to their daughter's education, and publication of two reports: 'Working for Gender Justice in Schools' and 'That's a Good Idea - Practical Strategies for Gender Inclusive Education in Secondary Schools'. MACWAG is currently developing a questionnaire to evaluate its publications. Evaluation of its work is also provided through feedback from community forums.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $148,000 $142,500 N/A

EDUCATION • 77 Job and Course Explorer (JAC) Job and Course Explorer is a computerised information system providing information on education, training and work. Through a Choice and Opportunity funded initiative for women in further education, two hundred computers will be located in neighbourhood houses by 1993 to run JAC and other software programs. The program includes provision of training and support for women in these centres in the use of JAC and other software.

In order to further ensure that the program is easily accessible, specific training in the use of the JAC software will be offered to regional groups through a JAC Train the Trainer program in 1991-92. The outcome will be at least two skilled trainers in each Division of Further Education region. Women in remote rural areas will be specifically supported through this strategy.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $131,500 $131,500 $115,160

OFFICE OF SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATION

The Office of Schools Administration is responsible for the provision of education services to all students aged 6 - 15, and all students participating to Year 12 in government schools. Equal opportunity for women and girls in schooling and the workplace is a major objective of the office. The Office aims to provide a comprehensive education system and improve educational outcomes for girls through the development of policy, guidelines and curriculum support. Many special initiatives for girls have also been developed.

In January 1991, the School Programs Division of the Office of the Schools Administration took responsibility for the development of projects previously undertaken by the Office of the State Board of Education, including the Social Justice Project. Details of this program are included in this section.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $2,231m $2,273m $2,327m (Recurrent)

Action Plan for Girls A update of The Equal Opportunity Action Plan for Girls in Education (1988-90) was completed for 1991-93. The plan includes strategies to implement the National Policy for the Education of Girls in Australian Schools. It focuses on raising awareness of the educational needs of girls through publicity, professional development and input into teacher training courses. Implementation of the plan is being monitored by the Education of Girls Unit of Schools Programs Division.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $2,000 $19,740* $5,000 ("Includes cost of printing the new action plan)

EDUCATION • 78 Education of Girls Section The Education of Girls Section provides state-wide policy advice, produces curriculum materials, and develops and implements policy and guidelines to improve the educational experiences of girls. The Section participates in the review of the 'National Policy for the Education of Girls in Australian Schools', contributes to the development of Department of Education, Employment and Training (DEET) projects on the education of girls, and provides an officer and policy advice to assist with the gender aspect of the National Curriculum Project. The Section also co-ordinates the work of the regional equal opportunity resource centres; manages the Women Talk Work Register, the State-wide Equal Opportunity Resource Centre and the Maths, Science and Technology Education Centre for Girls (Hypatia's Place).

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $327,514 $327,514 $310,850

Equal Opportunity Resource Centre The Statewide Equal Opportunity Resource Centre co-ordinates the activities of the eight regional centres in the provision of consultancy services and resources to schools what are related to equal opportunity issues for girls. The Centre also produces publications, including the 'Equal Opportunity Newsletter' and provides statewide professional development to support the implementation of the Action Plan for Girls.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $203,483 $203,483* $200,000* (* Includes allocation to support the operations of the regional centres)

Maths, Science and Technology for Girls The Maths, Science and Technology Education Centre for Girls, (Hypatia's Place), provides professional development programs to promote the teaching of gender- inclusive mathematics, science and technology curriculum in schools; develops gender-inclusive teaching materials; and provides professional development aimed at increasing the participation of girls in education. The McClintock Collective, a group of science teachers, also works with schools, TAFE colleges and tertiary institutions to develop gender-inclusive teaching materials and provide professional development aimed at increasing the participation of girls in education. The Ministry funds the employment of a project officer to support the collective through the Maths, Science and Technology Centre for Girls.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $240,000 $240,000 $191,250

Counter Sexist Advisory Committee Policy support for equal opportunity for girls in education is also provided by the Counter Sexist Advisory Committee, which includes members from relevant parent and teacher groups and sections of the Office of Schools Administration.

EDUCATION • 79 The Committee's charter is to provide advice on all aspects of non-sexist and counter-sexist education to senior management. A major component of its work is monitoring the Equal Opportunity Action Plan for Girls in Education.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $57,915 $19,000 $19,500

Gender-Inclusive Curriculum Guidelines The 'Gender-Inclusive Curriculum Guidelines' were printed in 1990 and reprinted in 1991. They assist teachers to develop gender-inclusive teaching methods and classroom teaching materials.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000

Women Talk Work Register The Women Talk Work Register is a joint project between the Department of Labour and the Ministry of Education and Training. The register is a list of women in non-traditional occupations who are available to speak to schools, post- secondary institutions and women's community groups. In 1990-91,700 women were on the register, and total funding amounted to $74,500.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $33,000 $33,000 N/A

Social Justice Advice on social justice for schools was developed by the Office of the State Board of Education. In 1990, 'Social Justice in Schools: Some Recent Findings' and the 'Social Justice Framework' were produced. The framework assists schools to monitor the educational experiences of major groups known to be disadvantaged in education. These groups are girls, Aborigines, students living in poverty, students from low-social-status families, rural students, immigrant Australians and students with disabilities. The Social Justice Project will collect data by gender on each group in five aspects of schooling: curriculum provision; access; achievement; retention; and participation. An update of 'Social Justice in Schools: Some Recent Findings' is in progress.

Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $57,000 $57,000

VICTORIAN CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT BOARD

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board (VCAB) was established in 1986. The Board is responsible for the curriculum design and certification of student achievements within the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE ) at Years 11 and 12 in all Victorian schools.

EDUCATION • 80 During 1991-92 the Board's priorities will be to maintian the present range of Year 12 VCE courses until the end of 1991, and then implement forty new VCE studies at the equivalent of Year 12.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $11.6m $12.4m $14.5m

* estimated increase in recurrent budget related to VCE implementation and maintenance, in particular a sharp increase in student retention rates at Year 12 and the introduction of verification procedures for all VCE studies.

VCE Implementation To encourage greater participation by girls and women in balanced study programs at Years 11 and 12, VCAB established a requirement in the VCE Policy that all students must include at least four units from the group of mathematics, science or technology studies in their two-year program. This requirement applies to students currently enrolled in the Year 11 program in 1991. The Board is committed to ensuring that design, language and teaching strategies in key study areas, especially mathematics, maximise girls' participation in these studies.

Information for Students Following the success of the publication in 1990 of The New VCE: A Student's Guide, which was targeted at Year 9 and 10 students, a similar, slightly modified publication will be produced in the second half of 1991. The publication provides advice to students on appropriate approaches to the selection of Year 11 and 12 studies, to help them to maximise their career and further study options. The special needs of girls and women in gaining access to mathematics, science and technology programs are highlighted.

Budget Estimate 1991-92 $40,000

Student Data Analysis VCAB collects enrolment and assessment data which indicate the extent of participation by and success of girls and women in all subjects. The current apparent retention rate for girls into Year 12 is much higher than that for boys. The apparent retention rate for girls in government schools has increased from 53.7 per cent in 1987 to 84.1 per cent in 1991; for boys the rate has increased from 40.8 per cent in 1987 to 67.7 per cent in 1991.

However, the most recent participation rates (1989) indicate that girls are still much less likely to select certain critical areas of study. Of all Year 12 students, 18 per cent of girls studied chemistry, compared to 29 per cent of boys; 33 per cent studied mathematics A, compared to 50 per cent of boys; and 9 per cent of girls undertook physics, compared to 31 per cent of boys.

EDUCATION • 81 DIVISION OF FURTHER EDUCATION

The role of the Division of Further Education is to support the community sector to translate local needs and resources into learning opportunities for adults. This support includes further education in TAFE colleges, funding for community-based co-ordination infrastructure, program support and specific programs.

Adult, community and further education courses are offered to adults in over 700 venues across Victoria and are provided by a wide range of organisations. Courses include creative and liberal arts, recreation and personal development, VCE for adults, English as a second language, and literacy and basic education. Providers include over 500 community-managed groups such as neighbourhood houses and learning centres, the Council of Adult Education, the Adult Migrant Education Services and TAFE colleges.

There are over 350,000 adult, community and further education students in Victoria each year, 75 per cent of whom are women. Commonwealth Government statistics indicate that participation rates in this field are higher in Victoria than anywhere else in Australia.

Links with the community are maintained through eleven regional Councils of Further Education and through the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Further Education. The Committee, which has nominees from community and union groups, Ministry agencies and regional councils, facilitates consultation and provides advice to the Minister for Education and Training on a range of issues related to the provision of further education. Regional councils provide recommendations to the Minister on the allocation of grants and learning resources to both government and non-government agencies.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $19.8m $19.5m $21.0m (Recurrent)

Neighbourhood Houses The Government provides funds to neighbourhood houses and community learning centres to assist them to assess and meet the individual and community development needs of their community. Funds are provided for co-ordination infrastructure, program support, including child-care, and for some specific educational programs, including adult literacy and basic education. Over 80 per cent of the users of neighbourhood houses are women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $9.9m $9.9m $10.3m

ChildCare Part of the funding provided to neighbourhood houses and community learning centres is specifically for childcare. This enables women to undertake courses

EDUCATION • 82 while their children are cared for, usually on the same premises.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Estimated Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $500,000 $446,000 $505,000 (Transferred to Office of Preschool & Child Care)

VCE for Adults Approximately 70 per cent of adults studying for the VCE are women. The Division is working through regional networks to link and co-ordinate provision of VCE for adults in TAFE colleges, the Council of Adult Education, neighbourhood houses and community learning centres. This will improve access to the VCE for women.

Aboriginal Education The Division works closely with Aboriginal organisations at community and state- wide levels to increase the participation of Aboriginal women in further education programs. Seven Koorie project officers have been appointed to assist adults in aboriginal communities to access education programs and to ensure the development of programs that meet the specific needs of the communities. This initiative was funded by the Commonwealth. Aboriginal community groups registered as providers of further education have increased from nine in 1989-90 to seventeen in 1990-91, and programs are funded through the Neighbourhood House Grant (see above).

Adult Migrant Education Services The Division has responsibility for the operation of the Commonwealth-funded Adult Migrant Education Services. In 1991, priority for student placement is directed to recently arrived migrants, in particular those who have been in Australia for less than five years. Ten per cent of resources is being allocated to those who have been in Australia for more than five years, especially women who have not previously been able to participate in English courses. Sixty per cent of participants in Adult Migrant Education Services programs during 1990 were women. Access for women to AMES courses is facilitated by scheduling classes at times which consider after-school care commitments. There are specific classes for women, including the language of childbirth. Most Adult Education Centres have access to child-care facilities.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $17.65m $17.65m $19.5m

Adult Literacy and Basic Education The impact of the State Government's adult literacy and basic education initiative, International Literacy Year and award restructuring has led to widespread awareness of the need to improve the literacy skills of adults. During this year there has been a steady increase in enrolment and consequential expansion of provision of courses. Over 60 per cent of adult literacy and basic

EDUCATION • 83 education students are women.

Moves have commenced to develop accredited basic education programs which provide women with formal and more advanced education and training programs, and to develop a more coherent professional development framework for workers in the basic education field. Special projects have included the release of the Learning to Learn manual for teachers, the development of materials for use with intellectually disabled students, the establishment of an adult basic education research forum and the regular release of information bulletins.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $409,000 $409,000 $400,000

Council of Adult Education The Council of Adult Education (CAE) is a major provider of learning programs to meet people's academic, cultural and vocational needs on a lifelong basis. Women comprise 77 per cent of all enrolments at the CAE. Many participate in funded programs designed for re-entry to the work force and return to study. The majority of women pursue broad academic and cultural interests.

Specific programs include: a 16-week bridging program for women entitled Stepping Stones, offered eight times a year; Women's Day activities with 368 women enrolling in thirty courses in 1990; the Returning to Learning Fashion Program, which provides pathways for students to small business opportunities or to further study in the fashion industry; the ESL Program, which is designed for people who have been in Australia for more than five years and which enrols a majority of women; and Book Discussion Groups resourced by the CAE, in which more than 7,000 women participate annually.

The CAE also provides support for women learners through an information and advisory service on adult study options, student counselling, child care, and support services for students with disabilities, including a student companion system. The CAE experienced increased enrolments in 1990-91. This trend is expected to intensify in 1991-92. In response to student demand, the CAE has developed a strategic plan for increasing participation in access and equity programs in 1991-92.

Budget Estimate 1990 Actual Expenditure 1990 Budget Estimate 1991 $15.8m $15.5m $15.2m

TAFE Colleges TAPE Colleges across Victoria offer a range of further education programs. These include adult literacy, basic education, English as a Second Language, VCE for adults courses, and general education courses. Women comprise the majority of students in these programs and there are some further education courses which are specifically for women.

EDUCATION • 84 Some TAFE colleges have strong links with local neighbourhood houses and community learning centres. For example, courses such as VCE for adults and women's access programs are sometimes offered by college staff in neighbourhood houses.

VICTORIAN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION

The Victorian Post-Secondary Education Commission (VPSEC) is responsible for planning, developing and co-ordinating higher education in Victoria. It provides advice and support to the Minister for Education and Training on all matters related to higher education in Victoria, including funding, the establishment of post-secondary education institutions, the provision of courses and the making of awards. It is also charged with the responsibility for negotiating these matters with the appropriate agencies.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $45.4m $44.4m $46.4m (Recurrent)

Female students are more likely than male students to proceed to higher education. The proportion of female students rose from 53.1 per cent in 1988 to 55.2 per cent in 1990. However, women are still disproportionately represented in the higher education areas of education (73.6 per cent), arts (68.7 per cent) and health (75.1 per cent). Representation in the non-traditional areas of science and engineering is still low. Specific efforts in these areas have attracted greater proportions of female students. Women's representation in the science field increased from 38.4 per cent in 1988 to 41.0 per cent in 1990, and in engineering from 8.4 per cent in 1988 to 10.9 per cent in 1990.

Special Engineering and Technology Program This program allows students who have an interest in technology and engineering to undertake engineering even though they lack the usual mathematics prerequisites. In 1990, State funds were provided for an engineering and technology recovery program which included an intensive pre-first year orientation workshop for 200 female engineering students. An evaluation of the program will be conducted during 1991. Funding is incorporated into Commonwealth allocations to tertiary institutions.

Diploma of Tertiary Studies The Diploma of Tertiary Studies provides enhanced regional access to higher education through linking advanced general education studies with a year of industrial experience. Enrolments of women in the program have increased from 165 women (40.3 per cent) in 1989 to 202 (46.4 percent) in 1990. Funding is incorporated into Commonwealth allocations to tertiary institutions.

Nurse Education Program Nurse education, traditionally an area which attracts a high proportion of

EDUCATION • 85 females, is being transferee! to higher education institutions in a transitional manner over eight years, to be completed by 1993.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 Recurrent $37m $36m $38.85m Capital $1.8m $1.8m

OFFICE OF THE STATE TRAINING BOARD

The State Training System is responsible for meeting the vocational education, training and skill formation needs of the Government, industry and the community. It consists of thirty-one major TAFE Colleges, eighteen industry training boards and non-college-based providers. The State Training Board (STB) advises the Government on vocational education and training policies. The Board is responsible for increasing the participation of disadvantaged groups in vocational education and training. Membership is drawn from employers, unions and the education sector, with the legislative requirement that there should be an effort to maintain a gender balance among Bard members.

In 1991 the Board held a review of two of its sub-committees, the Women's Advisory Committee and the Social Justice Advisory Committee. The review recommended changes in the committees' structure and composition in order to enhance the effectiveness of the advice given to the Board. As a result the Access and Equity Committee has been established to cover all social justice areas. Issues related to women and training will be given particular attention. A consultation forum involving wide community participation will be held three times a year to provide advice to the Access and Equity Committee on issues relevant to vocational education and training.

The Board is also revising specific policies that promote women's access to and participation in training, including a women's policy, a child-care policy, a negotiated targets policy, and a pre-employment policy.

The Office of the State Training Board (OSTB) is the administrative agency which provides advice to the State Training Board and the Minister for Education and Training on the development of a co-ordinated, flexible and responsible State Training System.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $359.3m $362.9m $365.4m (Recurrent)

Equity Policy and Programs Branch The Equity Policy and Programs Branch is responsible for policies and programs designed to increase participation in education and training by groups traditionally under-represented in this area, including women. During 1990-91 the Branch organised the OSTB's International Women's Day activity - 'The

EDUCATION • 86 Way We See It - TAFE Women Students Speak', consultations on the development of the National Plan of Action for Women in TAFE, and the review of the social justice advisory committees.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $387,000 $380,000 $422,000

Negotiated Targets Strategy Based on the Negotiated Targets Policy, this strategy aims to increase the participation of women and other groups under-represented in vocational education and training. TAFE Colleges are required to target places in accredited mainstream programs as part of their annual Performance Agreements. Targets for increasing the access and completion rates of women are established for vocational programs in which they are currently under-represented. In negotiating targets, Colleges are encouraged to work with Industry Training Boards and other parts of the State Training System. A range of support mechanisms is provided to promote increased access for women, including publicity, course information, personal counselling and careers advice.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $600,000 $600,000 $600,000

Pre-employment Training The Pre-employment Policy, provides for the acquisition and accreditation of key skills and knowledge essential to entry-level training for a particular industry through the Certificate in Occupational Studies. Streams developed, or in the process of development, for the Certificate include: Business, Hospitality, Breadbaking and Pastrycooking, Electronics, Retail, Horticulture, Engineering, Rural, Social and Community Services, Information Technology, Sign and Paint, and Recreation. It is estimated that approximately 50 per cent of students undertaking these courses are women.

Approximately forty occupational studies courses were conducted in Victoria in 1990. A number of courses are specifically targeted to women. Colleges have been requested to identify funding and to redirect resources to offer Occupational Studies as a priority. In addition to those courses funded by the OSTB, two courses in the Certificate of Occupational Studies were funded by Colleges. Sixty-four per cent of the students in these are female.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 530,704 $554,704 $550,000 (Dept of Labour $293,000) (Dept of Labour $293,000) (Dept of Labour -not available)

Targeted Apprenticeship Access Program The Targeted Apprenticeship Access Program (TAAP) aims to provide training opportunities for young people who are disadvantaged in obtaining

EDUCATION • 87 apprenticeships. By taking on an employee from a designated target group, an employer may receive financial assistance up to $17,500. Of 500 apprentices placed to date, 193 are women, representing approximately 39 per cent of the total apprentice intake. Many of these apprenticeships were in areas non-traditional to women.

OSTB has funded a number of pre-employment courses for TAAP target groups including Trade Based Preparatory Courses for women. This provides a ready- made pool of applicants for TAAP positions, and these applicants are usually given priority in the recruitment process.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $2.4m $1.7m $2.54m

Industry Training Boards Industry Training Boards are responsible for implementing government policies, including the Social Justice Policy, within their planned priorities. There are currently eighteen Industry Training Boards, with discussions underway for the possible establishment of a further three. Women represent 36 per cent of total membership, a higher female membership than other states in Australia.

Initiatives being developed which will impact on women include: identification of available English-as-a-second-language courses for women employed in the production/assembly area in the electrical/electronics industry; a promotional campaign aimed at increasing women's participation in the printing industry, targeting young women in secondary schools; and, as a priority, the skill development of base-level operators in the food industry, which is comprised of a high proportion of women, many from non-English-speaking backgrounds. Initiatives include English as a second language and literacy, occupational health and safety resource material development, and a structural induction program. (Total funds sought for 1991-92: $580,000).

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 1.70m $1.61m $2.3m

Equal Opportunity Officers TAFE Colleges in Victoria employ Equal Opportunity Officers with responsibility for promoting equal educational and employment opportunities for students and staff.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 1.28m $1.28m $1.28m

Social and Community Services (SACS) In 1990, additional places were funded in the Certificate course for Child Care Assistants and the Advanced Certificate in Residential and Community Services (590 places funded by Community Services Victoria). Further training places in

EDUCATION • 88 the social and community services industry will be funded from the Commonwealth/State Training Initiatives program.

A proposed training target for 1992 has been established to increase the number of training places in courses in this area by 1800. As SACS courses attract women in greater numbers than men, an increase in course places will ensure that participation by women in accredited TAFE courses increases.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 1.72m $1.72m $1.72m

(Community Services (Community Services (Community Services Victoria) Victoria) Victoria)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Recognition of skills and knowledge obtained through informal training and work and life experience is important in increasing women's access to training and maximising its effectiveness. OSTB has funded Broadmeadows College of TAFE to develop a Recognition and Assessment Centre to undertake research into Recognition of Prior Learning and to implement RPL on a state-wide basis. In addition, the TAFE National Staff Development Committee has funded Broadmeadows College to run training programs based on the Broadmeadows model of RPL in other Australian TAFE systems.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $nil $nil $152,000

($212,000 Commonwealth) ($70,000 Commonwealth)

Commonwealth/State Training Initiatives This new Commonwealth-subsidised initiative will provide a range of training opportunities for people without work. A number of places in training centres (to be identified under the Apprenticeship Initiatives package) have been set aside for women and other groups disadvantaged in the labour market. Colleges have been asked to identify the number of places which will be made available for women and other disadvantaged target groups in pre-employment training.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $nil $nil $25 m over

18 months

(Commonwealth $2.5m) (Commonwealth $2.5m) (Commonwealth $12.5m)

Projects for Clerical Workers The majority of the clerical work force is female, with less than 25 per cent holding a formal qualification. A number of initiatives to increase women's access to training has been developed, including the development of a competency

EDUCATION • 89 framework to accompany the new Clerks Award, projects in competency-based training, and assessment of skill levels and training needs. Funding is from a number of State and Commonwealth sources.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 275,475 $275,475 $275,400

Competency Based Training - Social Justice Project This national project, funded through the National Competency Based Training Secretariat, is currently being developed in Victoria at Holmesglen College of TAFE. It aims to increase access to competency-based training by all groups disadvantaged in the labour market, including women. One-third of funding will be targeted towards promoting women's access to competency-based training.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 40,000 $40,000 $40,000 (Commonwealth) (Commonwealth) (Commonwealth)

Advanced English Program for Migrants The focus of this program is to increase English proficiency of non-English- speaking-background clients to a level where they can access mainstream programs, enter employment and obtain recognition of their overseas qualifications. Of the 1271 students who enrolled in programs in 1990, 925 were women (73 per cent). Of these, 60 per cent went on to further study and 31 per cent entered employment. Of the forty-nine programs allocated funding in 1991, nine are specifically for women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $13m $1.4m $1.4 m (Commonwealth) (Commonwealth) (Commonwealth)

National Office Support Project The National Office Support Project will have an impact on the predominantly female work force in the clerical/administrative area. The project will develop both on-the-job and off-the-job training modules and materials to support the provision of job training in competencies required by clerical/administrative employees, and will include recognition of prior learning and articulation with other courses.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 150,000 $150,000 $179,000 (Commonwealth) (Commonwealth) (Commonwealth)

Industry Training Development Program The Industry Training Development Program was a State Training Board Strategy to develop the system's capacity to respond to increased training demand for fee-

EDUCATION • 90 for-service activities. Over the three-year life of the program, the State Training Board invested $370,000 in specific training initiatives. Women represented 41 per cent of the total participation in the program. This ompares favourably with the 16 per cent of women employed in the TAFE Management Service.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $250,000 $250,000 $200,000

National Plan of Action for Women in TAFE The National Plan of Action for Women in TAFE was endorsed by all relevant State/Territory Ministers in July 1991. The Plan sets out objectives, targets, time lines and performance indicators for the next three years. Six national Projects have been funded. Victoria has developed a strategy plan, to be launched later in 1991, which complements the National Plan. The Office of the State Training Board has established a Victorian Reference Group to advise on development of the Victorian strategies. Membership of the Reference Group reflects all components of the State Training System, including TAFE Colleges, Industry Training Boards and unions.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 16,200 $16,200 $75,000

Equity in Regulated Training Project This project, developed in co-operation with the Department of Labour and completed in 1990, aimed to provide an integrated framework of policies and programs to address and remove barriers to women's participation in regulated training, including apprenticeships. The project provides directions for the development of strategies for the State Training System to complement the targets set in the National Plan of Action for Women in TAFE.

Affirmative Action in Training The Affirmative Action in Training program employs two project officers to work to increase the number of women in non-traditional trades. In 1990, a review of the program led to the refocusing of program strategies. In 1991, regions will be targeted to increase placement of young women in non-traditional trade areas by 3 per cent. Other initiatives include the development of policies in affirmative action, equal opportunity, sexual harassment, gender-inclusive recruitment and selection strategies, establishment of a register of women seeking non-traditional trade apprenticeships, and strategies for the delivery of career information.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $120,000 $120,000 $120,000 (Commonwealth $60,000) (Commonwealth $60,000)

Preparatory Trade and Technical Courses In 1991, the OSTB and the Commonwealth Department of Education Employment

EDUCATION • 91 and Training funded TAFE colleges to run fourteen preparatory trade and technical courses for women. These courses will be reviewed in 1991-92.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $747,200 $747,200 $750,000 (Commonwealth $381,900)

Choice and Opportunity Plan (CHOP) - Television Commercial Project Through the Choice and Opportunity Plan for Women, a television commercial has been produced to raise women's awareness of training opportunities in TAFE colleges. This commercial, targeting women at home during the day, was screened on metropolitan and regional networks during TAFE Awareness Week 1991.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 16,200 $16,200 $16,200

Child Care On 1 January 1991 the responsibility for TAFE child care was transferred to the Office of Preschool and Child Care. The OSTB spends approximately $9,500 per child-care place on capital works annually. Child care is provided in twenty- five TAFE colleges through twenty-nine services. By 1992, it is anticipated that thirty-two services will be operating.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1.7 m $1.7m $1.7m transferred to Office of Preschool and Child Care Koorie Women Of a total of 1001 Koorie students identified in 1990 TAFE college enrolments, 455 (45 per cent) were women. Aboriginal Liaison Officers are employed in thirteen TAFE colleges. Many colleges also provide a range of specialist programs for Koorie students, including accredited courses such as the Certificate in Aboriginal Child Care (100 per cent female students) and the Associate Diploma in Social Science - Aboriginal Welfare Studies (71 per cent female students). Assistance programs in literacy and numeracy for Koorie students in mainstream programs and additional specialist programs will also be conducted in TAFE colleges in 1991- 92. Some of these programs will have a high proportion of women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $548,900 $548,900 $548,900 (Commonwealth $314,500) (Commonwealth $314,500)

Women in Correctional Environments The Corrections Industry Training Plan identifies priorities for program and service provision to meet the education and training requirements of offenders. Women comprise 5.4 per cent of offenders in custody, and 16 per cent of those under some type of community order The plan outlines sixteen major priorities, which

EDUCATION • 92 include provision of education and training programs in priority industry areas, adult basic education provision, and vocational counselling. A number of areas specifically target women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $182,000 $182,000 $182,000

EDUCATION • 93 OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY 4th Floor 356 Collins Street MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03) 602 3338

Discrimination continues to affect the daily lives of women, particularly at work and in seeking accommodation. Women suffer both direct and indirect discrimination, largely as a result of prejudice and stereotypical assumptions about their abilities and status because of their sex, marital status, pregnancy or parental responsibilities.

Equal Opportunity Commission and Equal Opportunity Board

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,260,512 $1,211,729 $1,275,000

Complaints of Unlawful Discrimination Commonwealth and State anti-discrimination laws make sex-based discrimination unlawful. Women from racial, national or ethnic minorities, from minority religious or political groups, or those who have impairments are doubly disadvantaged. Women from non-metropolitan regions have special difficulties caused by isolation.

The Office provides telephone, written and personal information, advice, assistance and, if necessary, referral services for women. In 1990-91, 9,121 informal complaints and enquiries about the anti-discrimination laws were received. A total of 436 formal complaints were registered in 1990-91, 62 per cent of them from women. Women made formal complaints about discrimination in every area and on every ground covered by anti-discrimination legislation. Most complaints received concerning marital status and parenthood were from women; and the vast majority of sexual harassment complaints were made by women.

Community Education The Office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity undertakes projects to ensure that disadvantaged groups in the community, including women, are aware of anti-discrimination laws and the services offered by the Office. It also undertakes preventative education with actual and potential discriminators, such as employer groups and service providers.

Sex discrimination, sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination in employment were again major areas of complaint by women in 1990-91. There were 1,056 enquiries about sex discrimination, 791 about sexual harassment and 368 about pregnancy discrimination this year. The Commissioner and her staff advised many organisations, public and private, about their obligations to

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY • 94 prevent discrimination of this and other types, and how to develop policies to deal internally with such complaints.

One hundred and twenty six seminars and talks were presented during 1990-91, and women were a large proportion of the participants. Other resources made available to the general public include distribution of publications and the delivery of training and education programs. A major training program for workers in local government throughout Victoria was undertaken during 1990-91, with a major focus on sex-based discrimination and harassment in employment.

The Commissioner hosted a forum on 'Women and Sport' for the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Commissioner in January 1991. This canvassed options for dealing with the exclusion and/or restricted access of women to many sporting activities. The Commissioner and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission also co-hosted a seminar on 'Indirect Sex Discrimination' in June 1991.

The outbreak of war in the Persian Gulf heightened the fears of many Muslims in Victoria about discrimination against them because of their religion. Women and girls who wore traditional Muslim dress were particularly vulnerable to expressions of hostility, abuse and blatant religious discrimination. The Commissioner and her staff advised and supported many Muslim groups about their rights under anti-discrimination and other laws in Victoria.

The Community Outreach branch of the Office produced guidelines for advertisers and employers in recruiting and interviewing prospective staff.

Research A research project to examine the effectiveness of the complaints procedure in the Office was developed in 1991. This project will collect important information from both complainants and respondents about their experiences of discrimination and the process of making a complaint to the Office. This information will be critical in ensuring that the disadvantaged groups, including women, whose rights are protected by anti-discrimination legislation will have appropriate access to a complaints system that adequately meets their needs. Women from non-English- speaking backgrounds are a focus of the research project.

Public Hearings Each year a small number of complaints that are not resolved by conciliation is referred to the Equal Opportunity Board or the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission for a public hearing. In 1990-91, forty-two complaints were referred to the Equal Opportunity Board, and fourteen complaints from Victoria were referred to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY • 95 MINISTRY OF ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 500 Bourke Street MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03) 602 9411

The Ministry of Ethnic, Municipal and Community Affairs (MEMCA) incorporates the Offices of Local Government, Ethnic Affairs, Older Persons Planning, Youth Affairs, Rural Affairs and Information Victoria. The Ministry aims to improve access of specific community groups to Government services and to more effectively co-ordinate the delivery of those services. The Ministry was formed as a result of machinery of government changes in January 1991.

The Ministry is focused upon increasing the community voice in government decision making, and responding to the particular needs of rural, ethnic, older and younger people. Local government, as the level of government closest to the community, is well placed to assist the Ministry to recognise the needs of the community and help direct effective service delivery.

OFFICE OF ETHNIC AFFAIRS

The Victorian Ethnic Affairs Commission continues as a community-based body, with an advisory and advocacy role.

The Office of Ethnic Affairs (OEA) has adopted the Ethnic Affairs Strategy Plan for 1991-94 developed by the Commission. The Strategy Plan highlights the potential of the State's culturally diverse population to contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of Victoria, as well as issues of social justice affecting the ethnic communities.

There are three major goals:

• Social development: provision of high-quality programs and services to enable all Victorians to enjoy the rights and opportunities available within the community. • Economic opportunities: provision of opportunities for Victorians to make full use of their skill and talents in improving the community's economic performance. • Cultural development: provision of opportunities for Victorians to develop Victoria's cultural and linguistic heritage and to transmit it to their children.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $6.097m $5.016m $5.914m

Priority areas and initiatives for the Office of Ethnic Affairs are identified in the strategy plan. Non-English-speaking background (NESB) women's issues are

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 96 addressed as specific projects for NESB women, within general projects and service provision, and through liaison with other agencies. Assistance is also provided to ethnic community and other organisations which provide support services to women of non-English-speaking background.

Ethnic Women's Radio Project OEA is conducting a joint project with the Women's Ethnic Network, which has been funded by the Office of Status of Women. The aim of the project is to develop an innovative strategy for information exchange with NESB women, using a drama format on ethnic radio with talk-back facility. A series of programs targeting Spanish-speaking women will be developed, and will involve women from the Spanish-speaking communities in the production of programs.

The funding provides for production costs and employment for six months of a Spanish-speaking project officer by the Women's Ethnic Network. The Office of Ethnic Affairs provides both administrative support to the project and a part- time project officer.

Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Allocation 1991-92 OEA $ 6,000 OEA $15,000

Women's Ethnic Network OEA has continued to provide some administrative support to the Women's Ethnic Network (WEN) by assisting in the distribution of their newsletter and providing funds for organisational support through the Grants Program.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $3,500 $3,500 $2,000

Social Justice Partnership Projects OEA is assisting in the conduct of two Social Justice Partnership Projects which will benefit women. The Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres (ANHLC) received a grant of $29,000 for a project to increase the access of women of non-English-speaking background to neighbourhood houses and local learning centres. The Ecumenical Migration Centre (EMC) received a grant of $19,900 for a project to assist older women from the Horn of Africa communities.

Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 OEA $3,000 OEA $3,000

Refugee Women's Forum In June 1991, during Refugee Week, OEA, the Victorian Refugee Week Committee and Austcare convened a forum, 'Women At Risk', to highlight refugee women's issues.

Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $5,000 To be determined

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 97 Statistical Data A statistical profile of NESB women in Victoria initiated in 1989-90 is available on request through OEA.

International Women's Day 1991 With the Ministry for the Arts, the OEA hosted readings by five women writers from non-English-speaking backgrounds. Titled 'Across Cultures', it was organised in celebration of International Women's Day.

Budget Expenditure 1990-91 $800

Photographic Exhibition The exhibition, 'Milk, Bread and Shoes', which uses photographs and biographies to explore the aspirations of NESB women spanning three generations, has been hired out ten times to community organisations in 1990-91.

Government Liaison OEA liaises with government agencies to provide policy advice and is representated on the Family Violence Prevention Committee and the Commonwealth-State Council on NES Background Women's Issues.

INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATION SERVICES

Interpreting and translation services are available to public sector agencies, statutory bodies, community organisations, local government and trade unions. A computerised booking system is currently being implemented but as the amalgamation of Language Services within MEMCA has not yet been finalised it is not yet operational. The inclusion of gender statistics in the new data collection system will give a more accurate profile of the language-services client group.

Interpreting Service The General Interpreting Service and Legal Interpreting Service provide interpreters in sixty-five community languages. During 1990-91 interpreters have been provided for assignments in areas of specific concern to women, such as Maternal and Child Care Centres, Australian Greek Welfare Women's Group, Community Health Centres for self-breast examination seminars, Women's Health Workshops, Fairlea Women's Prison, the Magistrates Court and Legal Aid Commission, for cases involving Domestic Violence Intervention Orders.

Translation Service The Translation Service facilitates information dissemination to all NESB people. Translations of several texts specifically relating to women's issues were undertaken in 1990-91. They include: a breast feeding questionnaire; information on the Women's Health Promotion Project, the Women's Health Service for the West (10 languages); pelvic floor exercises (2 languages); the Women's Centre Project for the Victorian Women's Consultative Council (11 languages);

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 98 Information on Women's Genital Health (8 languages); and Safety Strategies for Women (9 languages).

Grants Organisational support grants are provided to ethnic community organisations which assist women through the Ethnic Affairs Grants Program. In 1990-91, forty- one organisations received small grants for this purpose.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990 -91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $29,500 $29,500 To be determined

In 1990-91 a number of grants have been given to community organisations for Projects of Special Significance. This includes a grant of $32,000 to Action for Disabilities in Ethnic Communities (ADEC), which will benefit women who are the major providers of care for people with disabilities.

Also included was a grant of $5,000 to the Islamic Council of Victoria for initiatives to counteract racial harassment and vilification directed against Arabic and Muslim people, in particular Muslim women. The Muslim Women's Association is participating in the Management Committee.

Women's Employment Opportunities: Job Mobility Project In 1990-91 a project was undertaken in two industries, which are major employers of NESB women, to identify the impact on job mobility for NESB workers of award restructure and other current changes in industry. The report, which will be completed in mid-1991, will identify issues for NESB women workers in the food industry and the social and community services industry.

Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Allocation 1991-92 $35,000 To be determined

Family and Children's Services Project This project, which cost $20,000, was established by the Local Government and Ethnic Affairs Ministerial Advisory Council (LEMAC). It investigated the appropriateness of local government children's services to NESB families. A final report, available on request, was launched in June 1991.

Child Protection Project Funding of $20,000 was granted to a project which examines issues relating to child-rearing, child abuse and child protection in two ethnic communities. The project has been completed and a report is available on request. The report has relevance to women in so far as they continue to take the major child-rearing responsibilities in families. INFORMATION VICTORIA

Information Victoria provides the Victorian community with relevant, up-to-

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 99 date arid accessible information products and services about State Government policies, programs and initiatives. It is also responsible for co-ordinating Government information services and activities including Government displays and publication of the Victorian Government Directoiy.

Making it possible Information Victoria assisted with the public information and promotional program supporting the Governments's Choice and Opportunities for Women initiatives. Assistance was provided through marketing advice to participating agencies and project management of joint promotional activity, which included production, printing and dissemination of the 'Making it possible' booklet, poster and leaflets; data collection; and program evaluation.

Occasional Child Care An occasional child-care centre for children (City Occasional Care-COC) was established in the Information Victoria Centre in July 1988. COC is jointly funded by State, Federal and Local Government, and is operated by the Melbourne City Council. Information Victoria provides support to COC through inclusion in centre marketing activity and the provision of administrative support. Rent and building outgoings are also provided by the Victorian Government through the Ministry of Finance, and this cost is identified below.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $81,500 $81,500 $91,911

OFFICE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Office of Local Government aims to achieve a democratic system of local government in Victoria that performs its functions equitably, effectively and, thereby, with increased efficiency, within the context of government policy. The Local Government Act 1989 greatly enhanced the autonomy of local government while increasing the requirements for it to be accountable to the community. The Office works with peak local government organisations, local government professional and union bodies, community groups and councils to achieve this objective. The Office has primary responsibility for analysis of Commonwealth government and State government policies that impact on local government.

The Minister for Ethnic, Municipal and Community Affairs, is responsible for the Office of Local Government; the Local Government Commission; Victorian Grants Commission; Municipal Engineers, Municipal Electrical Engineers and Municipal Auditors' Boards; and the Caravan Parks Committee. Responsibility for the Local Authorities Superannuation Board and the Melbourne City Council Superannuation Board was transferred to the Treasurer on 14 December 1990.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $9.515m $5.829m $4.855m

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 100 The office is promoting reform of the operation of local government through council electoral reform, equal employment practices, improved financial management and reporting, and increased participation by community in local government matters.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Grants to Municipalities The Victorian Grants Commission determines the allocation of general revenue grants from the Commonwealth Government to municipalities. The Commission^ objective is to achieve greater equity between local authorities. Each council provides the Commission with the information required for assessment. The Commission also conducts inspections and receives submissions from councils to acquaint itself further with their needs. The total grants estimate for 1991-92 is $255.6 million. In 1990-91 municipalities across Victorian were granted a total of $182.4 million.

Pensioner Rates Assistance The Ministry administers the Pensioner Rates Assistance Scheme. Approximately 59 per cent of the beneficiaries are women. The scheme, funded by Community Services Victoria, was allocated $48.6 million ($18 million deferred payment to 1991-92).

Budget Estimate 1991-92 $70.3m

Local Government Initiative Program This program funds projects that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal service delivery and which have the potential to serve as models for other municipalities. Projects benefit all community members as they aim to ensure councils are better able to effectively meet the needs of the communities. The Australian Local Government Women's Association has received $4000 from the Program to conduct education seminars throughout Victoria to encourage women's participation in local government as elected members.

Social Justice Partnership Projects The Social Justice Partnership Projects are administered by the Office of Local Government in association with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to promote council involvement in the delivery of the Social Justice Strategy.

POLICY AND RESEARCH INITIATIVES

Information Systems The Office of Local Government has developed a local government database, which stores a wide range of comparative information on all Victorian local government authorities. Seventeen per cent of all mayoral or shire president positions are held by women during the 1991-92 municipal year.

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 101 Equal Employment Opportunity One of the initiatives of the Local Government Act (1989) was the introduction of equal employment provisions for local government authorities. The Act requires councils with forty or more staff to implement programs to eliminate discrimination and promote equal employment opportunity for women and other designated groups. Eighty per cent of those councils with forty or more staff, have established equal employment opportunity consultative committees as required. The Office continues to work with regional groupings of these committees. The Office, in conjunction with the Commissioner for Equal Employment Opportunity, conducted a series of seminars throughout the State, focusing on the rights and responsibilities of councils under State and Federal anti-discrimination legislation.

The former Local Government Department received funding from the Commonwealth Office of Local Government under the Local Government Development Program to develop a software program for the monitoring of equal employment opportunity programs and the recording of information that may be required under the Local Government Act 1989. This program should be available to local government late in 1991.

Labour Market Review A comprehensive survey of local government training and development programs was undertaken by the Office. The results of the survey are being analysed.

The Ministerial Advisory Committee on Human Resource Development was established to address the issues identified in the National Review of Local Government Labour Markets. Reports and recommendations have been prepared in reference to training and development needs of the industry, and the promotion of the diversity of career opportunities within local government. The recommendations stress the importance of providing equal access to training and education opportunities for all employees, and the promotion of the broad range of local government career opportunities to women.

OFFICE OF YOUTH AFFAIRS

The Office of Youth Affairs (OYA), within the Ministry of Ethnic, Municipal and Community Affairs, is responsible for a number of key programs involving young people, youth workers, youth clubs and community organisations. The broad charter of OYA is guided by the Youth Affairs Act 1986, the objectives of which are: • to facilitate the responsiveness to young people of the economic, social, political and cultural structures in Victoria; and • to encourage equitable distribution of resources to young people of different backgrounds, abilities and gender.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $6,132,500 $6,229,743 $6,246,700

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 102 Youth Victoria Grants The newly designed Youth Victoria Grants Program provides grants to enable community agencies and local government to conduct activities which address priority issues for young people. In 1990-91, projects were funded on the basis of key priorities identified by the Victorian Government's policy framework for young people, the Youth Agenda. Monitoring and evaluation of projects and steps taken to ensure accessibility of disadvantaged groups are considered in the selection process and are built into each funding agreement.

Young women are specifically targeted by five agencies that received funding under the 1991 Youth Victoria Grants Program for Statewide Projects. These included $9,280 to Girl Guides for a Workshop for Young Women with Disabilities; a weekend residential arts workshop for fifty young women with disabilities and fifty young able women; and $20,590 to YWCA for a Taskforce on Teenage Pregnancy, an education and life-skills program for teenage mothers.

Additionally, $15,000 was provided to North Goulburn Centre Against Sexual Assault for publication of 'Lean on Me', a writing and program developed extensively by support group of young people; and $20,000 to the Caroline Chisholm Society for a 24-hour free (008 number) telephone counselling service, an extension of an existing support service provided by the society for young women who are pregnant or who have children.

The Family Planning Association of Victoria received $41,500 for a Youth Health Project to promote discussion and increase understanding of young people's health issues and needs by conducting a pilot program of localised professional development and peer-education programs.

Young women were also targeted by twenty-eight agencies who received Youth Victoria Grants for Local Community Projects. These involved young women in a variety of activities relating to health, safety, sexuality, personal identity, accommodation, community arts, and the environment.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $305,200 $707,907 To be determined

Statewide Youth Organisations Grants are provided to non-profit organisations to address the needs of disadvantaged young people. The Young Women's Christian Association received $90,000 under the 1990-91 program.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $810,000 $810,000 $590,000

Youth Workers Subsidies of $16,000 per annum are provided to local government and community agencies to assist with the employment of youth workers. One hundred and

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 103 fourteen subsidies are currently provided to municipal councils and community organisations to employ youth workers. The YWCA of Victoria and YWCAs of Dandenong and Westernport have been funded under this program to work specifically with young women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,800,000 $1,800,000 $1,700,000

Youth Homeless Taskforce The Youth Homelessness Taskforce was established in October 1989, as a component of the Victorian Government's response to the Human Rights Commission (Burdekin) Report on Youth Homelessness. The aim of the program is to enhance the co-ordination and extend the comprehensiveness of services for homeless young people and young people at risk of being homeless. Particular emphasis is being given to the integration of a range of supported accommodation, education, health and youth support services to homeless young people. Young women comprised 44 per cent of the 182 young homeless people involved in direct casework of the task force to March 1991.

The program also provides grants to local community organisations for innovative projects: $538,142 was granted for such projects in 1990-91, of which $68,669 went to projects specifically targeted at young women. These projects were: a Young Single Parents Support Group; a Young Women's Vocational Day; Action Research on Homelessness, Sexual Assault and the Law; Sexual Assault Strategy Development Project; Personal Safety Program; Young Women's Access Support Worker; and Young Women's Resource Collection.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,233,000 $1,233,000 1,233,000

Fitzroy Youth Care Project This project is funded by the OYA in conjunction with the Commonwealth Youth Bureau and the Ministry of Police and Emergency Services, with the aim of reducing self-harm and risk-taking behaviours of young people in the inner-city area of Fitzroy. The project targets homeless young women and victims of sexual abuse. The project received a grant from Fitzroy Council to establish a "women only cafe" in the area and, together with local police, has organised a girls' netball tournament. The project also aims to improve young women's access to health care at the Fitzroy Community Health Centre.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000

OLDER PERSONS PLANNING OFFICE

The Older Persons Planning Office (OPPO) was established in June 1988 as a Social Justice initiative to support the priority policy issue of 'dignity and

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 104 security for the aged'. Its key functions are to: • establish a framework for planning government services for Victoria's growing number of older people; • identify the key choices and options facing the Victorian Government in respect of aged services; • ensure effective communication to older Victorians regarding services and opportunities; • facilitate public discussion and consultation on major issues affecting older • peopleimplemen; t the Seniors Card program (introduced March 1991); and • manage Senior Citizens Week (transfered from Department of Premier and Cabinet in March 1991). OPPO was a Division of the Local Government Department. As a result of machinery of government changes in March 1991, it is now an office within the Ministry of Ethnic, Municipal and Community Affairs.

Key priority areas for OPPO are:

• enhancing the recognition, participation and social esteem of older people; • promoting the safety and security of older people, whether in the home, as pedestrians or users of public transport or as consumers in the marketplace; • expanding the range and diversity of supported housing options available to older people unable to live independently; • ensuring that the medium-term and long-term planning processes for Victorian communities take account of the implications of population ageing; and • promoting the provision of appropriate support to the carers of older people.

Each of these priorities requires special account to be taken of the needs of women, who form a majority of the older population. Older women are over-represented as recipients of income support payments; as renters in the private market; and as carers for spouses or other family members. They are more likely than men to live alone, to feel themselves vulnerable to attack on their person or property, and to require eventual admission to nursing home care. On average, women live longer than men, but are prone to chronically painful or disabling conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and incontinence.

The Older Persons Consultative Council, which is an Advisory Council to the Minister for Ethnic, Municipal and Community Affairs, is the principal mechanism for consultation between older people and the Victorian Government. Six of the council's twelve members are women. The council has taken a particular interest in matters affecting older women. It has made submissions to the consultation on a women's centre to be located in the former Queen Victoria Hospital and to the transport authorities on safety, security and ticketing issues. The Council has been particularly concerned about support to carers, and has advocated to the Commonwealth Government on a range of issues, including services for people with dementia, the Domiciliary Nursing Home Benefit, and

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 105 the Home and Community Care program. To celebrate International Women's Day, the Council produced a special edition of its newsletter focusing on issues of particular concern to older women.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,274,400 $1,449,018 $864,000

Information Kits for Older People For Senior Citizens Week 1991, OPPO reprinted its folder of information sheets on topics of concern to older people. The folder contains information which covers not only government programs and services, but information on health and health promotion, consumer rights, personal safety, transport and mobility, adult education and housing. Some of the information specifically targets women.

Seniors Card The Victorian Seniors Card was launched in March 1991. It provides all permanent residents of Victoria aged sixty years or over and not in the full-time work force, with access to the 'Sixty Plus' transport concession as well as a wide range of discounts and special benefits from retailers, service providers, tourist attractions and cultural institutions. The Seniors Card is intended to recognise the contribution of seniors to the development of the State, and to encourage more active participation in social, cultural and economic life.

At the end of financial year 1990-91, 338,892 Seniors Cards had been issued to women, representing 59 per cent of total recipients. Forty per cent of Seniors Cards have been issued to married couples, 60 per cent to singles.

Further development of the Seniors Card is subject to advice from a vetting committee, five of whose seven members are women. Particular attention will be paid in 1991-92 to recruitment of providers relevant to rural people and to people from non-English-speaking backgrounds. It is intended to conduct a survey of Seniors Card recipients in 1991-92 to determine the extent to which the card has achieved its objective of encouraging greater participation by seniors in community life.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990 91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $850,000 $854,076 $228,000

Safety and Security for Older People In co-operation with the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services, the Older Persons Planning Office intends to provide a practical guide for older people in 1991-92 on safety and security. Such a guide would bring together a range of information currently available on home security, safer driving for older people, pedestrian safety, personal alarms, home maintenance services, using public transport, and consumer protection. The publication would be particularly targeted to older women, who are both more vulnerable to attack on their person or property, and more likely to restrict their activities through anxiety.

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 106 OFFICE OF RURAL AFFAIRS 2nd Floor, State Public Offices McLachlan Street HORSHAM 3400 Telephone: (053) 82 5755

The Office of Rural Affairs (ORA) seeks to improve communication between the rural community and the Government, and to raise the profile of rural issues within government. ORA seeks to address the priority needs of rural Victorians, especially those whose needs are greatest. Staff participate in working groups and liaise with rural community groups and government departments to improve the delivery of services to rural Victorians.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,400,000 $1,545,000 $1,870,000

Through local networks and the resources of the Rural Women's Network, the Office of Rural Affairs can monitor the impact and effectiveness of government policy on rural women and provide a conduit for rural women to influence the policies and programs that affect their lives.

The Office of Rural Affairs consults widely throughout the rural community and within government, at all levels. Organisations include industry and community peak bodies such as the Victorian Farmers Federation, Victorian Council of Social Services, Victorian Women's Trust, etc; as well as Federal and State Government agencies whose programs and policies impact on rural Victoria. At the local level, ORA consults widely with local government agencies and community groups, such as neighbourhood houses and local development committees.

Rural Enterprise Victoria The Rural Enterprise Victoria (REV) scheme flows from recommendations of the "Study of Small Towns in Victoria' (1988). REV aims to promote enterprise and employment creation in small rural communities as a strategy in restoring control in their own futures to those communities in the face of significant and prolonged decline. The scheme operates with a central Resource Centre to act as a clearing house of information and conduit for contacts. Nine rural communities have a REV funded " facilitator' employed by a local committee of management.

Increasing employment opportunities for rural Victorians generally will assist rural women enter the work force or develop enterprises. Women are significantly represented on the local committees of management of the local facilitators. Initial funding for the pilot stage of the REV scheme was under the Government's Social Justice Strategy. Continued funding for the next three fiscal years has been announced as part of the Government's Victoria First initiative.

While assistance with establishing rural enterprises is open to any person with sufficient vision and drive, REV is publicised through representation at a wide

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 107 range of rural gatherings, including women's gatherings. The scheme is accessible to people with minimal capital and thus presents no barrier to women, who typically have less capital than men. Additionally, the women on the committees of management help to promote an image of accessibility to women within their communities.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $500,000 $500,000 $722,000

New Enterprise Incentive Scheme The New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) for rural Victoria is managed by REV. The program is nation-wide and funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment & Training (DEET). NEIS provides training, income support and business assistance for unemployed people wishing to establish new enterprises.

In rural Victoria, through social, economic and cultural pressures, women have suffered a lack of confidence and opportunities to establish enterprises. NEIS can help rural people overcome the difficulties encountered in establishing new enterprises by offering training and income assistance and, importantly, also by building the confidence to attempt it.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $145,000 $120,000 $150,000

Rural Data Project The Office of Rural Affairs is developing a strategy to enhance and access databases of statistical information of relevance to rural Victoria. The Victorian Standing Committee on Statistics is to fund, for six months, an officer from the Australian Bureau of Statistics who will advise on: the broad areas of statistical needs of the Office; the contacts and networks required; the social indicators relevant to rural communities; and the level of statistical expertise required. While there is a significant amount of statistical information collected by different agencies at present, it is not focused on rural women's issues. The development of a database of accurate rural information will assist in detailing the contribution made by women working on farms and in small rural businesses, as well as issues affecting women resident in rural Victoria.

The Victorian Standing Committee on Statistics is providing $33,000 to cover employment of the officer. Other project workers and expenses will be met from the budget of the Office of Rural Affairs.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $6,000 $6,000 $32,000

Rural Downturn The Office of Rural Affairs has adopted a lead role in developing policy and

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 108 program responses to mitigate the affects of the current rural downturn. Within this broad aim, ORA is represented on or leads inter-departmental committees, such as the Rural Human Services Task Group; the Department of Agriculture's Special Industry Task Groups for the dairy, grains and wool industries; the Rural Information Task Group; and the Rural Education Reference Group. The Office has also assisted rural counselling groups and maintained general operations around establishing and reinforcing rural contact networks.

Women perform a key role in rural communities as information seekers and disseminators and are, therefore, a high targeting priority in relation to seeking information on the needs of rural communities. Government policies are explained and women directly consulted at the local level through networks of community groups, largely run and maintained by rural women. Women are also members of task groups.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $70,000 $70,000 $70,000

Project Officer: Women in Agriculture The special needs of rural women in agricultural industries during the current rural downturn are addressed by a special officer based at Ballarat. The officer assigned to this project has been able to:

• advise and support various community-based farm women's groups about the current needs of rural women, and to establish an open environment for discussion; • work with the Department of Agriculture to encourage the active inclusion of women as clients and farmers in their current programs; • support a local planning group of women in the Mallee (Sea Lake). This group managed to host a successful, state-wide "Women on Farms" gathering attended by 150 women. The gathering recognised the high input of farm women, not only to maintenance and care of farming families and communities, but also to agricultural productivity, unacknowledged in the past; • assist the editing of the Autumn 1991 edition of 'Network', dealing with issues related to the current rural downturn.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $25,000 $25,000 $50,000

Service Delivery Study The Study of Government Service Delivery to Rural Communities is looking at examples of effective service delivery to rural communities to determine what factors are the principal contributors to effective service delivery so that these can be applied across a range of services. Public consultation was undertaken through extensive advertisement in rural newspapers, direct contact with community groups and government agencies using networks of ORA staff.

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 109 Many community groups identified local ownership and control of programs as a key factor. As women typically take on central roles in managing community groups of this nature, they are shown as major contributors to the effective delivery of government services. A final report is in preparation. It is expected that its recommendations will be significant for women in rural Victoria.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $75,000 $75,000 $15,000

The most expensive phase of the project, the preparation of the study, will be completed in 1990-91.

Rural Women's Network The Rural Women's Network was established in 1986 as a major project within the Office of Rural Affairs, to encourage rural women to become more involved in the decision-making processes of local, regional and state bodies, whether they be local government or industry bodies or other advisory and consultative services. The Rural Women's Network employs four major methods to achieve its objectives:

• 'Network', a quarterly newsletter, underpins the activities of the Rural Women's Network by providing rural women with contacts and a forum for sharing ideas and experiences. The circulation of the newsletter has reached 12,000 copies with 85 per cent of the content contributed to by rural women. A steering group of interested rural women, develops and oversees editorial policy for the newsletter.

Additional funding has been provided by other government agencies to assist in the production and distribution costs of 'Network'. The Spring 1990 edition featured women's health issues and attracted funding from the Health Promotions Foundation (Quit campaign). The Summer 1990 edition, featuring adult literacy, was produced with the assistance and support of the Division of Further Education through the Adult & Basic Education Resource and Information Service, while the Autumn 1991 edition was prepared with assistance from the Department of Agriculture and featured articles of relevance to women in agricultural industries.

• Policy Development - the Rural Women's Network continues to influence policy development across the range of government departments through advice, committee membership and consultative contacts.

• Networking - the Rural Women's Network is an informal association for rural women. Co-ordination of the Rural Women's Network is through two officers of the Office of Rural Affairs in Melbourne, with assistance from regional staff, rural women and women's groups. Every effort is made in networking; passing on ideas, information and skills; and maintaining and broadening contacts and links with women and women's groups throughout the State.

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 110 • Focus on issues - The Rural Women's Network assists and supports rural women to focus on issues at a local level. Skills development is a major objective. The Network has co-ordinated a planning committee of women's associations such as the Australian Local Government Women's Association, YWCA of Victoria, and the Victorian Women's Trust, to develop a framework of support and expertise for localised women's groups to use in planning workshops and seminars to provide skills development opportunities for rural women. These workshops were held and supported financially in 1991 by the Ministry of Ethnic, Municipal and Community Affairs.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $200,000 $200,000 $250,000

ETHNIC, MUNICIPAL & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS • 111 MINISTRY OF FINANCE 35 Spring Street MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03) 6513100

The machinery of Government changes in January 1991, established the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry combines some of the functions of the Department of the Treasury with most of the functions of the former Department of Property and Services. The Ministry was established to provide a focus for: • co-ordinating financial management, budgetary policy and budgetary requirements of the Victorian Government; • managing the preparation of the Budget consistent with Government program priorities; • providing accounting support to agencies and evaluating the effectiveness of agency program delivery; • application of Effective Information Technology across the public sector; • advising the Victoria Government on asset management and utilisation; and • management of a number of ongoing commercial services.

The Ministry is involved in three basic areas of activity, namely: finance; property and asset management; and commercial services. The finance area comprises the Budget Division, Effectiveness Review Unit, Strategic Analysis Unit, Comptroller-General's Division and Information Technology Management Division. The Property and Asset Management area comprises the Property and Assets Utilisation Division, Office of the Valuer-General, Survey and Mapping Victoria, and the Government Employee Housing Authority. The Commercial Services area provides services across the Victorian Government and comprises the Victorian Government Advertising Unit, VicFleet, Vic Couriers, State Supply Service, Printing and Publishing Victoria, Viclmage and the Victorian Government Computer Centre. In addition, Landdata and Vistel provide commercial services outside the Government sector.

The three areas of activity of this Ministry are all directed to providing services and support for the Victorian Government. The Ministry, as a central agency, does not provide services direct to the community. The Ministry's primary role is to assess departments' budgets to ensure effective program delivery by agencies in accordance with government priorities.

Scholarships for Women in Surveying A major concern of the Ministry of Finance is to promote the expansion of career options for women by an increased representation of women in non-traditional professional, technical and trade employment categories, particularly in surveying, valuation and draughting, and in the printing trades. A scholarship program for women in surveying has operated since 1987.

Surveying is the only major professional category in the Victorian Public Service from which women are absent, and there are no licensed women surveyors in

FINANCE • 112 Victoria. However, since 1982, the number of female surveying graduates has been increasing. The scholarship program consists of three bursaries, two undergraduate and one postgraduate award. The key objective of the program is to increase the number of women graduates. The first scholarship recipient graduated in 1990.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expediture 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $25,000 $30,700 $35,000

FINANCE • 113 HEALTH DEPARTMENT VICTORIA 555 Collins Street MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03) 616 7777

The goal of Health Department Victoria (HDV) is that all Victorians should have opportunities to develop and maintain a level of health which enables them to participate in the life of the community; and that when affected by illness, their health and physical and mental capabilities are restored as much and as soon as possible, and their rights and dignity are maintained.

The Department has developed six strategic objectives to achieve that goal. They are: • to improve public health in Victoria and prevent illness and injury; • to provide access to hospital and residential services that are appropriate and of good quality; • to expand access to community and home-based health services; • to improve the management of health services to achieve effectiveness, efficiency and accountability; • to achieve greater equality in health access and health outcomes; and • to improve consumer outcomes, dignity, consumer satisfaction and recognition of consumer rights in Victoria's health services.

HDV has responsibility for all health, hospital and associated services administered directly or supported financially by the State Government. HDV funds and monitors the operations of public hospitals, community health centres and other health services. Additionally, HDV has responsibility for a number of health-related statutory bodies, including: review boards; health practitioners accreditation and registering bodies; and a range of advisory committees.

Total Outlays 1991-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $2,861.3m $2,941.2m

Women are major users of health services, either for themselves or as carers of the sick, children or older family members. The high rate of usage of services by women is related to their living longer than men, their tendency to have a lower economic status in society, and the fact that fertility control and childbirth are viewed as health issues.

Women report more episodes of ill health; consult medical practitioners, chemists and other health personnel more frequently; have a higher rate of hospitalisation, both in terms of admissions and length of stay; take medication more frequently and, in certain age groups, have higher rates of some psychiatric illnesses.

In 1985 the Women's Health Working Party was established to investigate women's health issues and to recommend measures to improve health services for

HEALTH • 114 women. Their report "Why Women's Health?", forms the basis of Victoria's women's health policy.

Women's Health Unit The Women's Health Unit, established in 1987, assists with the development of policy within HDV by providing advice and information on women's health issues. Additionally, it ensures that health policy, planning and service delivery take account of the needs of women. The Unit participates in the development of new programs designed specifically for women, and maintains an ongoing monitoring role when those services are operational.

The Unit has a central role in the implementation of the National Women's Health Program and in the implementation of the Victorian Ministerial Birthing Services Review and related National Alternative Birthing Program. Staff of the Unit are also involved in the development of breast and cervical cancer screening programs.

The Unit works with the Department's regional offices to promote the development of programs and strategies targeted at improving the health and status of women; and consults with women's health services on the development of policy and projects in the Department.

In collaboration with service providers in the women's health field, the Unit has developed a policy and programs manual to provide a framework for the development of services targeted to the health needs of women.

In 1990-91, the Manager of the Unit, chaired the Victorian Advisory Committee on Rape (VACOR), which provides advice to the Minister on issues concerning sexual assault. In July 1991 responsibility for the Committee was transfered to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Breast Cancer Screening Program The Commonwealth Government has allocated $64 million over four years to implement a National Breast Cancer Screening Program. In 1991, following completion of a Victorian pilot project partially funded by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, a State Plan for the development of breast cancer screening services was completed. The Plan outlines arrangements for the location and delivery of the services and addresses such issues as, training and education, quality control, support for women, data collection, funding, evaluation and research. In 1991-92 a Breast Cancer Screening Planning and Co-ordination Unit, Registry and Training Unit will be established. Building on the experience gained by staff during the pilot program, the Essendon branch of the Royal Melbourne Hospital will become a mammography assessment centre.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1991-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $75,000 $115,000 $2,547,600

HEALTH • 115 Cervical Cancer Screening In 1989, following passage of the Cancer (Central Registers) Act, the Cervical Cytology Register commenced operation. Over 95 per cent of the results of pap smear tests performed in Victoria are lodged with the Register. The Register, the first in Australia, enables the results of smear tests to be centrally recorded. Such recording allows for a more accurate interpretation of results, the development of a reminder system for participating women, and a safety net for women with abnormal smear test results, should these be overlooked by service providers. In 1991-92 the Victorian Cytology Service will be targeting women who are unscreened or not regularly screened, on regular basis, with the emphasis on older women, rural and isolated women and women from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $43,250 $43,250 $418,000

Birthing Services The report of the Ministerial Review of Birthing Services was launched in June 1990. A Departmental Senior Officers Reference Group has examined the report and established priorities for the implementation of its recommendations. Their report was released in May 1991. It has been proposed that an implementation framework, be adopted to ensure that the review's recommendations influenced all parts of the health sector by being incorporated into policy and planning. Most HDV regional offices have established regional advisory panels, representing diverse interests, to have input into the development of three-year regional implementation plans.

HDV has entered into an agreement with the Commonwealth for incentive funding under the Alternative Birthing Services Program. A range of programs, targeting Koorie women, non-English-speaking background women and/or young women on low incomes, have been recommended for funding.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $100,000 $67,360 $837,640

Sexual Assault Services HDV's Sexual Assault program has seen considerable expansion in the past six years. Fourteen sexual assault services have now been established in Melbourne and rural Victoria. Centres provide crisis care, counselling, support and community education.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $2,628,800 $2,605,429 $2,848,560

National Women's Health Program The Victorian Minister for Health, in 1990, signed an agreement with the Commonwealth for funds under the National Women's Health Program. The

HEALTH • 116 funds will enable the development of women's health initiatives on a dollar-for- dollar cost-shared basis, between the Victoria and the Commonwealth. The funds will be available over a four-year period and will provide for the development of regional women's health services, the expansion of the rural sexual assault program, and the implementation of a health information strategy for women of non-English-speaking background. The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments are each providing approximately $1.0 million in 1991-92.

Healthsharing Women Healthsharing Women is a state-wide information and education resource service on women's heath issues. It provides women with the information and referral sources they require to make decisions about their health; the opportunity to share their health experiences; and the support to act to influence and change the attitudes, planning and practice that shape the health experience of women. In late 1990, Healthsharing Women hosted a National Women in Surgery Conference.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $471,700 $471,700 $492,930

Women's Health Information Resource Collective The Women's Health Information Resource Collective (WHIRQ-aims to highlight women's health issues and to bring them to the attention of all women. During 1990-91, WHIRC focused on the development of resources, producing a series of posters on women's health issues and written material that aimed to provide women with knowledge about their bodies. A package of materials, including a resources list, was launched in March 1991 by WHIRC.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $167,100 $167,100 $174,620

Women's Health Centres Women's health centres are being established across Victoria. Centres are operating in Melbourne's western and outer eastern suburbs, and in the Loddon Campaspe, Central Highlands/Wimmera and Barwon North East Regions. In 1991-92, funds have been provided to undertake consultations in two regions, Southern Metropolitan and Gippsland, with a view to developing a proposal for the establishment of women's health services in those regions.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $2,850,200 $2,806,714 $2,920,460

Women from Non-English-Speaking Backgrounds In March 1991, a report outlined gaps in the provision of appropriate health information for non-English speaking women, and strategies for providing such information, was published by the Non-English-Speaking Background Women's Health Information Project, based at Healthsharing Women.

HEALTH • 117 The project also published a resources manual which provides information about existing health information resources for women of non-English-speaking background.

The implementation phase of this project will aim to co-ordinate and support the efforts of existing agencies to provide accurate and sensitive health information to women, in addition to stimulating some new initiatives over the next three years.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $68,000 $68,000 $68,000

Women In Industry, Contraception and Health (WICH) Women in Industry, Contraception and Health (WICH) provides a service to women in the workplace, with a special focus on women of non-English-speaking background. WICH provides advice on occupational health and safety, contraception and reproductive health for women. WICH receives funds from HDV and the Federal Department of Community Services and Health.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $135,240 $135,240 $164,315

HOSPITAL SERVICES

Women use the acute hospital system more often than men. They comprise 56.5 per cent of all patients and utilise 58.2 per cent of all bed days. Women also have slightly longer stays in hospital than men, 6.3 as compared to 5.9 days. These differences are related to the greater numbers of women in the older population groups: older people tend to have a higher usage of health services. Child bearing is another factor in the high usage of hospitals by women. In 1990-91, pregnancy and childbirth accounted for nearly 10 per cent of all patient bed days in public hospitals, and an estimated 35 per cent of female bed days in public hospitals.

The Acute Hospital Development Unit of HDV has responsibility for monitoring waiting times for in-patient gynaecology services and, through the Medicare Incentives Program, funds a range of early discharge programs targeting women.

Women's health needs are addressed specifically at three hospitals in Victoria, the Royal Women's Hospital; Monash Medical Centre; and the Mercy Maternity Hospital, the location of the Victoria's specialist unit for mothers experiencing post-natal depression. These hospitals provide treatment, research and teaching facilities directly related to women's health needs, particularly in the areas of gynaecology and obstetrics.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $l,987m $2,024m $2,094m

HEALTH • 118 Professional Issues in Nursing The review of the Nurses Act (1958) continues with the release of a discussion paper in late 1990. The consultation period of the review is now complete and a final report has been given to the Review's Advisory Committee. It is expected that a Bill will be introduced into Parliament in the Spring sitting of 1991. The new Act will reflect contemporary nursing standards and its objectives will be to create a new Nurses' Registration Board to register nurses so as to protect the public health.

NURSING HOMES, GERIATRIC HOSPITALS AND ASSESSMENT TEAMS

Nursing homes and geriatric hospitals, with Commonwealth Government and State Government funding, provide 24-hour care for people who are no longer able to remain in their own homes. The majority of residents in nursing homes and geriatric hospitals are women over the age of 70 years.

Multi-disciplinary Geriatric Assessment Teams, jointly funded by the State Government and Commonwealth Government, with coverage across Victoria, assess the health needs of older people and assist them to obtain appropriate services. The major proportion of the teams' assessments are of older women.

A major reform of aged care services has been in progress nationally since 1985. HDV is involved in monitoring standards and the quality of care in nursing homes, hostels and special accommodation houses. Both residential and community health services for older people cater, in the main, for the health needs of older women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $168.5m $177.4m $173.7m

COMMUNITY HEALTH AND HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES

Community health and home and community care services comprise community health centres and home and community health care services for older people, including Community (District) Nursing Services.

Community health centres are designed to improve the health of individuals and communities through the development of a range of services and programs delivered in locally accountable generalist centres. These services conduct illness prevention, health promotion and community development programs and provide comprehensive, accessible primary health care.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $132.6m $131.9m $147.5m

Women's Health in Community Health Centres Women are major users of community health services and comprise the majority of

HEALTH • 119 carers of the sick. Many community health centres run Women's Health Days and provide a range of services (antenatal, self-help groups) to address women's specific health needs. Women are also major users of many of the centres' programs targeted at older people.

Aboriginal Women's Programs The Department employs a full-time officer in the Koori Health Unit as the Women's and Children's Program Co-ordinator. The level of self-esteem of many Koori women has been identified as an issue, as has the need for separate women's health services in local communities.

A women's house has been established in Echuca, purchased with funds from the Victorian Government and Commonwealth Government, and development of health, educational and other programs to be conducted in the house is underway.

Programs funded by HDV in 1990-91 included: a ten-day camp for women and older children which, in conjunction with tribal elders, emphasised cultural aspects of health through a holistic lifestyle; antenatal programs within the Mildura Aboriginal Co-operative and Morwell Co-operative; a health awareness program for Koorie women, focusing on breast self-examination and cervical cancer education, conducted by Goulburn Valley Koorie Women's Group; and a seven-day camp for women and their children, where the children have recently returned from foster placement, to assist with the reintegration of those children into the community.

The program also funded the production of an educational video on cervical cancer and pap smears. The video was made by Koori women specifically for Koori women. The video is of exceptional quality and plans are in progress for extending its use to the general population.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $140,000 $136,255 $146,000

The Family Planning Program Responsibility for the administration of the Family Planning Program, used predominantly by women, has recently returned to HDV. The major focus of the program is the provision of clinical family planning services, however some grants were made for community education and development programs. These grants included funding, totalling $334,730, for four "women specific" programs, conducted by WICH, their Social Biology Resources Centre, Co-Care and the Family Planning Association.

Self Help Program Under this program, grants totalling $7,200 were made to six community organisations for activities targeting women. These included cervical cancer and mastectomy support groups, and funding to organisations such as the Muslim Women's Council, the Kurdish Association Women's Self Help Group, the

HEALTH • 120 Endometriosis Association and the Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa Foundation.

Program of Health Services for Homeless Youth Under this program a range of initiatives have been funded with three, totalling $150,000, specifically aimed at young women. The Royal Women's Hospital program targets homeless young women at risk, the North East Centre Against Sexual Assault program targets women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and the West Bellarine Community Health Centre targets homeless young women, with a particular emphasis on those who are pregnant or who have young children.

Home and Community Care Program Administration of the joint Commonwealth Government - State Government funded Home and Community Care Program (HACC) in Victoria is shared between HDV and Community Services Victoria (CSV). Within the HACC Program, the Department is responsible for health-related services, including community nursing and allied health services that assist frail older people, many of whom are women, to remain in their own homes.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $46m $46.3m $52.2m

PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES

A comprehensive range of hospital and community-based assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and support services throughout Victoria, is provided or funded by the Department, through the Office of Psychiatric Services, for people with psychiatric disorders. Women are significant users of many of these services.

A number of services and projects that address the specific needs of women with psychiatric disorders, or seek to ensure general psychiatric services are appropriately sensitive to the needs of their women patients/clients, are currently supported by the Department. For example, Clara House is a supported accommodation service for women with psychiatric disorders and their children. Clara House is funded by HDV and managed by Prahran Parish Mission.

Additionally, PANDA, a self-help organisation for women who experience postnatal and antenatal depression, receives a HDV grant as does the Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa Foundation, a support organisation for anorexia and bulimia sufferers, most of whom are young women.

Psychiatric Services also operates a six-bed 'mothers and babies' unit, based at Larundel Hospital, providing a state-wide specialist in-patient care and treatment service for mothers experiencing postnatal depression and post- puerperal psychosis.

HEALTH • 121 A project identifying the housing and support needs of women with psychiatric disorders living in the Western Region was completed during 1990-91. The project was conducted and the auspices of VICSERV, a peak body for non-government mental health services, and funded by the Department.

The North Eastern Metropolitan Psychiatric Services are participating in the development of a broad action plan for women's health services in the North Eastern Metropolitan Region. The plan, which is being co-ordinated by the Health Regional Office, will be completed by the end of 1991.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $275.8m (OPS total) $292.3m $290.7m

ALCOHOL AND DRUG SERVICES FOR WOMEN

There is growing evidence of an increasing drug problem amongst women, particularly in the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and prescribed drugs. HDV funds fifty-one non-government and four government treatment agencies in Victoria, and a substantial proportion of the clients of these agencies are women.

In addition to on going education and treatment services, specific programs and strategies have been developed to address the needs of women. In particular, HDV funds the Royal Women's Hospital Chemical Dependency Unit, the Women's Polydrug Treatment Centre in Ballarat, and the Gresswell Women's program in Bundoora.

HDV is also actively supporting generalist health services, such as community health centre that women are already comfortable using, to become more responsive and skilled in handling alcohol and drug problems. Early in 1991, HDV supported the National Women and Drug Conference held in Melbourne. This conference provided a forum for an exchange of ideas and debate about current and emerging health needs of women in relation to drug use.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $30.5m $28.lm $29.4m

PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTION AND PROMOTION

A range of health-protection and health education activities is provided by the department.

Dental Health Services The Dental Health Services, Community Dental Program and the Victorian Denture Scheme are programs providing services to clients throughout Victoria. Health Care cardholders and the socially disadvantaged having priority for these services. Given the preponderance of women in the target group, women with young children and older women are the major beneficiaries of the programs.

HEALTH • 122 Access to dental health services remains one of the most significant needs of older people, who are increasingly retaining more of their natural teeth and, therefore, now requiring ongoing primary dental care rather than prosthetic replacements, including dentures, than has been the case in the past. The Victorian dental programs make major contributions towards the dental health of older women, their nutrition and, hence, take out toward their general standard of health.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $18.95m $19.2m $19.2m

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) The AIDS/STD Unit of HDV has maintained and expanded clinical STD services and education programs, many of which focus on the needs of women. The Unit also funds community organisations that focus on the needs of women and carry out peer education and offer support for infected women and women care givers.

World AIDS Day 1990 focused on women, and the Unit contributed $10,000 to the organisation of women's groups across Victoria to take up relevant issues at a local level. Funding has been provided to the Prostitutes Collective of Victoria and Family Planning Association of Victoria, both of which have an almost entirely female clientele. Positive Women, a support group for infected women, has produced a brochure funded by the unit.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $11.3m $10.8m $11.7m

Campaign on Family Violence In 1991 the Community Education Task Force on Family Violence was chaired by HDV. It included representatives from community groups as well as individuals working with women and children who are victims of family violence. In 1990-91 the task force resourced the production of educational material and provided community education grants. The task force also organised training workshops, seminars and forums, as well as the second Conference for Family Violence Community Networks. The program now focuses on improving the health sector's response to family violence through such strategies such as the development of agency protocols. Two major hospitals are participating in pilot projects.

THE VICTORIAN HEALTH PROMOTION FOUNDATION

The Tobacco Act (1988) established the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. The Foundation uses the proceeds of a wholesale tobacco levy to fund health promotion projects. In 1991 the Foundation allocated grants and sponsorships to groups and organisations for initiatives that promote health and prevent illness among women.

HEALTH • 123 Quit Campaign The Quit Campaign encourages Victorians to evaluate their smoking habits. A major part of Quit is targeted at young women as girls and young women have the highest rate of taking up smoking. Over the next five years, using the mass media, the campaign will encourage women aged 20 - 25 years to evaluate their smoking habits. Educational videos with discussion notes, life-style promotions and advertisements, have been produced by the Quit Campaign. Resources have been produced in a range of community languages, and information has also been targeted to Aboriginal women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $880,000 Not Available $880,000

Women's Health Promotion Information Day Funding Scheme The Foundation is funding a three-year program of Women's Health Promotion Information Days, to encourage local communities to develop information projects promoting women's health. Many of the projects will, in addition to having direct health outcomes, promote community networks, reduce isolation and integrate women with local health supports.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $125,777 Not Available $100,000

Well Women's Community Health Program The Well Women's Community Health Program is a cervical cancer screening program involving six community health centres in Victoria. This two-year pilot program, which concluded in June 1991, aimed to encourage women in under- screened groups to have pap smear tests. A final evaluation report on the project was released in mid-1991.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 $127,739 Project completed

Increasing Cervical Cancer Screening Recent data from the Victorian Cervical Cancer Register indicates that the level of screening is low among older women, women from non-English-speaking backgrounds, Aboriginal women and women from low-income groups. As part of the better health program the Foundation is funding state-wide project t

Budget Estimate 1991-92 $245,780

HEALTH • 124 DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR Nauru House 80 Collins Street MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03) 655 6444

The Department of Labour is concerned to promote industry and public sector compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements for safe and legal employment practices in Victoria; to promote greater flexibility and responsiveness of the labour force; and to progressively eliminate structural inefficiencies in the Victorian labour market. It has primary responsibility for the co-ordination of WorkCare in Victoria, and for work-force management in the Victorian Public Service.

Through its network of regional offices, the Department delivers counselling, advisory and inspection services relating to employment, occupational health and safety, award compliance and industrial relations.

In addition, the Department contributes to the maintenance of employment growth and a stable industrial relations environment in the building and construction industry, and has responsibility for the development of employment policies and targeted employment programs for Victoria.

Major statutory authorities reporting to the Minister include: the Industrial Relations Commission of Victoria; the Accident Compensation Commission; the Victorian Accident Rehabilitation Commission; and the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Commission.

Machinery of Government Changes: From 18 January 1991, responsibility for Youth Affairs programs and the Youth Policy Development Council was transferred from the Department to the Ministry of Ethnic Municipal and Community Affairs (MEMCA).

In November 1990, responsibility for child-care policy and programs was transferred to the Office of Preschool and Child Care.

On July 1 1991 the Occupational Health and Safety Authority was established under the auspices of the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Commission. The Authority will provide for the participation of employers, unions and government in the creation, administration and enforcement of occupational health and safety standards. Occupational health and safety programs for 1991- 92 will be provided under the auspices of the new Authority. Budget estimates for occupational health and safety programs for 1991-92, therefore, relate to the Authority, not the Department of Labour.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $78,750,200 $68,253,136 $73,606,000

LABOUR • 125 In 1987 the Victorian Government released its statement on women's employment 'Victoria, Working for Women'. Major policy directions and over twenty initiatives were identified and outlined in three key areas:

• industry policy; • education and training; • workers with family responsibilities.

These key areas provided the framework for the further development of policy initiatives to improve women's employment opportunities.

The continued existence of disparities between the labour market status of women and men indicates that gender remains an important factor in shaping labour market opportunities and outcomes, and that these disparities still need to be redressed by governments, employers and unions.

EMPLOYMENT

WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT

The Women's Employment Branch was established in 1986 to provide advice on policies and programs relating to women's employment. The Branch is responsible for ensuring that the institutions and players in employment, education, training and industrial relations, continue to address the causes of women's disadvantaged position in access to the labour market. The main activities of the Branch include developmental and research projects, an information program, and a funding program.

Of the twenty-two staff members in June 1990, thirteen staff involved in out-of- school-hours and work-based childcare were transferred in late 1990 to become part of the Office of Preschool and Child Care. The Branch now has a complement of eight full-time and part-time staff involved in policy development and implementation.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $754,927 $766,476 $680,000

The Branch currently has three primary areas of attention for project activity: long-term unemployed women, industry training for women, and award restructuring.

The Branch is developing programs which target the needs of long-term unemployed women. It is working with industry groups to ensure that women's training and career developmental needs are met in industry training plans. To ensure these needs are met in the award restructuring process, the Branch is targeting the hospitality and clerical industries, where women comprise the majority of the work force.

LABOUR • 126 Industry Training Boards The Women's Employment Branch, in conjunction with the Victorian Trades Hall Council Skills Technology and Training Unit, organised a series of seminars aimed at assisting union representatives on Industry Training Boards to address gender issues in the development of their industry training plans. One seminar was held during 1990 and further seminars are planned for 1991. The Branch offers assistance and support to those Industry Training Boards in industries with a large proportion of women, women's training needs and appropriate programs.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,400 $1,400 $60,000

Award Restructuring Project: Hospitality The Branch conducted a project with union and management agreement within a licensed club in the hospitality industry. A report has been prepared on the skills held by workers, the new classification structure and training arrangements, and changes required at the enterprise level. The report will be published in 1991-92.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estímate 1991-92 $45,000 $40,000 $5,000

Clerical Industry A project planned for the clerical industry will develop an award restructuring implementation kit and training program for union organisers and shop stewards, to ensure that benefits of award restructuring extend to all employees, including women. The estimated allocation for 1991-92 is $25,000.

Award Restructuring - Seminar Series In 1990 the Branch organised two seminars for unions and employers - Job Redesign and Labour Market Flexibility - aimed at assisting participants to identify and address the position of women workers in the award restructuring process. Both seminars were well attended with seventy-six and sixty registrants respectively.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $5,000 $4,853 Project completed

Guide for Working Women In March 1991 the Branch produced a 'Guide for Working Women' as a lift-out in the 'Herald-Sun'. The Guide provides information on rights and entitlements for women in the work force, and for those in the process of looking for work. It covers award entitlements and conditions, pay, leave, unfair dismissal, superannuation, redundancy, discrimination, sexual harassment, health and safety, childcare, and trade unions. The Guide was translated into seven community languages and published in ethnic community newspapers.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $59,581 $54,000 Project completed

LABOUR • 127 Employer Guidelines - Sexual Harassment The Branch produced a 'Guide for Victorian Employers - Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace', which details how employers can meet their legal obligations and prevent sexual harassment from occurring in their organisations. The booklet and an accompanying brochure were released in April 1991 and distributed through employer associations. It is expected that both the booklet and the brochure will be reprinted in 1991-92.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $10,000 $12,280 $10,000

Employer Guidelines - Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity The Branch is developing guidelines for Victorian employers to advise them of their obligations under the Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity legislation. The guidelines will also help companies develop sound human-resource management practices, and will be published mid-1991.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $10,000 $nil $10,000

Award Restructuring A series of three discussion papers on women and award restructuring was reprinted in 1990-91. In 1991-92 it is planned to release a case study of an award restructuring project in the hospitality industry. This will outline significant issues for women in industry-based award restructuring programs.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $17,000 $17,000 $10,000

Enterprise Bargaining It is expected that there will be increased union and employer attention focused on enterprise bargaining over the next 12-18 months. A discussion paper on this topic will inform unions, employer associations and government agencies about the potential advantages and disadvantages for women workers of a move to greater enterprise bargaining, and will discuss strategies to ensure that the needs of women workers are properly considered in the enterprise bargaining process. The estimated allocation for 1991-92 is $10,000.

Women Count The Branch produces 'Women Count', a bi-annual statistical bulletin on women's position in the labour force. Each edition addresses a major issue of women's employment, and to date the following topics have been covered: gender segregation; subject choice; superannuation; trade unions; employment prospects; award restructuring; and training.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $14,000 $14,315 $15,000

LABOUR • 128 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Department funds a number of equal opportunity projects, detailed below, which are supported and monitored by the Women's Employment Branch.

Public Authorities (Equal Employment Opportunity) Unit In the Spring session of Parliament, the Public Authorities (Equal Employment Opportunity) Act was passed. The Act, which was proclaimed in July 1991, extends equal employment opportunity protection to workers in statutory and public authorities. The Public Authorities (Equal Employment Opportunity) Unit, established by the Department of Labour in 1991, is responsible for monitoring implementation of the legislation. The Unit has drafted guidelines to inform the relevant public authorities of their responsibilities under the Act and has established a database for the Act's reporting requirements.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 New project $200,000

Victorian Trades Hall Council - Women's Officer Funding is provided to the Council for a Women's Officer whose role is to ensure that affiliates are provided with practical support and assistance in addressing issues of relevance to women workers. The functions include co-ordinating the implementation of the Trades Hall Action Plan for Women Workers; providing consultancy on equal employment opportunity issues; increasing the participation of women at all levels of the trade union movement; promoting the expansion of child-care facilities; and distributing material on sexual harassment, maternity leave, childcare, and affirmative action.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $70,000 $70,000 $70,000

Victorian Trades Hall Council - Equity Officer Funding is provided to the Victorian Trades Hall Council for an Equity Officer within their Skills, Training and Technology Unit. The officer provides specific advice to affiliated trade unions on skills, training and technology issues as they affect women and other disadvantaged workers in the industry and award restructuring process.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $34,077 $34,077 $39,000

Municipal Officers' Association The Department funded the Municipal Officers' Association to implement an Equal Opportunity Program to assist councils to implement the Local Government Act which requires local government authorities to observe merit principles in their employment practices. The project focused on Equal Employment Opportunity training and the project officer conducted seminars on a range of issues

LABOUR • 129 such as: award restructuring; superannuation; career development and merit employment principles in the workplace.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $32,137 $32,137 Project Completed

Women in Film and Television Women in Film and Television assisted women into non-traditional areas in the film and television industry. In 1990, Women in Film and Television organised and conducted a course for women planning to apply to film schools, and ran a Young Women's Film Festival.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $42,229 $42,229 Project Completed

EMPLOYMENT POLICY PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

The Department of Labour delivers and funds a range of programs that promote equal access for all Victorians to the labour market. Some programs are targeted specifically to women, others target a range of disadvantaged groups but have targets for participation of women in each client group.

Workstart Victoria A Victoria First initiative, Workstart Victoria aims to increase access to work, education or training for young people aged 15-24 years. It builds on the Youth Guarantee Program which offered similar services to 15 -18 year olds. Workstart Victoria administers a range of programs and services (described below) to meet these objectives.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $6.141m $5,579,309 $6,641,000

Employment Counselling Service The Employment Counsellor and Placement Service is the major program of Workstart Victoria. It is a personalised employment counselling service for 15 - 24 year olds. Since October 1990, the counsellor service has also included the Employment Access Program which offers assistance to young people, 15 - 21, on corrective or protective court orders. Women constitute 44 per cent of people unemployed in this age group, and 49 per cent of Workstart Employment Counsellors' clients.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $3.817m $3.236m $3.642m

Workstart Information Workstart Information aims to enhance the vocational information and advice available to young people in Victoria through the dissemination of vocational

LABOUR • 130 information to such groups as school leavers and unemployed young people, and through development of curriculum materials for teachers, employment counsellors and others assisting young people making decisions about their training and work options. Workstart Information activities include a vocational information and referral telephone service, and production of brochures on vocational issues and Workstart Victoria programs. Approximately 50 per cent of Workstart Information clients are women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $293,000 $278,000 $333,000

Away With Careers Workstart Victoria, in consultation with the Women's Employment Branch, is revising the career planning guide for young adults, 'Away With Careers'. The guide has proven highly successful, with teachers around Victoria requesting thousands of copies for class sets. Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $nil $5,000 $15,000

JobLink JobLink has been established to deliver counselling and job placement services to long-term unemployed people. Job seekers assisted by JobLink include sole parents, rural women, women with disabilities, and women ex-offenders. Aboriginal outreach workers, bi-lingual counsellors and sole-parent counsellors are employed at some offices to provide specialist assistance to particularly disadvantaged groups. Data indicates that 58 per cent of all job seekers assisted were women. Women represent 50 per cent of all full-time job placements, and 75 per cent of all part-time job placements. Of the eighteen JobLink offices the services at Mitcham, Morwell and Sunshine continue to target women as a high priority.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $3.4m $3.4m $3.4m

JOBLINK -FUNDED COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Disability Employment Action Centre The Disability Employment Action Centre is a project that provides job- placement assistance to unemployed people with disabilities. In 1990-91, 43 per cent of the people assisted were women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $138,000 $81,521 $81,521

Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders The Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders provides a job placement service for ex-offenders. The service targets prisoners and ex-

LABOUR • 131 prisoners. In 1990-91,5 per cent of people assisted were women. The relatively low female participation rate in this program is a reflection of the low proportion of offenders who are women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $92,525 $92,525 $92,525

The Outer East Council for Developing Services in Mental Health The Outer East Council for Developing Services in Mental Health operates the JobLink Groundwork project that provides a job-placement service for people with a mental illness. During the 1990-91 financial year, women comprised 21 per cent of the clients assisted by the project.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $84,504 $42,578 $42,578

Salvation Army Direction 2000 The Salvation Army Direction 2000 project provides skills and English language training to migrants, and especially targets long-term unemployed migrants. In 1990-91,65 per cent of people assisted were women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $33,539 $34,384 $34,384

Murray Mallee Regional Development Board The Murray Mallee Regional Development Board delivers a job-placement service to long-term unemployed people in Swan Hill and district. In 1990-91, 48 per cent of people assisted were women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $97,370 $97,370 $97,370

Mildura and District Education Council The Mildura and District Education Council is funded to provide a job placement service to long-term unemployed people in Mildura and District (previously provided by the Develop Mildura Council). During 1990-91,42 per cent of people assisted were women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $116,680 $116,680 $116,680

East Gippsland Access Project The East Gippsland Access Project provides counselling, job placement and information to unemployed. In 1990-91,35 per cent of people assisted were women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $108,054 $106,047 $106,047

LABOUR • 132 Australian Macedonian Youth Association The Australian Macedonian Youth Association is funded by WorkStart Victoria, the Office of Youth Affairs and JobLink. The project commenced operations on 18 March 1991. In 1990-91,60 per cent of people assisted were women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $10,500 $3,000 $7,500

Women's Employment Resource Centre The Women's Employment Resource Centre offers job placement, education and training assistance to long-term unemployed women in the Latrobe valley .The centre is particularly concerned to make its services accessible to women from non- English-speaking backgrounds. In 1990-91, the Centre assisted 112 women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $112,168 $112,168 $112,168

Hanover Welfare Services Hanover Welfare Services is funded from the Affirmative Employment Programs Trust to provide job-placement assistance to long-term-unemployed homeless people. Hanover is currently implementing strategies to target homeless women. A participation rate of 5 per cent women was achieved to March 1991.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $29,676 $39,566 $39,566

Overseas Qualifications The Overseas Qualifications Unit provides information, advice, vocational counselling and referral assistance to people with overseas qualifications, who wish to obtain recognition of their qualifications in Australia. Since it commenced operation in March 1989, the Unit has assisted 10,146 people. Thirty-seven per cent of clients assisted are women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $323,500 $314,500 $386,060

Labour Market Research and Policy The Labour Market Research and Policy Section conducts research into a range of issues affecting the Victorian labour market. Some of the projects deal specifically with gender issues in the labour market. In 1990-91,15 per cent of the section's budget, (approximately $91,350), was spent on matters related to women's labour market issues.

In 1990-91 outcomes included the statistical bulletin 'Women Count' and advice to the Women's Employment Branch of the Employment Division, the Office of Merit Protection and the Office of Preschool and Child Care. Several studies undertaken during 1990-91 examined the position of women in the labour force,

LABOUR • 133 including 'How Workers Get Their Training' and 'Victorian Labour Force Projections, 1989-2011'.

The Department of Labour and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet were joint sponsors in commissioning the Australian Bureau of Statistics to undertake a unique survey on the work patterns of women. The Department also negotiated with the Australian Bureau of Statistics to provide information on full-time and part-time work from the 1992 Census. As women account for about three-quarters of all part-time workers, this Census data will assist policy-makers to respond appropriately to part-time employment issues for women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $661,600 $696,683 $ 475,000

School-Work Program The School-Work Program, funded by Workstart Victoria, enables Year 11 and 12 VCE students to incorporate a work placement of one day per week into their full- time schooling. Students receive credit toward their VCE for this work placement. The program aims to increase the flexibility and relevance of school studies for students by linking them to work experiences. The program is particularly useful in supporting students who are at risk of leaving school before completion of the VCE. The pilot program involves sixty students in the Western and South Eastern regions of Melbourne and in Ballarat.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $135,000 Pilot Project (Carried forward from 1989-90)

Pre-employment Courses Workstart Victoria has funded a number of pre-vocational courses for young long- term unemployed people, the majority through the State Training System. These courses, usually delivered by TAFE colleges, offer training in a specific vocational area, such as hospitality, as well as broad literacy and numeracy training.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $500,000 $500,000 $200,000

Youth Labour Market Issues Bulletins 'Youth Labour Market Issues' is a series of bulletins for schools, which provides students and teachers with up-to-date labour market information. To June 1991, six bulletins have been distributed, with two bulletins each term planned.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $24,000 $24,000 $20,000

Local Authorities Traineeships Workstart Victoria and the Commonwealth Department of Employment,

LABOUR • 134 Education and Training are offering subsidies to local authorities who employ young people under the Australian Traineeship System. The scheme, which began in April 1991, is expected to generate 500 positions by June 1992. Young women make up approximately 50 per cent of the 101 young people who have been employed through this initiative.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $750,000 $250,000 $1,750,000

Women Talk Work Register The Women Talk Work Register, partially funded by Workstart Victoria and administered by the Ministry of Education and Training, is a register of women in non-traditional occupations who will talk to groups of girls and young women about their work. Since October 1990, over 210 speakers have addressed groups about their experiences in the workplace.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $36,000 $22,000 (Funded Ministry of Education and Training)

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Women Workers' Advisory Committee The Women Workers' Advisory Committee was established by the Occupational Health and Safety Commission to provide advice on the occupational health and safety needs of women workers. The Committee monitors the development of draft regulations and codes of practice undergoing consultative processes within the Commission, to ensure that the needs of women are considered. In 1990, the Women Workers' Advisory Committee drafted the Commission's response to the draft National Code of Practice on Lead.

The drafting of two industry codes of practice is being undertaken for the retail and health industries, in which women form a large proportion of the work force. In 1991-92 the Women Workers' Advisory Committee will make a major contribution to the development of these codes of practice. In addition, research into the retail industry is being undertaken under the Commission's research program.

In September 1990, a Women's Education and Training Needs Seminar was conducted to identify occupational health and safety education and training issues related to women workers. Topics addressed included women's access to training, training methodology, and training the trainer. The Women Workers' Advisory Committee is developing recommendations arising from this seminar to assist the Commission in meeting women's training needs. Work is also continuing on development of the pamphlet 'Workplace Hazards - An Information Guide for Women' which is being translated into a number of community languages.

LABOUR • 135 Occupational Health and Safety Program The Occupational Health and Safety Program is responsible for administering occupational health and safety legislation. Its objectives are to reduce the incidence and severity of work-related injuries and disease, and to reduce the risks to public safety that arise from the use of dangerous goods and specific equipment. The Occupational Health and Safety Program has adopted a targeted approach to the delivery of its prevention strategy.

One of the primary targets identified for prevention activities is high risk industries. The top twenty industries targeted as priorities for prevention activity in 1991-92 include Welfare and Charitable Homes (Non-Private Sector), Nursing Homes, and Psychiatric Hospitals. Women represent a significant proportion (84, 87 and 55 per cent, respectively) of the WorkCare claims reported in these industries. An improvement in occupational health and safety standards in these industries will, therefore, have a positive impact on the health and safety of a large number of women workers.

Audit Programs A major issue affecting employed women in Victoria is manual handling. During 1990-91, manual handling was the focus of an audit program in target industries in response to the significance of manual-handling-related injuries in WorkCare claims data.

Industries targeted during the 1990-91 audit program included food, beverage and tobacco, wholesale and retail, health (hospitals) and local government. Audit programs in the health and local government industries are complete, and reports have been produced. Audit programs in the food and beverage and tobacco, and wholesale and retail industries will be completed by June 1991. The 1991-1992 program targets the health industry (hospitals) for follow-up visits in order to evaluate how effectively these establishments have improved their manual handling systems.

The yarn and broadwoven fabric and clothing and textile industries are targeted for audit programs, which focus on manual handling and occupational-overuse syndrome. These are significant occupational health and safety issues for women in these industries, as women comprise 84 per cent of workers in the health industry and 44 per cent of workers in the yarn and broadwoven fabric industries.

These programs aim to increase awareness of the proposed Code of Practice addressing occupational-overuse syndrome, and to identify factors associated with the development of the syndrome in manual handling activities.

Occupational Health and Safety Information and Advisory Network The Network provides information and assistance for managers who are responsible for health and safety, and for health and safety representatives and others working towards improving health and safety standards in workplaces. During 1990-91 the Bilingual Information Program was integrated with the

LABOUR • 136 Network to provide an occupational health and safety information service that covers all workers.

During 1991-92 the Network will conduct a workplace information and training program in designated high-risk industries. The program will assess compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 information and training requirements and identify training and information needs in workplaces. The involvement of women and non-English-speaking background employees as health and safety representatives is being explored as part of this program. Strategies will be developed to increase the involvement of these employees and support their activities as health and safety representatives.

Occupational Health and Safety Publications 'Manual Handling: Health and Safety Issues for Women Workers' and 'Manual Handling in the Retail Industry' were published in 1990.

All occupational health and safety publications for 1991-92 will conform with the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Commission guidelines specifying the need for publications to reflect the particular experiences and needs of women of non-English-speaking backgrounds. Draft publications will be vetted to ensure that they meet the guidelines established by the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Commission's Women Workers' Advisory Committee.

Titles will include: 'Occupational Health and Safety and Award Restructuring'; 'Workplace Education and Training'; 'Evaluation of Effective Occupational Health and Safety Systems'; 'Workplace Occupational Health and Safety Information Systems'; and 'Occupational Health and Safety Management - Roles, Responsibilities and Accountability'.

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority will also develop and distribute publications focusing on occupational hazards commonly found in sectors employing large numbers of women. These publications will include 'Ergonomic Workplace Design' and 'Occupational Overuse Syndrome'.

An occupational health and safety special edition of 'Network', the Rural Women's Network quarterly newsletter, was sponsored by the Department. It featured articles about health and safety in rural and farm settings, and information of relevance to women employed in the manufacturing, retail and service industries in non-metropolitan areas.

Standards Development In 1990-91 the Department of Labour and the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Commission Standards Development Program developed draft industry codes of practice for consideration by the Commission. Draft codes of practice for the health industry and local government were developed. Drafting of the code of practice for the retail industry commenced. These standards will have a significant impact on the health and safety for women in these industries.

LABOUR • 137 Draft Occupational Health and Safety (Injury, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences) Notification and Recording Regulations will require employers to record all workplace incidents. This will not only provide better information to relevant agencies on actual injuries and disease, but will provide a clearer picture of occupations, tasks and related injuries or disease involving women.

The Standards Development Program will continue in 1991-92 under the auspices of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, the Department of Labour and the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Commission.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Award Restructuring The Industrial Relations Division co-ordinates the implementation of award restructuring in the public sector. The process involves the identification of occupational skills and competencies, the reorganisation of work to promote multi- skilling and task broadening, and the development of classification structures which allow for greater mobility and career opportunities.

The full implementation of award restructuring in the public sector is not complete and further resources will allocated to this priority program in 1991-92 to continue the implementation of the Office Based Structure in the Victorian Public Service.

Agreement has been reached on a new employment structure for the amalgamation of clerical and administrative classifications in the public service, including rates of pay, translation arrangements, training, recruitment principles and appeal processes, and commitment to a joint implementation committee. The Office Based Structure offers signficantly improved employment opportunities for women currently employed in the Clerical Classification in the Victorian Public Service.

Unfair Dismissal Under the Victorian Industrial Relations Act, provision exists to seek redress from harsh, unjust or unreasonable dismissal. Applications are forwarded from regional offices to the Registrar of the Industrial Relations Commission. Forty- six per cent of unfair dismissal applications received by the Commission in the six years to December 1989 have been lodged by women. In 1989,1,454 (43 per cent) of applications were lodged by women. It is estimated that women continue to use Award Services in similar percentages to those reported above.

Wageline and Award Services The Department aims to maximise compliance with award and legislative prescriptions. In order to support this aim, Wageline and Award Services provide an advisory and compliance role in relation to State legislation and awards. Forty-five percent of the State's work force is covered by Victorian awards, with women forming a large proportion of the total number of employees in such industries as the clerical and retail trades, hairdressing, health and education, and the cleaning and small business sectors.

LABOUR • 138 Complaints in relation to award and legislation breaches are processed by the Award Services Branch. In the 1990-91 financial year, arrears of $2,499,825 have been collected, a significant proportion of that sum being recovered on behalf of women. During this time, adult and junior females lodged 47 per cent of the complaints.

Job Watch Inc. Job Watch is an independent incorporated association funded by the Department of Labour to investigate exploitative practices in the areas of employment and training, and to propose measures to government to reduce those practices. Job Watch also provides legal advice to clients. Job Watch activities which benefit women include investigations of outworker arrangements, part-time work and employment-at-home practices, and the marketing of private sector occupational training in predominantly female occupations.

Youth Employment In November 1990, the Minister for Labour launched 'Highway Robbery', an educational video providing industrial information to young people. The video with classroom resource materials has now been distributed to postprimary schools throughout Victoria. In late 1990, the 'Be Brave' promotional campaign was implemented to provide young people with special access to information on award wages and conditions. Young women have benefited from these initiatives, as the majority employed come under State Awards.

Superannuation In the past, women have had more restricted access to superannuation benefits than men. Award-based superannuation is changing this inequity and during 1990- 91, three state-wide promotion campaigns have been implemented using the media, brochures, mail-outs and a 'Super Hotline' to educate women on their entitlements.

Superannuation compliance continues to be a government priority and specific inspection programs have been conducted in Swan Hill, Wodonga, Shepparton, Geelong-Lorne, Phillip Island, Wonthaggi and Ballarat. The targeted industries have predominantly female employees.

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The Department of Labour is represented on the Victorian Building Funding Agreement Equal Opportunity Working Party which aims to increase the participation of women in the building and construction industry.

LABOUR • 139 DEPARTMENT OF MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT 228 Victoria Parade EAST MELBOURNE 3002 Telephone: (03) 412 8000

The Department of the Manufacturing and Industry Development aims to strengthen and promote economic growth in Victoria by helping firms to become internationally competitive and remain so, and to develop, through successful expansion, into export markets and the manufacture of import replacements. Statutory agencies and regional authorities, such as the Geelong and LaTrobe Regional Commissions, support this objective by promoting and facilitating activity within their areas of responsibility.

Encouragement of exploration, development, conservation and efficient use of Victoria's mineral and energy resources is also a Departmental objective. Statutory agencies within the portfolio, such as the State Electricity Commission and the Gas and Fuel Corporation, share this objective. Some social justice programs are delivered within the Department's energy responsibilities.

Other authorities reporting to the Minister include: the Coal Corporation of Victoria; the Victorian Renewable Energy Authority; Albury/Wodonga (Victoria) Corporation; the Exhibition Trust; the Overseas Projects Corporation; the Office of Ports; and a number of Victoria's business corporations.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $91,667,000 $91,083,700 $89,003,000

The Department's policies are designed to benefit all Victorians. Generally, programs implemented to achieve objectives are not targeted by gender. However, women benefit through involvement with firms receiving financial, advisory or referral services under assistance programs, either as owners or employees. Women also benefit through improvement of the State's economic performance and subsequent improvement of living standards.

OFFICE OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT

The mission of the Office of Trade and Investment is to increase Victoria's capital base and employment by facilitating an increase in internationally sourced investment, business migration and net exports. The Office's programs are generally industry-based and lay down certain criteria for meeting established guidelines for company funding.

In 1990-91 the Office subsidised, through the Victorian Education Foundation, a number of export training courses at Monash University and other tertiary institutions. The extent of the subsidy in 1991-92 will depend on budgetary

MANUFACTURING & INDUSTRY • 140 constraints, but if courses are subsidised, the institutions will be requested to demonstrate what efforts they have made to attract women to the courses and the number who have enrolled.

Industry Assistance The Department provides advisory and facilitation services and assistance to Victorian firms that demonstrate growth potential, particularly for export. Financial assistance is, as a matter of Departmental policy, only provided to firms that meet Commonwealth Affirmative Action guidelines, as well as its Guidelines for Industry Assistance. Firms producing internationally tradeable products and services may receive assistance to develop and implement business plans to improve management techniques and enhance international competitiveness.

In 1991-92, the Department's business planning service will be continued, in conjunction with the Commonwealth, under the National Industries Extension Service Scheme. A number of firms assisted in these programs are managed by women, particularly small and medium-size companies.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $25,066,000 $24,762,720 $18,657,200

LATROBE REGIONAL COMMISSION

Arts Enterprise Development As one of the Commission's roles is to encourage economic development in the LaTrobe Region, arts enterprise has been pursued. This is achieved through promotion of artists and provision of support to artists and crafts people to establish and develop arts enterprises in the region. In monitoring arts in the region, the Commission has developed and maintained an arts database. As at May 1991, 1,256 individual artists were registered: 60 per cent of these are women.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $34,971 $36,861 $37,000

GEELONG REGIONAL COMMISSION

The Geelong Regional Commission is operating a region-specific Enterprise Development Program to assist disadvantaged persons to become self-employed, with particular emphasis on young people and women. This program assists people in the target group to identify and develop solutions to problems facing their enterprises. The program includes assistance with business and marketing planning, and product quality improvement.

The Commission is also assisting the Centre for Applied Social Research at Deakin University to develop a Human Services Delivery Model for a data bank of employment, education, health, housing and voluntary services. This is to be

MANUFACTURING & INDUSTRY • 141 used for local planning and the provision of information. It is anticipated that the main users of such information would be women, although the entire community would benefit.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $156,000 $154,595 $172,845

STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA (SECV)

The mission of the SECV is to develop as a public business that maximises the value of its products and services to the State and the people of Victoria by providing safe and reliable energy services at the lowest possible cost to assist in satisfying the energy needs of customers; and contributing to the economic development of the State by making profitable use of the SECV's special capabilities. The main thrust of the Commission's strategies in the generation, transmission and distribution of energy and energy services are: service to customers, efficiency, and caring for employees and customers.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $3617m To be released Parliament $3742m (Operating, $2797m) in September (Operating $2804m)

The SECV implements broadly-based customer-oriented policies and programs in accord with the Government's Social Justice Strategy. Specific programs are directed at customers who have difficulty in paying their bills. Customer Liaison Officers have been appointed to assist in certain locations. A critical policy, which impacts financially on all customers and which significantly advantages female head families, is the commitment to keep electricity price rises below the consumer price index.

Regional and metropolitan consultative processes have been established to provide the SECV with customer views on service issues, including the Residential Advisory Panel, the Richmond-Brunswick consultation and the Latrobe Valley Community Forum. All include female membership. The Latrobe Valley Community Forum has a female chairperson. The SECV assists with physical and financial resources.

Neighbourhood Watch Sponsorship The SECV is co-operating with the Victorian Police Force to work towards enhancing the safety and security of the community, and to strengthen the public perception of the Commission as a responsible and efficient organisation. The Neighbourhood Watch Program is designed to afford more protection to residents and has significant implications for single women and women with children.

Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $455,000 $455,000

MANUFACTURING & INDUSTRY • 142 Residential Street Lighting Upgrade Project This project was commenced in 1989 to replace ageing fluorescent street lanterns with up-to-date lighting. The aim of the program is to not only improve the life and reliability of the system, but to provide light more effectively on the roadway and footpaths. In line with the objective of improving customer satisfaction with the SECV, this project will provide greater visibility to pedestrians, and promote greater safety and security. The project significantly impacts on the safety of women and children.

Budget allocation for 3 years $15m.

Railway Station Lighting Improvement Program This initiative, which is aimed at improving the lighting in the vicinity of railway stations in the metropolitan area, was undertaken by the SECV as a direct response to incidents involving violence in station car parks in 1990. The program will implement necessary lighting improvements in the vicinity of railway stations, and ensure well-lit car parks and walkways for commuters. This initiative particularly is designed to increase safety and security for women and children. Approximately fifty five sites are being upgraded and the program was completed in June, 1991.

Budget estimate 1990-91 $60,000

Public Awareness Campaign The SECV has been conducting an extensive public awareness campaign in 1990-91 aimed at reducing the number of electrical accidents and fatalities in this State. Of direct benefit to parents, including women, are those strategies directed towards increasing safety in the home, particularly those involving children.

Budget estimate 1990-91 900,000 Account Confidentiality The SECV provides an alternative system to customers who do not want to have their name on their account for security reasons. This is of particular benefit to women who are victims of domestic violence. Similar requests may be made by community organisations, court officers, religious welfare organisations or the legal representative of the customer.

Science and Technology Initiatives The SECV supports joint initiatives which assist students to choose maths and science, and subjects leading to technological and engineering careers. In line with its commitment to equal opportunity, the SECV ensures that its material and aids

MANUFACTURING & INDUSTRY • 143 promote the participation of girls and women in these careers, and that every effort is made to ensure equal representation of female students in activities. These initiatives are a continuous commitment by the SECV in the context of its broad commitment to the science and engineering professions.

In 1990-91 Budget Commitments included: Swinburne Travelling Science Show $20,000; Young Achiever Awards (Science and Technology) $40,000; Educational aids - primary and secondary schools $160,000; and Science and Technology Career Day $23,000.

Women in Engineering Strategy A Women in Engineering Strategy Plan has been developed and implemented in 1991. This strategy aims to increase the participation of women in engineering, and the number of female engineers within SECV. In 1990-91 the Budget Allocation for the strategy included: scholarships for fourth-year female engineering students, $14,000; sponsorship of a video for female primary school students, $5,000; pamphlets for women in non-traditional careers, $60,000; and sponsorship of tertiary campus activities for female students, $2,000.

The following initiatives are proposed in 1991-92: a first-year work experience program for female engineering students, $30,000; and a vacation employment program, $50,000. The strategy is to be evaluated in November 1991.

COAL CORPORATION OF VICTORIA

The Coal Corporation of Victoria (CCV) commenced operations on 1 January 1985. The CCV does not specifically target programs at women. However, in the course of implementing its functions and objectives, the corporation makes grants to organisations for research purposes and for promotional and to local community bodies in the Latrobe Valley, sponsorship purposes.

In addition, since 1988, in conjunction with Monash University College, Gippsland, CCV has provided three $1,000 scholarships each year for students in their final year of full-time study. In 1989, 1990 and 1991 one female student received a scholarship each year.

SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS

Several programs of assistance to domestic energy consumers, experiencing financial difficulties, are administered by the department, the SECV and the Gas and Fuel Corporation. Since 1988, promotion of the Winter Energy Concessions and Energy Relief Grant Schemes has included multilingual material to facilitate access of non-English-speaking people to these programs. A research project to evaluate the energy assistance program is proposed for 1991-92.

Energy Relief Grants Scheme The Energy Relief Grants Scheme assists those unable to pay their energy accounts

MANUFACTURING & INDUSTRY • 144 due to unexpected financial crises. Approximately 70 per cent of applications for assistance are women experiencing marital break-up. Supporting-parent families with a female household head are a major client group for the scheme.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,199,000 $1,204,208 $1,271,000

Home Energy Advisory Scheme The Home Energy Advisory Scheme advises and contributes up to $250 for the cost of energy-related home improvements to holders of Commonwealth Health Cards to reduce household use of electricity. Financial assistance is provided towards the costs of insulation and other measures to improve energy efficiency. Although the SECV operates the scheme and contributes 25 per cent of the funding, it is monitored by the department, which also provides 50 per cent of the funding. The Gas and Fuel Corporation provides the other 25 per cent of the funds.

Over 40 per cent of the recipients of assistance are single women, and, about 15 per cent are families headed by a woman receiving a supporting parents benefit. An offer to provide advice on energy conservation to Neighbourhood Houses has been initiated, as over 90 per cent of people who use the houses are women on low incomes.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,614,000 $1,615,000 $1,615,000

Winter Energy Concessions Scheme The Winter Energy Concessions Scheme provides Commonwealth Health Card holders with concessions on gas, electricity and LPG. Approximately 59 per cent of all recipients of the concession are women. The majority of the funding is now allocated through the Community Services Victoria budget.

Total Service figures are:

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $595,000 $588,792 $627,000

PORT OF MELBOURNE AUTHORITY

The Port of Melbourne Authority (PMA) exists to facilitate trade through the Port. It seeks to achieve this objective by working in partnership with a competitive and efficient private sector.

The (PMA) also has the responsibility for planning the future strategic development of the Port as a whole, ensuring that it can grow as necessary to meet the future needs of the trading community.

MANUFACTURING & INDUSTRY • 145 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND HOUSING Older Fleet Buildings 477 Collins Street MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03) 669 0160

In January 1991 the Department of Planning and Housing was formed when the Department of Planning and Urban Growth joined with the Ministry of Housing and Construction. The former Ministry of Housing and Construction is now an administrative unit of the Department of Planning and Housing. This merger links the planning and co-ordination of urban development and growth development; sale of residential land; design, construction and maintenance of public buildings; and housing assistance for public and private renters as well as home purchasers.

The role of the Department is to provide throughout Victoria, in a manner that recognises the needs of customers clients: • equitable, affordable and appropriate housing and urban land development solutions (directly through Housing and Construction Victoria and the Urban Land Authority); • a competitive asset management, project management and design and construction service to clients (in public rental, community housing and public buildings); • efficient and creative planning for land use; • equitable and sustainable development and co-ordinated infrastructure provision; and • economical, safe, habitable and energy-efficient buildings.

Through Housing and Construction Victoria (HCV), direct assistance is provided to people seeking public rental housing, home purchase assistance and private rental housing. Crisis and emergency accommodation is provided through community-based organisations funded by the Department. The Department has been instrumental in developing alternative forms of housing tenure through community-based housing options, such as tenant-managed rental co-operatives. Home loans geared to the income of the borrower are also available.

HCV provides policy and technical advice to the Government on building construction standards and practices, and has responsibility for providing professional design and construction services for new non-residential public buildings and the maintenance of existing buildings. Planning and co-ordination of urban development, including options for future urban growth, are the responsibility of the Department.

The Urban Land Authority develops and releases land for housing and disposes of surplus government land. Ten per cent of land provided by the Urban Land Authority is for public housing.

PLANNING & HOUSING • 146 The Victorian Housing and Residential Development Plan announced in July 1991, will be produced by the department to develop a range of initiatives to improve housing affordability and address planning and infrastructure funding issues. The Department is participating in the development of the National Housing Strategy, established by the Commonwealth Minister for Health, Housing and Community Services in June 1990. The strategy, to be completed over two years, will affect housing availability, affordability, finance and public housing operations throughout Australia. Issues papers are being prepared to analyse key issues and suggest future scenarios and possible mechanisms for improving aspects of housing. Victorian input is being made in all areas, including the needs of women and children.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $791m $780m $763m

A significant proportion of Department of Planning and Housing assistance has an impact on women as they continue to be disproportionately represented in low- income groups, and experience more limited access to the work force, higher unemployment rates and lower average weekly earnings than men. Increasing unemployment has also disproportionately affected women. Many more women than men therefore seek the direct assistance of the Department and are affected by its policies and programs.

Sixty per cent of public tenant households are headed by women, and a further 30 per cent of households are couples, families and groups that include women, therefore 90 per cent of public rental housing assists women. Sixty per cent of emergency housing requests come from women. Thirty per cent of all emergency housing requests are from female single parents. Additionally, 60 per cent of assistance to young people is provided to young women.

Ninety-one per cent of priority Home Opportunity Loans Scheme (HOLS) loans were to women-headed households, 89 per cent of those to female single parents compared with only 18 per cent of non-priority HOLS loans to women. Sixty per cent of Shared Home Ownership Scheme (SHOS) loans were made to female- headed households

ADVICE, CONSULTATION AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women and Housing The Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women and Housing provides advice on: all aspects of housing relevant to the disadvantages experienced by women in seeking and staying in appropriate housing; removal of discrimination and other barriers constraining women choice and access to housing; and development of relevant research and policy. It is also a consultative forum for informing the community, and women in particular, about housing issues, choices and options.

PLANNING & HOUSING • 147 The Committee has representatives from a wide range of community, tenancy and industry groups. The committee's work in 1990-91 has contributed to research and an understanding of housing issues important to women, and the development of practical strategies to tackle the problems women face.

In March 1991 the Premier and the Minister for Planning and Housing launched 'Speaking of Housing', the Committee's report of its consultations with Victorian women on housing. This report documents women's experiences and priorities. In particular the report highlights many problems experienced by women in all forms of tenure, regardless of whether they are renting or buying in the public or private sector.

Another project begun in 1990-91 researches and analyses data concerning women's access to private rental housing. The project documents activities and practices in the private rental market that discriminate against women and restrict their access to housing, and develops practical proposals for change. The findings indicate that some women are particularly disadvantaged including women with children, young women, Koori women and women receiving Social Security pensions and benefits. More detailed case studies in selected areas are proposed in 1991-92.

Other work undertaken by the Committee includes looking at the ability of women to afford home ownership; the needs of young women and the adequacy of services, especially for homeless young women; options for older women to share housing; and the impact of rental arrears upon women, especially with the breakdown of a relationship and previous joint or shared tenancy. In 1990-91 the Committee's budget was $85,000.

Housing Task Force on Domestic Violence HCV seeks to meet the needs of women leaving situations of domestic violence by providing a range of housing options including women's refuges and emergency accommodation, private rental bond assistance, priority access to public rental housing, and priority housing loans as a longer-term option.

This work is co-ordinated by the Housing Task Force on Domestic Violence convened by HCV and reports to the Family Violence Prevention Committee in the Attorney-General's Department.

In 1991 the task force completed a review of the Priority Rental Housing Guidelines, leading to changes to domestic violence criteria. The Task Force works with government and community bodies to publicise housing options and ensure that HCV responds appropriately to domestic violence.

Women's Housing Issues Working Party In 1990-91 Victoria chaired and resourced the Commonwealth-State Women's Housing Issues Working Party (WHIWP). The working party identifies women's housing issues, develops and co-ordinates housing policies and shares information.

PLANNING & HOUSING • 148 Work in 1990-91 included input to the National Housing Strategy, particularly assisting with a paper on the needs of women and children; identification of data collection needs in monitoring and evaluation of housing options for women leaving situations of domestic violence; child care needs of public tenants; and preparation of advice to Housing Ministers.

WHIWP acted as a reference group for the study on 'Women's Access to Home Purchase Assistance'. The Australian Housing Research Council funded the study, which focuses on home purchase assistance provided by each state through the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement. The findings showed that women were favoured by Victorian initiatives such as Priority Loans, which assist women with property settlements or custody of children.

HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

A significant focus of activity within the Department relates to the development of Melbourne and options for the management of future urban growth. A major component of this is the Victorian Housing and Residential Development Plan, which will look at housing affordability, future urban growth, urban consolidation, infrastructure provision, social, private and public rental housing.

Housing Affordability This issue is being addressed directly by: expanding public and social rental housing (50 per cent increase over the past ten years); by innovations in home finance; by introducing the Homestart Scheme (1,200 Urban Land Authority blocks sold); and by reducing housing production costs with more flexible planning standards and ensuring adequate supplies of residentially zoned land. Affordability of housing is a concern for women as their incomes are significantly lower than those of men, restricting their rental or purchase choices.

Urban Growth and Infrastructure Managing urban growth includes ensuring an adequate supply of zoned land, readily serviced land and vacant serviced lots. The Urban Land Authority (ULA) also plays a significant role with development and sale of lots consistently offered at $10,000-$15,000 below the metropolitan median price. The ULA held 18 per cent of the total metropolitan market in new lots in 1989-90.

During 1990-91 the Department placed increased emphasis on the timely provision of services to growing suburbs around Melbourne and provincial centres. This includes providing information to other government agencies on demographic trends, and patterns of growth and development across the State. A major tool in this task is the Metropolitan Services Co-ordination System (MSCS), which links data on land availability with demand (based on population projections).

Over the past year, the MSCS has been expanded beyond physical infrastructure planning and co-ordination to include human services, such as health, education, housing, transport, police and community services. Such co-ordination is likely to

PLANNING & HOUSING • 149 particularly benefit women, as women have been particularly disadvantaged by unco-ordinated urban development and inadequate service provision.

The Department also encourages community development and provision of infrastructure through the Metropolitan Area Improvement Program. This year $1.15 million was granted for 143 community projects. The grants recognise the State Government's commitment to integrating social, economic and physical planning and to provide strength for community development. Many of the projects highlight the concern of women about their environment, by the initiation of improvement projects, including recycling, beautification and tree planting.

Urban Consolidation and Urban Sprawl Reforms to urban development processes will encourage more efficient use of existing urban services and facilities. Urban consolidation will lead to denser urban form and greater access to services and facilities, which is of particular importance to women whose lower than average incomes and greater domestic responsibilities make them especially vulnerable to locational disadvantage.

Infill housing developments have been promoted in existing urban areas, including vesting surplus land with the Urban Land Authority and Housing and Construction Victoria. Also, if the lot yields of all new estates could be increased by a third, as the ULA has demonstrated can be done, urban sprawl could be limited by about twenty suburbs in the next ten years, saving the community hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure costs.

The Victorian Code for Residential Development (VCORD) takes a new approach to regulation, being more concerned with how well proposals will perform than how closely they conform to specific controls. The code has been introduced to enable residential development to meet current and future needs, and to have an emphasis on safety, convenience and access in a neighbourhood. The development industry, municipalities, community groups and government agencies, have been involved in its preparation. The code will hopefully discourage previous "sprawl-based design" that often disadvantaged women.

A new Building Code of Australia (BCA) came into effect from 8 April 1991. The new code was designed in consultation with Australia's top building professionals to improve public safety with minimum impact on the community, industry and all levels of government. New initiatives in the code's Victorian variations include: compulsory smoke detectors in residential buildings; immediate provision of isolation fencing around new swimming pools; and compulsory insulation in walls, roofs and ceilings of new homes and extensions.

RENTAL HOUSING

Providing public rental housing, rental rebates, and tenant and community support is a major function of Housing and Construction Victoria (HCV). Tenant participation in management is encouraged through the establishment of rental

PLANNING & HOUSING • 150 housing co-operatives, community management of stock for special needs groups such as young people, rooming-house tenants, and people with disabilities, and through consultation.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $291m $303m $334m

Public Rental Housing HCV provides public rental accommodation to approximately 64,000 low-income households at a rent related to income. Sole parent families are the single largest group on the HCV waiting list, (35 per cent). Approximately 60 per cent of public tenant households are headed by a woman. This includes 23 per cent who are single parents and 20 per cent who are older women. Public rental housing includes houses, flats, elderly persons accommodation, and granny flats purchased and built throughout Victoria. Housing is located in older estates, newer infill developments, and in existing suburbs through spot purchase.

Housing Estate Security A safe and secure environment is important, particularly for women looking for rental accommodation. HCV initiated a joint review on security with the Public Tenants Union. The review led to development of a comprehensive security strategy and an implementation program. Following the joint review, consultants were appointed to evaluate security services on three high-rise estates. Their report will assist public tenant groups in negotiating, at the local level, regarding their future security priorities.

Rental Rebates The provision of rental rebates is a major income-support measure to ensure that tenants' housing costs do not exceed their capacity to pay. Eligibility is dependent on income. Two-thirds ($99 million) of rental-rebate assisted households are headed by women.

TENANT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Community involvement and consultation on housing issues at local, regional and State levels is encouraged and supported. Funding is provided for tenant workers ($1.48 million in 1990-91) to assist tenants develop local groups and become involved in housing management and decisions about physical upgrading projects. Funding to all state-wide groups, regional housing councils and tenant groups, implicitly addresses the needs of women. Some organisations, for example, Shelter Victoria, which have established a working group on women and housing and resource the Victorian Women's Housing Network, have specific projects that focus directly on women's needs. There are also organisations that specifically address women housing issues, for instance Women In Supportive Housing (WISH) which received $40,219 in 1990 and $48,075 in 1991 to produce educational materials, consult with government, and run educational forums. The Young Women's Housing Collective was granted $10,000 to further previous research on

PLANNING & HOUSING • 151 safety and security issues for young women undertaken with a Social Justice Grant of $22,970 in 1990.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $10.6m $7.7m $9.1m

Community Facilities Community centres, houses and flats are provided for community use on many public housing estates. One hundred and thirty-two centres exist on estates, including forty-five specifically for elderly persons. Grants and loans are also made to local government and community groups for facilities that will encourage the integration of public tenants with the wider community. HCV provides capital for neighbourhood houses for public tenants. Although the houses are open to non-tenants, a majority of the management group must comprise public tenants. The neighbourhood houses run recreational, social and educational programs, and provide a centre for tenant groups. Some centres also provide childcare; playgroups; legal, health and other support and advice services. Users of neighbourhood houses are predominantly women, and many programs and activities target women specifically. Facilities are provided at a nominal rent, therefore funding takes the form of rent foregone, which was $242,500 for 1989-90.

Youth Housing Program Medium-term to long-term shared accommodation for homeless young people aged 16-25 years is available through the Youth Housing Program (YHP). Accommodation is linked to appropriate support for homeless young people moving towards independent living. Through the program, HCV provides 231 properties with two to five bedrooms (total 612 bedrooms) managed by eighty-seven community groups, with support from local and regional youth housing workers.

Approximately 1,200 people per year are assisted by the Youth Housing Program. HCV allocated $3.5 million to the program in 1990-91 and the total anticipated stock output was 31 units, providing a total of seventy additional beds. About 60 per cent of tenants are young women. A few services assist young women specifically, such as the Young Women's Housing Collective, which currently manages seven houses.

Rooming House Program HCV available housing stock is diversified through the purchase, conversion and construction of rooming house accommodation. Purchase activity is directed to areas with a high concentration of rooming houses being converted to other uses. HCV rooming houses are managed by community organisations and accommodate low-income single people and couples without dependants who are capable of independent living. Seven rooming houses comprising a total of 110 rooms have been established for women only. At least 15 per cent of tenants in HCV's rooming houses are women. This is significant as traditionally rooming houses have accommodated men.

PLANNING & HOUSING • 152 Rental Housing Co-operatives The Rental Housing Co-operatives Program assists people eligible for public housing to form locally based co-operatives of up to forty-five dwellings. This alternative housing option enables tenants to enjoy security of tenure, management control and increased self-determination. The Housing Co-operatives lease dwellings from HCV and manage their stock under a Head Lease arrangement. At present, 728 units are provided through twenty-one Rental Housing Co-operatives in Victoria.

It is estimated that in each co-operative over 60 per cent (and up to 90 per cent) of membership is made up of households headed by women. Two co-operatives are made up totally of female-headed households. Funds allocated to rental co-operatives in 1990-91 totals $3.84m, for acquisition through the Spot Purchase Program, and $0.142m for operating costs under the Tenant and Community Support Program.

HOME OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE

HCV aims to increase home ownership opportunities for households on low to middle incomes who have limited access to traditional sources of housing finance. Women seeking finance in their own right make up 40 per cent of applicants for home finance schemes, with a total of 85 per cent including women in couples and families.

Loans are provided for home purchase (HOLS) or shared ownership (SHOS). Advice and financial assistance for home maintenance, improvement and construction are also available. Last year 63 per cent of all loans were to women- headed households, and 90 per cent of priority loans were to women, 90 per cent of whom were single parents.

Short-term mortgage relief is provided to existing purchasers unable to meet mortgage payments due to temporary financial set-backs, and longer-term refinancing of loans can be arranged.

Priority Housing Finance Priority assistance is available in three major categories. The first, Priority Property Settlement, enables the partner with custody of children to remain in the family home or finance an alternative property when property division due to family breakdown is required. The second category, Priority Financing, is made available to people with an urgent housing need where home ownership is the most appropriate tenure and where the client is unable to wait their turn for housing finance assistance. Finally, Priority Refinancing is made available when there have been dramatic changes of circumstances since originally taking out a mortgage. Over 90 per cent of these priority loans have been provided to women- headed households.

PLANNING & HOUSING • 153 The circumstances considered for granting Priority Housing Finance include: parents with custody of children; housing need arising from domestic violence; ill health, disability, over-crowding or sub-standard accommodation as a result of property settlement. These loans assist women to retain an existing home, purchase an alternative home using the equity as part payment, and/or payout the other party's share in a property. The following budget figures refer to the loans granted under the Priority Assistance Scheme.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990 -91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $55m $63m $70m

Housing Finance Loans are currently made available through the Home Opportunity Loans Scheme (HOLS), which targets the middle-income group. Seventy four per cent of loans under this scheme to March 1991 were allocated to households headed by a woman. Including women in two-parent and shared households, 93 per cent of HOLS loans assist women.

Under the Shared Home Ownership Scheme low-income and middle-income earners are able to purchase a property jointly with HCV. As with other HCV home finance schemes, monthly housing costs are set at 27 per cent of household income. In this new scheme repayments go towards paying off the mortgage as well as paying rent on the portion owned by HCV. Fifty four per cent of loans granted were to female applicants, and 85 per cent of priority SHOS loans were provided to households that include women.

Home Renovation Assistance The Home Renovation Service and Home Renovation Advisory Project programs assist pensioners, people with disabilities, and other low-income home owners, with technical advice, cost estimates of work, and financial assistance to repair and maintain their homes.

During the past twelve months, approximately 65 per cent of HRAP clients, (1,300) have been women who received housing condition reports and cost estimates of necessary repairs. Similarly, 65 per cent of HRS clients (130) who have received financial assistance to carry out necessary works to their home have been women.

Women benefit from these services through the provision of correct technical information and financial assistance to arrange home repairs to be carried out. This enables them to maintain their homes in a healthy and safe condition.

PRIVATE AND COMMUNITY RENTAL SUPPORT

In March 1991, in the private rental sector, single parents and elderly pensioners faced rents up to 65 per cent of their income, highlighting affordability problems facing women on pensions and benefits. HCV assists households having difficulty

PLANNING & HOUSING • 154 in the private sector, and involves local government and community groups in the provision of low cost, tenant-managed rental housing.

Financial Assistance The Housing Establishment Fund and the Bond and Relocation Assistance Scheme provide financial assistance to individuals and households in private rental by making funds available for security deposits (bonds), rent in advance or removal expenses. The aim of both schemes is to enable people to move into and maintain themselves in long-term private rental accommodation. The majority of households receiving assistance under these two schemes are headed by women. Housing Establishment Funds are administered by community-based organisations, including twenty-one women's services. Requests for bond and relocation assistance increased by 50 per cent in the latter half of 1990-91. This is likely to be related to increased unemployment and general economic conditions. Average monthly approvals suggest a total of 13,500 approvals for 1990-91.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $13.3m $15.1 $17.1m

Crisis Accommodation Assistance Included within the Short Term Emergency Assistance Scheme is the Crisis Accommodation Program. Funding is provided under the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement. Almost 40 per cent of people in crisis accommodation in 1990 were women.

Women's Refuges Services The Crisis Accommodation Program provides capital for the acquisition of women's refuges by approved community groups. From 1984 to June 1991, twenty-one women's refuges were purchased and upgraded. Twelve half-way houses have also been acquired to provide accommodation to women leaving a refuge, but still requiring housing with support services. A total of $l.lm was allocated in 1990-91.

Emergency Housing The Emergency Housing and Housing Information Services Program funds agencies providing a range of emergency services for low-income families and individuals who are experiencing housing crisis. Households headed by women constitute the majority of recipients of emergency housing assistance. In 1990,60 per cent of total requests for emergency housing, financial assistance and housing information were from women, half from female-headed single-parent families, a further 12 per cent from single women, and 17 per cent from families. Budget estimates and expenditures for Emergency Housing are included in the above figures for Private and Community Rental Support - Financial Assistance.

Local Government & Community Housing HCV assists local government and community groups with the provision and management of housing, including Common Equity Rental Co-operatives. Funds

PLANNING & HOUSING • 155 are made available, either as grants or loans to construct new housing, purchase or renovate existing dwellings, or lease appropriate stock. This program is able to meet the housing needs of women who are unable to afford traditional types of housing tenure. Sixty-five per cent of this assistance ($5.0 million) goes to households headed by a woman.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $21.2m $23.5m $22.1m

PLANNING & HOUSING • 156 MINISTRY FOR POLICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES 222 Exhibition Street MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03)6515111

The role of the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services is to: • co-ordinate and implement policies and programs to maintain law and order, including the preservation of life and property, and the prevention and detection of crime; • co-ordinate and implement policies and programs to prevent and minimise the effects of fires and other emergencies harmful to life, health and/or property; • develop and implement a co-ordinated response to government polices and priorities; and • develop policy proposals for and provide advice to the Minister.

Operational sections of the Ministry include Crime Prevention Division, Fire and Emergency Services Division, Project Implementation Division, Strategic Planning and Policy Division and the Traffic Camera Office.

The Minister also has responsibility for four statutory agencies: the Victoria Police Force, the Victoria State Emergency Service, the Country Fire Authority and the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $21,937,000 $19,698,101 $18,081,200 Does not include expenditure of statutory agencies, which are provided below.

The work of the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services impacts on women through general services to enhance community safety and security, and through services designed for women or which mainly benefit women.

CRIME PREVENTION DIVISION

The Crime Prevention Division aims to develop, analyse and evaluate policy and implementation of strategies for crime reduction and prevention, in consultation with Victoria Police, other government and non-government agencies, community groups, unions and the private sector. Programs of the Division of special relevance to women include: the Crime Prevention Grants Program; the Crime Prevention Reference Groups, particularly the Safety, Security and Women Working Group; and the Safety Audits Program.

Crime Prevention Grants Program The Crime Prevention Grants Program has two components: the Good Neighbourhood Programs (GNP) and Statewide/Special Programs (SSP). In 1990-

POLICE • 157 91 both focused on six priority areas: young people at risk; education, training and employment; safety and security in the community; drug and alcohol abuse; re- offenders; and police-community relations. The amount allocated in grants in 1990- 1991 was $1.34 million.

Crime Prevention Grants - Good Neighbourhood Program The Good Neighbourhood Program involves local committees, under the auspices of by local councils, with representatives from community groups, local crime prevention agencies and government agencies. The committees examine what causes crime and how it can be best prevented at the local level. Based on local crime analyses, the Ministry funds projects developed by local committees. Typically, Good Neighbourhood programs address teenage isolation and boredom and provide work skills and social-development activities.

Crime Prevention Grants - Statewide/Special Projects The SSP component of the Crime Prevention Grants Program aims to identify and resource projects which show innovative approaches to crime prevention and which have relevance for crime prevention across Victoria. In 1990-91 the SSP initiative contributed $35,000 to programs that mainly benefit women including $10,000 for the production of a video called 'Family Violence: The Police Role' The video, for police on family violence procedures, is of particular relevance to women, as women were complainants in over 75 per cent of domestic incidents reported to police in 1989-90. The video will be used to enhance training of police on family violence procedures. The SSP contributed a further $10,000 for manuals on how to deal with family violence to be distributed to all Victorian police stations.

SSP also supports the Protective Behaviours Program which trains police, teachers and community workers to teach "protective behaviours" to those who may be vulnerable to violence and abuse. The SPP contribution in 1991-92 is estimated at $40,000 for Protective Behaviours teaching to women's groups, older persons and the ethnic community. To empower women to strengthen their safety and security, SSP provided $15,000 in 1990-91 to sponsor defensive living lectures by members of the Victoria Police Crime Prevention Bureau to meetings of women around Victoria.

Crime Prevention Reference Groups The Crime Prevention Division convenes a number of reference groups to advise the Minister on ways of addressing safety and security issues as they apply to particular groups in the community. Through the work of the reference groups, the Division is represented on committees addressing the needs of women, such as the Safe Travel Forum, the Victorian Advisory Committee on Rape and the Family Violence Prevention Committee.

The four reference groups currently operating: Safety, Security and Women; Safety, Security and Transport; Safety, Security and Older Persons: and Crime Prevention and Young People, all address the needs of women.

POLICE • 158 Crime Prevention Reference Groups - Safety, Security and Women The Safety, Security and Women Working Group of the Ministry and Victoria Police, was established in October 1990 to advise the Minister on initiatives relating to safety, security and women. The working group has endorsed many existing initiatives to support and empower women; it has also identified ways of improving women's safety and has security; and made a number of short term and long-term proposals to reduce the level of threat to Victorian women within and outside their homes.

A key strategy arising out of the group's work has been the Community Awareness Campaign, Violence is Ugly, conducted in June 1991. The campaign addressed community acceptance of violence against women by informing the community and by challenging and changing male attitudes and behaviour. In 1990-91 $550,000 was allocated to the strategy.

The strategy included: a television advertising campaign designed to change male attitudes to violence against women; wide distribution of a brochure for women on the social unacceptabilities and legal rights of women experience violence, and sources of help for victims of violence; media publicity about violence against women; and street theatre to stimulate community discussion of the problem.

Safety Audits Program Under the Safety Audits Program, a kit is being prepared for release in the second half of 1991. The kits will be used by community groups and municipal councils to assess and improve the safety of their local public spaces. Safety audits are particularly aimed at improving women's safety. A Safety Audits Co-ordinator has been appointed in 1991 to assist local councils implement the program, which is being developed initially in four municipalities.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGAINST VIOLENCE

Although initiatives of the Community Council Against Violence (CCAV) are not specifically targeted at women, all CCAV projects benefit women. The CCAV inquiries into domestic violence-related services and into sexual assault are particularly relevant to women, as women form the majority of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The CCAV is represented on several bodies with special relevance to women's safety, including the National Committee on Violence Against Women and the Safe Travel Forum.

On 1 January 1991, administration of the Community Council Against Violence (CCAV) was transferred to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet from the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $300,000 $300,000 $315,000

POLICE • 159 Violence around Licensed Premises The CCAV, in 1990, reported to the Government on a range of proposals to reduce or eliminate violence around licensed premises. A number of these proposals have been implemented including the West End Forum. The West End Forum aims to make the west end of the city, around King Street, a safe recreational area by raising public awareness of the nature and causes of violent behaviour, and developing ways to reduce less violence in that area. The Forum was established in July 1990, under the auspices of the CCAV and Melbourne City Council, and received a grant of $50,000 through the Good Neighbourhood Program to employ a project officer for twelve months.

Inquiry into Services for Victims of Domestic Violence The CCAV Inquiry into Services for Victims of Domestic Violence has focused on accessibility, suitability and adequacy of resources and funding of services and programs for victims of domestic violence; on programs for perpetrators of domestic violence; on co-ordination of services; and on creative solutions to problems of service delivery. The inquiry has been based on information from victims of domestic violence and from service providers.

A background paper arising from the inquiry was completed in December 1990. It will be followed during 1991 by a series of papers recommending action in areas including the legal system and family violence, programs for perpetrators of violence against women, accommodation issues, women's services, and accountability. Community Services Victoria has funded the CCAV work on domestic violence services.

Inquiry into Violence in Public Places The CCAV has been asked to report on the extent, nature, causes and remedies of violence in public places, including gang violence. In December CCAV will report on ways of reducing and preventing violence in public places.

Study of Reported Sexual Assaults As part of the CCAV's Inquiry into Violence in Public Places, a study of sexual assault is being undertaken. The first part of the study, which gathered comprehensive statistics from Victoria Police crime reports on the reported incidence of rape, sexual penetration and incest offences from 1987 to 1990, resulted in the publication in April 1991 of the Source Book of Victorian Sexual Assault Statistics, 1987-1990 (CCAV, Melbourne, 1991).

The study of reported sexual assaults also focuses on rapes reported to Police in 1989, which were not prosecuted. Information is being gathered from crime reports, sexual offence reports, victim statements and criminal histories to establish why some reports do not result in prosecution, and how the treatment of victims and the detection rate for sexual assault offences can be improved. To construct a comprehensive, accurate picture of sexual assault in Victoria, the CCAV study is being conducted in liaison with the Victorian Law Reform Commission's study of prosecuted rape cases.

POLICE • 160 Safe City/Safe Community Projects and Safety Audits Also as part of the CCAV Inquiry into Public Violence, strategies to address public violence are being developed. Strategies such as the Safe City/Safe Community Strategy and safety audits emphasise community involvement in improving community safety and practical solutions to prevent violence.

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND POLICY DIVISION

The Division aims to facilitate the development of strategic plans and management plans for the Ministry, and to provide advice to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services in the areas of criminal justice, national Police affairs, drugs, road safety and other law enforcement issues.

Several Divisional programs have significant impact on women in the community due to the number of women who are victims of crime. These include the Crisis Support Unit, working groups on victims of crime and family violence, a responce to the National Committee on Violence Report, control of weapons, Aboriginal Community Justice Panels and the Integrated Anti-Crime Strategy.

Crisis Support Unit The Crisis Support Unit provides an after-hours outreach service for persons in crisis. It operates on a team model comprising police and professional counsellors, who are contacted through D24, the Police Emergency Service. Many of the unit's clients are women who are experiencing a crisis involving family violence, psychiatric difficulties and/or threatening suicide. Following a recent review, recurrent funding for the unit is shared between the Ministry, CSV and HDV.

Budget Estimate 1991-92 $56,000 New Initiative

Victims of Crime and Family Violence Working Groups The Division has been involved in the Victims of Crime and Crimes (Family Violence) Act interdepartmental working group. The Victims of Crime Working Group has been considering funding options for the implementation of regional support networks for victims of crime. The aim of the networks is to ensure a guaranteed first point of contact for victims of crime, and ongoing support for them. The Family Violence Working Group has considered proposals to amend the Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987 to tighten enforcement provisions of the legislation.

National Committee on Violence Report The Victorian response to the Committee's 1990 Report was co-ordinated by the Ministry. The co-ordination involved establishment of a reference group comprising sixteen government departments affected by the report's recommendations. Many of the recommendations related to the prevention of domestic violence. Responsibility for the co-ordination of the Victorian response was transferred to the Department of Premier and Cabinet in April 1991.

POLICE • 161 Aboriginal Community Justice Panels Twenty community justice panels operate in Victoria providing an avenue for the Aboriginal community to have input into decisions about appropriate dispositions for aboriginal offenders; to be involved in preventative programs with Aboriginal youths and adults; and to supervise offenders on community-based correction orders. From September 1,1991, Aboriginal Community Justice Panels will be administered by the Attorney-General's Department.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $200,000 $299,713 $318,000

Integrated Anti-Crime Strategy The Division is developing an integrated anti-crime strategy with Victoria Police which will develop partnerships between Police, government and non- government agencies and the community, to promote a safer and more secure Victoria. It will co-ordinate programs which address women's safety and security, and will provide opportunities for community groups, to have a voice in planning crime control and crime prevention measures.

Drugs and Control of Weapons Women will also benefit, as part of the wide community, from the Ministry's involvement in the development of strategies for the increased surveillance and prevention of amphetamine abuse, and for the control of weapons.

FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES DIVISION

The Division is responsible for: providing support to the Minister as Co-ordinator in Chief of Disaster Control under the Emergency Management Act of 1986; reviewing roles, responsibilities and current arrangements between agencies involved in emergency management, and facilitating strategies for improvement; promoting increased efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of service delivery and resource management by the Country Fire Authority, the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board and the Victorian State Emergency Service; and analysis and advice on budget proposals, and legislative review and amendment.

VICTORIA POLICE FORCE

The aim of the Victoria Police Force is to provide a safe and orderly society by serving the community and the law. Within this overall aim, the major objectives are to protect life and property and to prevent and detect crime. The two principal operational programs are Community Safety and Security, and Crime/Traffic and Specialist Policing.

Community Safety and Security Program Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $291,269,600 $303,680,000 $338,494,000

POLICE • 162 Crime/Traffic and Specialist Policing Program Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 86,109,000 $91,669,000 $100,635,000

Victoria Police Budget Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $587,866,700 $597,980,000 $640,716,450

Much of the operational work of the Victoria Police Force is of particular relevance to women, as women form the majority of victims of sexual offences and family violence. Within the Police Force, there is a particular focus on women in the work of the community policing squads, the Community Policing Co- ordinating Office, the Family Violence Project Office, the Rape Squad and various committees in which police participate.

Community Policing Squads Community Policing Squads aim to identify and assist families in crisis and to advise and counsel victims of sexual assault and family violence. In many cases community policing squads connect victims with assistance programs in other agencies. Because of their focus on such matters as sexual assault and family violence, the work of community policing squads is of special relevance to women. In cases reported to Victoria Police in 1988-89, women constituted 95 per cent of rape and attempted rape victims; 82 per cent of victims of sex offences, such as indecent assault and sexual penetration of a minor; and 82 per cent of victims of family violence incidents involving personal injury.

The community policing squads are involved in a range of activities, including identifying situations where children or young people are placed at risk; counselling victims and others, particularly in cases of sexual assault and assaults on the elderly and infirm; investigating sexual and physical abuse of children, including working with Community Services Victoria (CSV) on child protection issues and assisting children and families with subsequent court appearances; obtaining comprehensive statements from victims of sexual assault and counselling and supporting victims from the investigation stage onwards during their cases; responding to family violence with assessment, intervention, counselling, referrals and, where appropriate, assistance in obtaining intervention orders from courts; and consulting with and referring people in conflict to other agencies.

Community Policing Co-ordination Office The Community Policing Co-ordination Office co-ordinates community policing squads in Victoria. Its functions include development of policies and legislation, and liaison with government agencies. The office includes the Crisis Support Unit, the Victim Liaison Officer, the Child Exploitation Unit and the Protective Behaviours Program, all of which are significantly involved in protecting and supporting women and girls.

POLICE • 163 Victim Liaison Officer The Victim Liaison Officer provides training for police on ways od dealing with issues related to victims of crime and assists the development of policies and programs to enhance police responses to victims of crime.

Child Exploitation Unit The Child Exploitation Unit investigates sexual offences committed against children by offenders with multiple victims.

Protective Behaviours Program The Protective Behaviours Program is supported by the Community Policing Co- ordination Office and provides training and advice for community policing squads, government and non-government agencies, schools and community groups. The program aims to teach children and young people to recognise and overcome situations in which they feel unsafe or at risk of abuse.

Family Violence Project Office The Family Violence Project Office of Victoria Police provides training to help police deal more effectively with family violence issues; advises service providers with responsibility for women's issues; and maintains a database of family incidents reported to Police. The Family Incident Database indicates that from June 1989 to May 1990, 78 per cent of incidents involving violence against a person reported to police were from women reporting male violence against them. The Family Incident Database began in 1987 and by mid-1990 it held 20,500 incident reports made to Police. The database can be analysed according factors including gender, age and relationship of complainant and perpetrator, and is used for planning programs and services.

Rape Squad The Victoria Police Rape Squad investigates rape and aggravated rape offences, particularly where the offender is responsible for multiple rapes. The squad collates all reports of rape made to Victoria Police to help identify and prosecute offenders. This work is of particular relevance to women, as women and girls made up 94 per cent of rape victims in cases reported to Victoria Police between 1987 and 1990.

Crime Prevention Bureau The Crime Prevention Bureau of Victoria Police aims to prevent crime by advising the community on how to recognise crime risks and how to reduce the risk of crime through better security and other measures.

Committee Representation Officers of the Force are represented on a number of State and Commonwealth Government committees monitoring issues relevant to women, including: the National Committee on Violence Against Women; the State Safe Travel Forum; the Victorian Community Council Against Violence; the Family Violence Prevention Committee, the Safety, Security and Women Working Group; and the

POLICE • 164 Integrated Anti-Crime Strategy Steering Committee.

The Victoria Police also have major representation on the Victorian Safety House Committee. The Safety House Association is a community-based non- profit association which aims to improve the safety of children in while going to and from school.

The Force is also piloting local committees of legal and support workers in the field of family violence, with the aim of improving services for victims of family violence.

VICTORIAN STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE

The Victoria State Emergency Service's role is to plan, organise, co-ordinate and implement measures to protect the safety of the public. The services provided by the Service are designed to guard against, reduce or overcome the effects of emergencies threatening to life, health or property within Victoria, especially with respect to road accidents, floods, storms, and earthquakes.

A strength of the Service is its volunteer members, who are trained to assist their local community in dealing with hazards or threats. Ten of the 150 VICSES units have women unit controllers.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 5,127,000 $5,003,687 $4,995,900

COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY

The Country Fire Authority is a statutory body whose major responsibility is the prevention and suppression of fires in country Victoria. Men and women can register as volunteers with the Authority. The work of the volunteer firefighters covers maintenance, recruitment, training and leadership development of volunteer personnel. It is estimated that at least 30 per cent of volunteer firefighters are women.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $16,522,875 $16,522,875 $17,430,750

(Consolidated Fund share only. Most of the fire services income is derived from the insurance sector)

METROPOLITAN FIRE BRIGADES BOARD

The Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board is a statutory body with three principal operational roles within the metropolitan area: • emergency responses - to alarms of fire, hazardous chemical incidents and road accident rescues;

POLICE • 165 • fire prevention - a community education role; and • fire equipment services - maintenance of equipment in the community.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $14,087,500 $14,087,500 $15,066,625

(Consolidated Fund share only. Most of the fire services' income is derived from the insurance sector)

POLICE • 166 DEPARTMENT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET 1 Treasury Place MELBOURNE 3002 Telephone: (03) 651 5111

The Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) ensures that Government policies are implemented through co-ordination across all Government agencies. DPC advises the Premier and Cabinet on policy issues and monitors and reports on the implementation of policies. The co-ordination and provision of ministerial and parliamentary services are also responsibilities of the Department.

Statutory authorities and other agencies within the Premier's portfolio include: the Office of the Public Service Board of Victoria; Office of the Solicitor- General; the Auditor-General; and the Victorian Relief Committee. Additionally, the Ombudsman's Act (1973) is assigned to the Premier and the Social Justice Consultative Committee is located in the Department.

Early in 1991, responsibility for the Community Council Against Violence was transferred from the Ministry for Police and Emergency Service to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

The Premier is also the Minister Responsible for Women's Affairs.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $45,040,200 $43,477,084 $44,424,000

WOMEN'S POLICY CO-ORDINATION UNIT

The Women's Policy Co-ordination Unit (WPCU) provides advice to the Premier on the impact of Government policies on women, and ensures that Government legislation, policies, programs and services, in their development and implementation, take into account the needs of women. The Unit also co-ordinates the preparation and publication of the Women's Budget, maintains the Women's Register, and co-ordinates Government activities for International Women's Day.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $355,000 $ 327,785 $379,000

Legislation In 1990 the WPCU prepared the Public Authorities (Equal Employment Opportunity) Act for presentation by the Premier to Parliament. The legislation, passed in the Spring sittings, was proclaimed on 30 July and came into force on 31 July 1991. The Minister for Labour is responsible for administering the Act and the WPCU will continue to liaise with the Public Authorities Unit of the Department of Labour, which is responsible for assisting public authorities to carry out their responsibilities under the legislation.

PREMIER & CABINET • 167 Other legislation of concern to women and, therefore, to the WPCU, was the Administration and Probate Bill and the Crimes (Sexual Offences) Act. The latter Act was passed in the Autumn sittings of 1991 and may be amended later in 1991 after advice on the Victorian Law Reform Commission's reference on Rape Law Reform has been considered by the Attorney-General.

Education, Employment and Training Policy issues concerning employment, education, training and child care continue to remain a major focus of the Unit. WPCU works with the Women's Employment and Employment Programs Branches of the Department of Labour, the Office of the State Training Board, the Division of Further Education, Community Services Victoria, the Small Business Development Corporation, the Office of Preschool and Child Care, the Office of Ethnic Affairs, the Rural Women's Network; and with women's organisations, such as the Association of Neighbourhood Learning Centres, the Victorian Women's Trust, and peak organisations represented on the Victorian Women's Consultative Council, to ensure that policies, programs and services meet women's needs.

To further enhance understanding of issues affecting women's participation in the labour market, the WPCU forwarded a submission to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for Victoria's 1991 State Supplementary Survey. The submission argued the need for an accurate and current account of the work patterns of Victorian women: to find out when and why they are most likely to leave or re- enter the paid work force, and how their responsibilities as carers of children or of other family members affect their participation in the work force. The Unit's submission was successful and the resultant survey, prepared by the ABS in consultation with the Unit, the Women's Employment Branch of the Department of Labour, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Office of Preschool and Child Care, and the Institute of Family Studies, will be conducted in October as part of the ABS Labour Market Survey. Over six thousand Victorian women will be interviewed, and a report on findings will be released by the ABS early next year. A fuller publication including data from other sources will also be prepared by the WPCU.

Women's Budget The Unit's co-ordination and monitoring role is assisted by the Women's Budget process, which is managed by the Unit to ensure that information is presented in a consistent form, that relevant data is included, and that the report is published approximately one month after the State Budget is brought down.

Agency reports contained in the Women's Budget are prepared by officers from departments and are approved by their chief executives. As part of the Women's Budget process, policy officers, program managers and finance officers in agencies are asked to evaluate the effect of their programs and services on women. The Women's Budget, 1991-92 is the sixth annual Victorian report of budget-sector agencies.

PREMIER & CABINET • 168 Women's Register The Register, a computerised database, was established in 1982 to assist the Government to increase the participation of women on government boards and committees. The Register records the areas of expertise of approximately 1200 women who are interested in being nominated to a government board or committee. In 1991, a major update of the Women's Register was undertaken by the WPCU and later in 1991 there will be a recruiting campaign aimed at women with medical, engineering, science, or economics backgrounds, or with experience in manufacturing, marketing and management in the private sector. The WPCU also monitors the process of appointments to government boards and committees. In the 1990 calendar year, 27.5 per cent of appointments were women. This is an improvement of 3 per cent on 1989 figures.

International Women's Day The Unit co-ordinates a range of activities to celebrate International Women's Day (March 8). State government agencies, local government, trade unions, private sector and community groups are responsible for the development of an increased number of activities which highlight women's issues and initiatives. In the first and second week of March, a variety of activities were held, including: book launches; seminars; displays; in-service education and information sessions; musical performances; exhibitions of art, costumes, and photography; readings of literature; film screenings; educational programs; debates and dinners.

Several special editions of newsletters were published, and there was a liftout supplement for working women in the Herald-Sun. The After-Hours Service Against Sexual Assault was launched, as was Hypatia's Place: the Maths, Science and Technology Education Centre for Girls. Special events were organised at Fairlea and Barwon Prisons.

Policy and Program Review The WPCU has a role in the review of existing programs and services for women and in the development of policy in areas of government activity which had not provided focus on women's interests.

Women's Services Review In 1991, the WPCU was represented on the Women's Services Review Steering Committee established by Community Services Victoria (CSV) to review the three major women's services funded by CSV. Other members of the Committee included two representatives from each of the agencies under review, an officer of CSV, and a union representative. Ms Kate Gilmore, a member of the Community Council Against Violence and the National Council of Violence Against Women, chaired the Committee. The aim of the Review was to identify the particular role and responsibilities of each agency and areas of overlap, and to develop options to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services and co-ordinate between services to improve the delivery of services to women. The final report will be submitted to the Minister for Community Services in September 1991.

PREMIER & CABINET • 169 Women Prisoners and Offenders Advisory Committee In 1990-91, the Unit worked with the Office of Corrections through the Women Prisoners and Offenders Advisory Committee to assist Corrections develop policies and programs for women prisoners and women on community-based orders. The Committee's final report 'The Agenda for Change' was launched in August 1991 by the Minister for Corrections.

The report outlines changes to policies and programs in a number of areas including: the maintenance of relationships between a prisoner mother and her children; the provision of an increased range of education, work and vocational training options to women prisoners; and the provision of health services that maximise the well being of women prisoners.

The report also provides a five-year implementation plan for the proposed changes. The Plan recommends that high priority recommendations be implemented within three years. In 1991-92 the WPCU will monitor the implementation of the plan.

Commonwealth-State Relations and Women's Interests The WPCU liaises with offices for women's affairs of the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, and contributes to the development of national policy and to national reports to organisations, such as the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Australia's second status report to CEDAW is to be presented in March 1992 and the WPCU will be responsible for preparation of Victoria's report to the Committee.

A major activity for the Unit for 1991-92 is the organisation of the second meeting of Commonwealth-State Ministers for the Status of Women, which will be held in Melbourne in late September, and implementation of Conference decisions. The Premier, the Hon. Joan Kirner AM MP, will chair the meeting in Melbourne on 27 September.

Issues to be discussed by the Conference of Ministers include: • women's interests and the Commonwealth-State Financial Relations Review; • progress made by State Governments and the Commonwealth Government toward implementation of International Labour Organisation Convention 156; Workers with Family Responsibilities; • government action relating to women and structural adjustment, and women and economic equality; • recommendations from the National Committee on Violence Against Women concerning preventative detention, confiscation of firearms and other dangerous weapons, and issues of custody and access in cases involving violent offenders who are subject to domestic violence protection orders; • a report on the development of a National Strategy on Violence Against Women; • a report on processes for developing policy with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women;

PREMIER & CABINET • 170 • a paper concerning the health of women of non-English-speaking background; and • a report on the National Program for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer.

The WPCU has contributed to the development of all conference papers with the assistance of officers from relevant Victorian Government agencies and the Chairperson of the Community Council on Violence Against Women.

In 1991-92 the Unit will continue to monitor the impact on women of any changes which result from the functional reviews being undertaken by the Commonwealth and States on the Home and Community Care Program, the Supported Accommodation and Assistance Program, and Child Care; and will continue to work with Health Department Victoria to ensure that Commonwealth-State agreements for Women's Health Services, the National Program for Early Detection of Breast Cancer, and the National Cervical Cancer Program are developed and implemented in the best interests of Victorian women.

Committees and Working Groups The WPCU is also represented on a number of inter-departmental committees and working parties, which have been established to deal with issues which have a particular impact on women. These include the Victorian Advisory Committee on Rape, the Family Violence Prevention Committee, the Merit Promotion and Equal Employment Opportunity Consultative Committee, the Commonwealth-State Council on Non-English-Speaking Background Women's Issues and the Consultative Committee of Women on Leisure and Recreation.

VICTORIAN WOMEN'S CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL

In 1990, the Premier referred to the VWCC the issue of developing a women's centre at the former Queen Victoria Hospital site. Over one thousand Victorian women were consulted concerning the centre's establishment, funding, management and future use.

In February 1991 the Council presented the Final Report of the consultation to the Premier. The Council recommended that the women's centre:

• develop, in association with existing women's services and networks, an information referral service that all Victoria women can access; and • establish a number of enterprises and facilities such as a lounge, cafe, bookshop and multipurpose reading rooms.

The Report also recommended that the Women's Centre be opened in 1996 to commemorate the founding of the Queen Victoria Hospital. The Women's Centre Inc. is currently co-ordinating the next phase of developing the women's centre. This organisation is encouraging Victorian women to be involved in the establishment and organisation of the centre.

PREMIER & CABINET • 171 The third Victorian Women's Consultative Council was appointed in 1991. The Council has twelve members and a Convenor, who are selected to represent a wide cross section of women's interests. The Council consults with Victorian women on issues of concern to women and advises the Premier of their views.

In 1991 the Premier has referred one major issue to the current Council as the basis of its consultation with women. This project relates to women and the economy of the 21st century. The Council will consult with Victorian women and canvas their views on paid work, unpaid work, community issues and women's role in the decision-making process. The Council aims to make recommendations to the Premier, which will lead to planning for the next decade to produce positive outcomes for women. These recommendations will provide strategies for government, industry, trade unions and other decision makers and planners.

In 1991, the first Victorian Women's Study Grant was announced by the Premier. The $15,000 study grant, to be auspiced by the Victorian Women's Consultative Council, will be awarded annually to an applicant to undertake research in an area that will enhance the work of the Council and improve the status of Victorian women. Over one hundred organisations and individuals requested study grant applications. The successful applicant will be announced in October 1991.

Administrative support for the Victorian Women's Consultative Council is provided by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $132,000 $150,522 $159,000

SOCIAL JUSTICE STRATEGY UNIT

The Social Justice Strategy Unit (SJSU) is responsible for the monitoring and development of the Victorian Government's Social Justice Strategy. The SJSU advises the Premier and the Social Development Committee of Cabinet (SDCC) on all issues relating to the Social Justice Strategy.

The SJSU works with departments to develop policy, plan programs, and co- ordinate the implementation of strategies and evaluation. The SJSU is also responsible for the development and co-ordination of Social Justice Partnership Projects, a government initiative to encourage and facilitate strategic approaches to social justice objectives within the local government, trade union and community sectors.

In 1990-91, the Social Development Committee of Cabinet approved funding for two Partnership Projects in the community sector which are particularly relevant to women. One project involves the Office of Ethnic Affairs and the Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres and aims to encourage

PREMIER & CABINET • 172 neighbourhood houses and learning centres to plan and deliver their services and programs in a manner that guarantees access for the local community irrespective of cultural background. A second project which also involves Ethnic Affairs as well as the Ecumenical Migration Centre is linking newly arrived refugee women from the Horn of Africa to English language/support groups in two neighbourhood houses, and providing follow-up support advice on settlement issues to the women.

Over the past year, the SJSU has been responsible for co-ordinating three Social Development Committee of Cabinet community visits. These visits have been held in Berwick, Werribee and Whittlesea, and have given local communities an opportunity to meet with Ministers to discuss social development issues of relevance to them. Women have been active participants in these community visits.

The SJSU also provides advice during the annual budget process on social justice priorities and encourages government departments to develop a strategic approach to meeting social justice objectives. Increased government expenditure in human-services portfolios due to Social Justice Strategy initiatives will continue to have a positive impact on women in Victoria.

PROJECTS BRANCH

The Department's Projects Branch provides administrative support services for a number of community service committees and the Australia Day Committee (Victoria).

Senior Citizens Week The Senior Citizens' Week Advisory Committee, whose membership is predominantly women, is conscious of the need to ensure that events cater for the proportion of women who are senior citizens. Each year, the Victorian Government sponsors a Senior Citizens' Week. Senior citizens are defined as persons 60 years and over, and retired from full-time employment.

Australia Day Committee(Victoria) In 1990-91, the number of women on the Australia Day Committee (Victoria) increased from three to five, out of a total of fourteen members. The Australia Day Committee aims to promote and develop the observance of Australia Day and encourage a sense of national pride within all members of the community and to foster public awareness of these objectives. The Committee co-ordinates a number of year-round activities. It also facilitates the state-wide quest for the Victorian of the Year, and encourages women nominees for the award. The Award recognises people who make outstanding contributions to the community, but who are not known publicly.

Children's Week The objectives of the Children's Week Committee are to highlight the rights,

PREMIER & CABINET • 173 needs and accomplishments of children and to celebrate childhood through Children's Week. The majority of committee members are women.

Clean Up Australia Day With seven women members out of a group of sixteen, the Clean Up Australia Day Committee is committed to encouraging Victorian community groups of all kinds to participate in the largest national clean up campaign staged annually in Australia.

After machinery of government changes in 1991, the three major community service committees were transferred from the Department. The Senior Citizens Advisory Committee is now located with the Ministry of Ethnic, Municipal and Community Affairs, the Children's Week Committee with the Ministry of Education and Training, and Clean Up Australia Day with the Department of Conservation and Environment.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGAINST VIOLENCE

The Community Council Against Violence, established in 1988, consults with the community, advises the Government and develops programs that aim to reduce violence. In 1991 responsibility for the Council was transferred from the Ministry of Police and Emergency Services to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Details on the work of the Council in 1990-91 are outlined in the Ministry of Police and Emergency Services entiy.

The Chairperson of the Council is the Victorian Government representative on the National Committee on Violence Against Women, chaired by the Commonwealth.

Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $297,330 $315,000

OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE

The Office of the Ombudsman was established under the Ombudsman Act 1973. The function of the Ombudsman is to investigate complaints concerning administrative actions taken in Victorian Government Departments, statutory bodies, and by members of municipal staff. The Ombudsman may also be involved in Freedom of Information matters.

The Deputy Ombudsman (Police Complaints) receives complaints made by the public against members of the Police Force, investigates certain complaints, and monitors the investigation by police of complaints.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,786,700 $1,762,944 $1,793,000

PREMIER & CABINET • 174 Statistical Information The following statistics cover the period 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991, and detail the estimated number of complaints received by the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman (Police Complaints).

Complaint Type Female Joint Total Complainants (M & F) Complainants

GENERAL COMPLAINTS 1,250 72 3,470* Major Complaint Area: Local Government 257 18 659 Corrections 46 340 Utilities 119 321 Education 100 231 ACC/TAC/SIO 69 203 Housing 88 5 154 Health 57 1 129 Transport 31 103 Community Services 56 6 100

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION 32 4 156 Complaints against other agencies 30 2 137 Requests to Ombudsman for information 2 2 19

POLICE COMPLAINTS 290 48 1,458 Written Complaints: Quickly Resolved 61 5 1,166 Investigated 229 43 1,166

* This figure includes 774 complaints on issues over which the office has no jurisdiction.

VICTORIAN PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD

The Public Service Board of Victoria provides independent advice to the Government on matters of organisation and staffing, and develops and introduces improved management and staff practices to enable effective, efficient and economic operations within the Victorian Public Service(VPS).

The Board exercises an industrial tribunal role in the determination of salaries, and in the determination of terms and conditions of employment for officers and employees in the VPS. It is proposed to transfer this function to the Industrial Relations Commission of Victoria during 1991. The Board also exercises a tribunal role in relation to certain disciplinary issues and appeals related to senior officer promotions.

PREMIER & CABINET • 175 The Board monitors, reviews and establishes processes to ensure the public-sector personnel system operates equitably, and that the principle of employment on the basis of merit is maintained. During 1990 the role and functions of the Board were reviewed. As a result of the review it is proposed to replace the Board with a Public Service Management Commission in late 1991.

The major impact on women of Public Service Board activities is in the level and quality of employment for women, through the development of appropriate personnel management policies, provision of advice and through employment equity programs and the maintenance of merit employment principles.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $9.314m $8.636m $8.276m

Merit Promotion and Equal Opportunity The Merit Promotion and Equal Employment Opportunity Consultative Committee advises the Board on all aspects of merit protection and equal employment opportunity within the VPS. During 1990-91, the Committee examined the impact on merit and equity of the Government's work force management requirements and public service redeployment processes. The Committee has also monitored the implementation of the new integrated Office Based Structure (OBS), which integrates administrative, clerical and keyboard activities; and the impact of the OBS on women, particularly those in segregated areas of female employment.

The Committee provided input into the evaluation of the 1988-90 Action Plan for Women and set up an Action Planning Process Sub-Committee to consider the new draft VPS Employment Equity Program for 1991-94, which includes a Women's Employment Strategy. Evaluation outcomes from the previous Action Plan, and details concerning the new Women's Employment Strategy can be found in the final chapter of this report.

Occupational Health and Safety The Occupational Health Unit closed at the end of 1990 and Occupational Health and Safety advice and training is now the responsibility of individual agencies.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $0.126m $0.100m Project Complete

Administrative Trainee Scheme This Scheme aims to recruit high-quality graduates who will, in the future, assume management and policy positions within the VPS. Approximately 52 per cent of the total of trainees recruited to the scheme in 1991 were women. The scheme is to be suspended in 1992 and will be resumed when funds are available.

Actual Expenditure 1990-91 $1.049m

PREMIER & CABINET • 176 Executive Development and Interchange Program The Executive Development and Interchange Program provides developmental opportunities for managers who have demonstrated the potential to progress to senior executive positions. In 1991, one of the five places available was filled by a woman.

Pilot ADM 4-6 Interchange Program A pilot Interchange Program was developed in 1991 to extend the experience and skills of officers at the middle levels of administrative officer classifications, by broadening their work experience through job-placement opportunities amongst a core number of agencies. Women will be targeted under this program in line with agency equity employment programs.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $0.084m $0.058m $0.016m

STRUCTURAL EFFICIENCY PROGRAM

The Implementation of Structural Efficiency Principles in the VPS involves two areas, Office Based Structure (OBS) implementation and the Non-Direct-Care Staff Structural Review, which will contribute to improving women's career mobility in traditionally segregated areas and promote pay equity.

Office-Based Structure The implementation of the OBS will have a significant impact on 20,000 staff or 45 per cent of all staff employed under the Public Service Act, of whom 57 per cent are women. The OBS amalgamates the current administrative, clerical and keyboard classifications into a single eight-level structure. Women in the keyboard and clerical categories can expect to benefit from the creation of skill related career paths; access to wider range of occupations through the revision of entry level requirements; and encouragement to undertake a broader range of tasks.

The Structural Review Unit within the Board has developed an implementation kit, which includes workplace redesign training, training manuals and equal opportunity guidelines to assist agencies in the implementation process. The OBS Implementation Committee responsible for overseeing the implementation of the OBS, comprises representatives from the Department of Labour, Office of the Public Service Board, the Victorian Public Service Association and agencies.

Non-Direct-Care Staff Structural Review The Non-Direct-Care Staff Review has recommended the establishment of two structures which will facilitate greater career mobility for women situated at the lower levels in the current structure. Strategies will include work redesign; needs- based training in such areas as basic literacy and numeracy skills and occupational health and safety. Greater use of flexible working hours and career planning initiatives will form a significant part of work-reform proposals. The recommended classification structures will also result in improved salary

PREMIER & CABINET • 177 outcomes for staff, as a result of more highly valued jobs and changes to identified inefficient work practices.

Budget for Office-Based Structure and Non-Direct-Care Staff Structural Review

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $0.408m $0.421m $0396m

Merit Employment Programs The Merit Employment Programs Unit within the Office of Merit Protection is responsible for the development and evaluation of strategic objectives for women's employment in the VPS. A Women's Employment Strategy 1991-94 has been developed in consultation with interested parties. The Unit will work with agencies to develop local recruitment targets and strategies to meet the service- wide objectives outlined in this strategy for women in the Public Service.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $0.191m $0.191m $0.229m

PREMIER & CABINET • 178 OFFICE OF PRESCHOOL AND CHILD CARE Nauru House, 80 Collins Street; MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03) 655 9610

The Office of Preschool and Child Care (OPCC), established in November 1990, is the government agency responsible for the planning, co-ordination and delivery of preschool and child-care services. As part of this role OPCC seeks to: • ensure the development and maintenance of quality services; • develop an integrated industrial structure for the child-care industry; • facilitate more flexible, accessible and appropriate service delivery arrangements; and • negotiate with the Commonwealth, State departments, local government and the non-government sector in the planning and delivery of services.

The Office brings together children's services activities that were previously administered by Community Services Victoria, the Department of Labour, the Office of the State Training Board and the Division of Further Education. The overall program objective is to ensure that Victorian children and their parents have access to quality, affordable and responsive children's services.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 Recurrent $ 74.3m $73.6m $76.9m Capital $ 4.8m $ 1.9m $ 7.3m

The Government recognises that the expansion of children's services is a fundamental component of the wider strategy of improving women's access to employment. The Office's services are not targeted to women, but women are the major users of children's services. Women also provide the bulk of volunteer labour, and the children's services industry is a major employer of women.

PRESCHOOL SERVICES

Kindergartens The Kindergarten Program provides subsidies to local governments and community organisations to enable one year of preschool education for all Victorian children. At 30 June 1991, funding was provided for 62,000 places. Preschool opportunities are provided by centre-based kindergartens, mobile kindergarten units, field officers and the Aboriginal Assistance Program. The Government will continue to provide full salary subsidy for kindergarten teachers and assistants. The existing operating grant of $2,600 a year for kindergartens will also be maintained. A current restructure of wage awards in the children's service industry is expected to generate work-practice-efficiencies, resulting in more responsive services.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 Recurrent $ 61.5m $62.4m $59.6m Capital $ 0.4m $ 0.4m $0.7m

PRESCHOOL & CHILD CARE • 179 State Children's Services Victoria subsidises a wide range of children's services in Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and State Day Nurseries. TAPE Colleges provide 700 child care places at twenty-nine locations. These services target TAFE students and staff and the wider community. They aim to provide quality, affordable child care, and ensure that students are able to select a training course on the basis of their course development needs rather than the availability of child care. Four new services commenced operation in 1991.

The Office funds thirty-five State Day Nurseries, providing 1520 long-day care services for children aged 0-6 years. A recurrent subsidy that contributes towards the operational costs of services is also provided. The 1991-92 funds include capital grants for modifications to buildings occupied by several of these services.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 Recurrent $ 4.6m $4.1m $3.3m Capital $ 0.5m $0.1m $0.4m

Occasional Care Under the National Child Care Strategy (NCCS) 1988-92, the Commonwealth and State are cost-sharing the expansion of occasional care services. Occasional care allows parents with children below school age to leave them in care for short periods of time in a neighbourhood setting. This gives practical support by providing respite and freedom to pursue personal needs such as study. Funding for 250 new occasional care places was provided in 1990-91. A review of effectiveness of the new initiative will be conducted early in the financial year before the establishment of a further 250 places in 1991-92. As part of the new administrative arrangements, the Office has assumed responsibility for child care services previously funded by the Division of Further Education and delivered through Neighbourhood Houses. Over 80 per cent of Neighbourhood House clients are women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 Recurrent $1.0m $0.7m $1.3m Capital $2.0m $0.3m $1.2m

Long Day Care Under the National Child Care Strategy, the Commonwealth and Victoria are cost-sharing the capital costs of establishing twenty-two new long day care centres. Auspices have been identified for these new services, and fifteen are in the design stage. Construction of ten of these centres is expected to be completed by the end of 1991-92. Victoria also makes a recurrent subsidy grant to all Commonwealth-funded long day care services.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 Recurrent $0.6m $0.6m $0.6m Capital $0.5m $0.1m $4.4m

PRESCHOOL & CHILD CARE • 180 SCHOOL AGE SERVICES

Out of School Hours Services and Vacation Care Outside-school-hours care programs, before to the establishment of OPCC, were administered by both the Department of Labour and Community Services Victoria. These programs provide affordable, quality care and recreational activities for children of school age whose parents are working, retraining or seeking employment. Service provision is mainly through school councils, although local government is also involved. Services are provided with an establishment grant, an ongoing operational subsidy, and an allocation for fee relief to ensure equal access is available to all families, regardless of income. An addition 2,890 outside-school-hours care places were established in 1990-91 as part of the National Child Care Strategy. An additional 390 vacation care places were approved in 1990-91. Funding for an extra 2,690 NCCS before-and- after-school-hours care places is provided in the 1991-92 budget. During the year, OPCC will develop new financial arrangements which integrate existing funding models.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 Recurrent $5.6m $4.3m $6.5m

WORK BASED CHILD CARE

Work based child care is the provision of child care services at or near workplaces. The process of expanding employment opportunities for women and enabling businesses to attract and retain skilled workers is assisted by the provision of work based child care, as 53 per cent of women who work either full- time or part-time have dependent children aged up to 14 years.

The Workbased Child Care Unit of OPCC provides information and support to companies and individuals interested in establishing work based child care. The Unit administers a Feasibility Study Fund, which provides up to $7,500 to enable a company or group of companies to undertake a feasibility study on the establishment and operation of child care provision for their employees.

As part of the Victoria First package of initiatives announced in March 1991, the Government said that it will provide $1.8m ($0.5m in 1991-92) to establish work- based-child-care pilot projects. Funding provided in 1991-92 will enable the establishment of these projects, which will test different service delivery models to determine the most cost-effective approaches to public-sector work-based child care. Five centres/models will be established in a range of settings.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 Recurrent $ 0.1m $0.1m $0.1m Capital $0.5m

PRESCHOOL & CHILD CARE • 181 DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS Old Treasury Building Spring Street MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03) 651 6544

In January 1991 the Department of Small Business was created to provide a stronger focus for Victorian small business. The Department's role encompasses small business policy development, advocacy, regulation scrutiny and reform. The Department's policy role will provide the small business sector with a forum for direct input to Government decision making.

The Office of Regulation Reform (ORR) reports to the Minister for Small Business as part of the Department. The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) is a Statutory Authority falling within the Small Business Ministry portfolio and delivering services to the small business sector.

Since its inception in January 1991, the Department has operated on Treasury Advances through to 30 June 1991.

Budget Estimate 1991-92 $4.812m

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) records the gender of its enquirers, clients and training participants, to monitor the participation of women in each of these service areas. Currently women constitute approximately 40 per cent of business enquiries and over 45 per cent of business training course participants.

The indirect impact of SBDC services through their effect on the prosperity of the small business sector will be in terms of employment generation and general economic prosperity. Small business continues to be the major private sector employer and is well represented in the retail and service sectors, where females are concentrated as employees.

The SBDC's commitment to assisting women to establish their own small businesses and self-employment opportunities is ongoing. It forms part of the Government's Choice and Opportunity Policy for women. An evaluation of the SBDC's Women's Business Assistance program will provide recommendations for development of continuing activities to assist women to take advantage of the increasing small business and self-employment opportunities available.

Business Advice and Referral The SBDC provides an advisory service to those requiring information or advice connected with small business, including those planning to establish businesses.

SMALL BUSINESS • 182 The service is provided directly by the SBDC's own staff and through a network of regional offices. Referrals are given to appropriate government or private agencies where the assistance cannot be provided directly. Business advice and referral will continue to be a primary function of the SBDC in 1991-92.

During the twelve months ending December 1990,39 per cent of business enquiries taken at the SBDC were from women. The number of women receiving detailed business counselling was 254 in the year to December 1990.

The pilot Women's Business Assistance Program has included measures to increase the awareness of women about the SBDC and the awareness of the SBDC about the needs of women. Specific information of interest to women in business is available, and a full-time business adviser has been appointed since 1989.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $3,398,000 $4,100,000 $3,134,877

Business Training & Education The SBDC facilitates workshops on a range of business topics in urban and rural centres. It is also involved in the delivery of training, counselling and information services through TAFE Small Business Centres.

The participation rate of women in SDBC courses co-ordinated throughout the State is 45 per cent.

Specific seminars and workshops for women in small business have been conducted in Ballarat, Bendigo, Wangaratta, Horsham, Echuca, Wodonga, Stawell, and Shepparton as well as in Melbourne and the Metropolitan area. Training courses have also specifically been directed at female-dominated industry sectors.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 272,477 $275,000 $351,652

Women's Business Assistance Program The Small Business Development Corporation conducted a two-year pilot project, the Women's Business Assistance Program, which finished in February 1991.

The Program was developed in response to the overwhelming indicators of the importance of women-owned enterprises to the Victorian economy. Approximately one-third of existing and reported small business proprietors are women, and women are going into small business at more rapid rates than men. Women's small businesses produce goods and services that constitute a substantial part of the State's Gross Domestic Product and these small businesses provide employment opportunities at the rate of three to four full-time jobs per self-employed woman.

SMALL BUSINESS • 183 The program sought to ensure that small business support services were meeting the needs of this growing and important group in five main ways:

• conducting needs analysis, research and program development to ensure and facilitate the development of women's business enterprises; • ensuring that the services and programs of the SBDC are relevant, accessible and responsive to the needs of women entrepreneurs; • encouraging other service providers to small business, including banks, professional groups, trade associations and government departments, to provide services that are responsive to women entrepreneurs and appropriate for them; • increasing the public profile of women entrepreneurs; and • working with the Victorian Women's Trust in the development of their business services for women.

Highlights from the program include:

• funding of and assistance with major research and demonstration project on the needs of women in small business by the City of Melbourne; • first-ever Australian research on the comparative experience of women and men in business; • action research by trialling programs and services developed to meet the needs of women in small business; • achieved high participation rate in SBDC enquiries, training and business counselling, the highlight of which is that 35 per cent of women in small business have now used SBDC services, a rate that far exceeds their usage of any other support service; • specific information and resources relevant to women now available; • over fifteen major women's business forums held in Melbourne, metropolitan Melbourne and country Victoria; • staff awareness activities for SBDC staff on the needs of women in small business; • outreach and awareness-raising work with other service providers, including banks, non-bank finance providers, women's business groups, accounting and legal bodies, small business agencies and State and Federal Departments; and • both general and targeted publicity have been achieved for the program and for women in small business in a broad range of media, including daily newspapers, radio, TV, magazines and numerous personal presentations.

With assistance from the SBDC's Women's Business Assistance Program, the Victorian Women's Trust has pioneered a unique range of services that specifically address women's life situations and impact on business. Over six hundred women have been assisted with their businesses, and over 150 women have received indepth business advice, more than ten women have been assisted in obtaining otherwise unobtainable finance for their businesses, and two businesses have bee assisted by the last-resort loan guarantee. Both of the latter have successfully achieved independence from the guarantee.

SMALL BUSINESS • 184 Funding has been obtained from the Department of Education, Employment and Training for ninety places in an intensive business training and preparation program (NEIS) for unemployed women; a business mentor network has been established; an Enterprise Kit has been produced; and outreach has been achieved to thousands of Victorian women through seminars, presentations and printed materials.

The SBDC has evaluated the impact of the program and provided recommendations for future action. These recommendations have been referred to the Minister for Small Business for consideration. A specific request has been made by the SBDC to the Minister for a Budget allocation of $75,000 to enable provision of women-specific services.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $54,525 $59,000 $75,000

Future Directions The SBCD will continue to ensure its services are responsive, accessible and relevant to women in business.

It is also hoped that dedicated and specialist small business services to women can be provided through Enterprise Connection, the newly-formed enterprise support organisation for Victorian women. A comprehensive Business Plan has now been completed. It will seek Government and corporate sector funding to continue the low-cost but high-economic-impact work in supporting and assisting women choosing self-employment and small business as an employment option.

SMALL BUSINESS • 185 DEPARTMENT OF SPORT AND RECREATION 123 Lonsdale Street MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03) 666 4200

The Department of Sport and Recreation was established in 1972. The specific responsibilities of the Department are to:

• promote the participation of all Victorians in a broad variety of sport, recreation, and leisure activities; • allocate resources and influence the provision of recreation, leisure and sporting facilities so that recreation opportunities are equitably provided; • promote excellence in sport to improve Victoria's sporting reputation and national and international recognition; • provide consultancy services and financial assistance to develop and improve sport and recreation facilities and programs; • maximise the contribution of Victoria's sport, recreation and fitness industries to the economic growth of the State; • promote fitness as an important feature of better health; • promote safety in sport, recreation, leisure and fitness programs; • ensure that legal gambling activities are conducted with honesty and integrity; and • foster the growth and economic viability of the racing and gaming industries in Victoria.

The composition of statutory authorities reporting to the Minister as at 30 June 1990, was as follows: Bookmakers and Bookmakers Clerks Registration Committee - 14.2 per cent women; Community Recreation Council - 45 per cent women; Greyhound Racing Control Board - 0 per cent women; Greyhound Racing Grounds Development Board - 33 per cent women; Harness Racing Board -12.5 per cent women; Martial Arts Control Board - 0 per cent women; National Tennis Centre Trust - 8.3 per cent women; Professional Boxing Control Board - 0 per cent women; Racecourse Licenses Board (Harness Racing Division) - 0 per cent women; Racecourse Licenses Board (Racing Division) - 0 per cent women; Racing Appeals Tribunal - 0 per cent women; Raffles and Bingo Permits Board - 0 per cent women; State Sports Council - 50 per cent women; and Totalizator Agency Board - 0 per cent women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $19,658 m $20,065m $16,591,800 Excluding Capital Works

RECREATION DEVELOPMENT

Bushwalking and Mountaincraft Training Advisory Board The Board offers leadership courses in bushwalking and ski touring. The courses promote safe participation in sport and recreation programs. In the past two to

SPORT & RECREATION • 186 three years the Board has been aiming to increase the number of women taking the leadership courses. In 1991 the Board set up a Gender Issues Sub-Committee which is implementing additional strategies to make the courses more accessible to women. Of the 1991 intake for both course, 33 per cent are women, and graduates are of a similar gender proportion.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $77,000 $73,138 $77,000

State Recreation Organisations Secretariat Support The Department makes annual allocations to eight State Recreation Associations to provide a range of recreation services and programs to the general community and specific population groups, including the Consultative Committee of Women on Leisure and Recreation.

The Victorian Playgroups Association targets the play, recreation and social needs of preschool children and their parents. Due to the nature of the service the vast majority of parents involved with the playgroups are women, and they benefit from the social contact with other adults and support with their parenting.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $153,000 $154,000 $155,000

Recreation Worker Development The Department funds professional development and the support of recreation workers in a broad range of agencies, including local government authorities, hospitals and nursing homes, neighbourhood houses and community arts groups. The allocation of funds for recreation worker development aims to promote the participation of all Victorians in a broad variety of sport, recreation and leisure activities.

The Local Government Recreation Association of Victoria is the major recipient of funds. A sub-committee of the Association is establishing a profile of women's employment in recreation in local government, with the view to recommending strategies to advance their professional status into senior and management positions.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $43,000 $36,510 $30,000

Program Grants A complete review of this component of the Department's budget was made in 1990- 91 resulting in the establishment of the Community Recreation Development Fund (Metro) and maintenance of the Municipal Recreation Planning Grants (Metro). Funding is also provided by VicHealth to the Teenage Health and Activity Grant Program and the Family Experience Program.

SPORT & RECREATION • 187 Funds previously targeted at specific population groups were pooled to create the Community Recreation Development Fund to encourage and assist local government authorities and other community agencies to address social justice issues in community recreation services and activity programs, and increase access to these opportunities by people who are disadvantaged.

The projects that receive Community Recreation Development funds should demonstrate a strong community development process, and must demonstrate the benefits to disadvantaged people. Municipal planning grants aim to assist local government to improve the accessibility of its recreation services to the community and often targets women specifically.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 Community Recreation $498,000 $510,000 Development Fund $200,500 Municipal Recreation Planning Grants (Metro) $ 68,000 Teenage Health and Activity Program $250,000 VicHealth

Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme encourages young people from 14-16 years of age to participate in sport, recreation and community services. Sixty-seven per cent of this year's intake of participants are women. In 1990-91 the percentage of awards approved to women were: Bronze - 66 per cent, Silver - 68 per cent and Gold - 61 per cent.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $32,000 $31,961 $30,000

SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

Sub-Committee on Women in Sport and Recreation. In 1991 the Sport and Recreation Ministers' Council, which comprises all Sport and Recreation Ministers in Australia, establishedt he Women in Sport and Recreation Sub-Committee to foster and develop, between the Commonwealth, States and Territories, a unified approach to issues pertaining to women in sport and recreation in Australia; and to encourage co-operation in planning and implementing policies and strategies. The committee will meet twice a year on an ongoing basis.

The strategies will complement the Department's 'Advancing Women's Sport Campaign' and will address issues detailed in its Sport and Recreation Policy Statement: Women's Issues.

SPORT & RECREATION • 188 Martial Arts Board The Martial Arts Board is the statutory body administering the Martial Arts Control Act to ensure safety of participants and instruction, proper qualifications of martial arts instructors and control of full contact competition/ promotions. In 1991 the first woman was appointed to the board.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $5,250 $7,450 $8,500

State Sporting Association Funding Program This program assists recognised State Sporting Associations with administration and program development in sport. It assists some predominantly female sporting associations, for example the Victorian Netball Association.

There have been no specific conditions of funding set down to ensure that programs are accessible to women, although affirmative action programs are assessed favourably, guidelines encourage and support access, equity and equal opportunity principles and funded bodies are those representing all participants in the sport or all participants within specific disability groups.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $740,000 $738,682 $550,000

Sport Service Organisation Funding Program This program assists recognised service organisations that service particular needs such as sports medicine and disabled sports within the sporting community, and addresses issues of inequality or disadvantage within sport. Organisations are generally funded through service agreements, and encouragement is given to incorporate access, equity and equal opportunity programs within these agreements.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $138,000 $208,000 $130,000

Country Sports Education Scheme This program is aimed at redressing the inequalities associated with location and improving the quality of sports education programs in country Victoria. Recognised State Sporting Associations and Regional Sports Assemblies apply for assistance for programs after discussions with Department regional managers. Funding decisions include consideration of equal opportunity principles.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $30,000 $43,000 $30,000

Coaches Education This program develops courses and seminars to improve the skills and knowledge base of Victorian coaches, officials and athletes over a variety of key areas. It is

SPORT & RECREATION • 189 co-ordinated by the State Coaching Consultant of the Department of Sport and Recreation. Seminars utilise services and expertise from tertiary education institutions, sports medicine bodies and other groups, where relevant. Material specifically related to women is included. Discussion has been initiated by the State Coaching Consultant with women's groups on further training for women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $70,000 $ 59,000 $ 45,000

Sports Education Services The MLC Junior Sports Foundation Junior Athlete Scholarship Scheme assists in the development of junior athletes with high potential. The Department provides funding to the MLC who allocate direct grants to junior athletes, provide clothes or conduct sports camps. Grants are assessed on merit, however, gender equity is considered both in the selection of a range of sports and athletes.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000

Fitness Promotion Major areas for fitness promotion are: fitness instructor training; fitness centre accreditation; active life-styles for older adults; and workplace health promotion. All program areas provide equal access for both sexes although the fitness industry and the Active At Any Age program does involve a higher percentage of women. A specific fitness instructor training module is being developed currently that focuses on prenatal/postnatal exercise, by VICFIT. VICFIT received a grant of $10,000 from the Department towards these programs.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $50,000 $56,754 $35,000 ($100,000 fromVic Health)

Junior Sports Development Campaign The campaign, managed by the Department, is a partnership between the Australian Sports Commission, VicHealth and the Ministry of Education and Training. The campaign aims to increase the quantity, quality and range of sporting experiences for young people. Funding is provided to individual schools, local government, state sporting organisations regional sporting organisations, regional sport assemblies, community agencies and the Ministry of Education and Training. Equity of access is the basis for all programs and approximately fifty per cent of participants are girls.

In 1990-91, $640,00 was allocated from the Australian Sports Commission, $425,000 from VicHealth and $400,000 from the Department.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,465 m $1,465 m $1.609m

SPORT & RECREATION • 190 FACILITIES

Municipal Capital Works In 1991 the Department announced funding to develop seven municipal recreation centres including Diamond Valley, Williamstown, Richmond, Port Melbourne, Wodonga, Ocean Grove and Kinglake. To ensure that women with children can participate in programs at the centres, child-care will be provided.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $3/180,000 $3,221,000 $3,305,000

State Facilities Program This program assists in the development and operation of State-level sporting and recreation facilities including: Olympic Park Complex, State Hockey Centre, State Baseball/Soft Ball Centre, State Water Sports Centre, and the State Swimming Centre. Women's participation in sports conducted at most of these centres tends to fall considerably below mens participation.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $652,000 $652,000 $980,000

REGIONAL OPERATIONS

Family Outdoor Experience Program This program provides funds to community agencies to conduct activity camps for families that are economically or socially disadvantaged. The program aims to strengthen local networks so that recreation opportunities can be extended and organised to meet the needs of the community. The program is funded by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. Approximately one-third of the total budget is allocated to organisations from country regions and approximately 70 per cent of all participants were women from non-English-speaking backgrounds, sole parents and Aboriginal women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $150,000 $141,623 $250,000 VicHealth

V/Line Sports Training Scheme The V/Line Sports Training Scheme was established in 1990 to improve the opportunity of athletes from country areas to reach a standard suitable for State and National competition. The scheme is primarily concerned with offsetting the costs to athletes who need to travel long distances in Victoria on a regular basis for training and competition purposes.

The Department of Sport and Recreation, in conjunction with V/Line and the Commonwealth Bank, provides travel vouchers and subsidies to relieve some of the financial burdens experienced by country athletes while participating and

SPORT & RECREATION • 191 training in high-level sport. Approximately 46.5 per cent of the total budget is allocated to women athletes from country areas.

Budget Allocation 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 Cash $40,000 $40,000 $45,000 Tickets £40,000 $40,000 $45,000

Community Recreation Development Fund The fund aims to encourage and support initiatives at the local and regional level that promote planning and development of recreation opportunities for the community. Funding is targeted towards projects which have an ongoing benefit to the community rather than 'one-off activities. Applicants include community groups, self-help organisations, recreation and sporting bodies, local government and major agencies.

Preference is given to programs and activities that: aim to promote access to and increased opportunities for people who have limited recreation opportunities due to disability, ethnic background, low income, geographical isolation, age, gender or other social, cultural or economic disadvantage; and to programs that have a community development focus, i.e. involve people in the community in the planning and implementation process. It is estimated that approximately 60 per cent of expenditure is on projects which directly benefit women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $232,500 $235,729 $ 222,500

INITIATIVES SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO WOMEN

Women's Advisor In 1987 the Department re-established the permanent full-time position of Women's Advisor, and this will continue into 1991-92. In 1991 the responsibility for women in sport was assigned to a position in the Department's Sport and Fitness Branch, effectively increasing staff allocation to women's issues.

Learn To Surf - Young Women's Surf Camps A surf camp for teenage women was conducted for the second year at the Department's Anglesea Camp during Easter 1991. The camp provided sixty young women with the opportunity to learn surfing skills, meet prominent surfers, establish networks, and obtain support and encouragement. The camp is staffed by experienced women leaders and qualified instructors. It offers opportunity for participants from country areas to spend time in an aquatic environment. The demand for the program has been overwhelming and further camps have been planned for November 1991 and Easter 1992.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $9,283 $9,283 Not Available

SPORT & RECREATION • 192 Consultative Committee of Women on Leisure and Recreation (CCWLR) The Committee is an advisory body to the Minister for Sport and Recreation. Its central aim is to achieve equity, access and participation in sporting, recreational and leisure activities by women. In conjunction with the Victorian Advisory Council on Recreation for People with Disabilities, the Committee presented a small workshop to discuss recreation for women with disabilities. The issues are complex and follow-up work will need to be undertaken. The Committee monitors the coverage of sportswomen in the media and writes to criticise or congratulate where appropriate.

In 1991 the Committee will produce an information series on women in sport and will include: career profiles of women working in sport; a variety of sports and women's participation; media coverage; facts and figures; and landmarks in the history of women in sport. The Committee assisted the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commissioner to prepare a submission to the Federal Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission on issues concerning the use of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 by sportswomen. The Committee members were delegates at two major conferences in 1991: 'Equity for Women in Sport', presented in Canberra by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs and the Australian Sports Commission; and 'Sportswomen Step Forward', for women in sports management and coaching, which was held in Sydney.

In March 1991, VicHealth approved a grant to the Committee for its 'VicHealth Active Achievers' project, which aims to promote career opportunities for women in sport and recreation. The project involves the promotion of women role models to speak to young women aged 14 -16 years at schools or in other settings about career opportunities in sport and recreation. A magazine will be produced and will be available for every participant to take home.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $8,000 $10,000 $10,000 (Victorian Health Promotion Foundation $30,000 )

Advancing Women's Sport The program is aimed at the development of women's sport in Victoria. It aims to increase participation of women and girls in regular sporting activity; increase skill levels of females in all aspects of sporting activity such as coaching and administration; and promote and develop positive images of women and girls engaged in sport. Recognised sporting associations, service organisations, regional sports assemblies and the Consultative Committee of Women on Leisure and Recreation receive funds for this program. Projects are also considered on a State- wide basis to ensure maximum exposure of initiatives and to cover specific groups of women.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $40,000 $38,000 $35,000

SPORT & RECREATION • 193 VICTORIAN TOURISM COMMISSION Building D World Trade Centre Cnr Flinders and Spencer Streets MELBOURNE 3005 Telephone: (03) 619 9400

The Victorian Tourism Commission is concerned solely with marketing the tourism products of Victoria. It is the vehicle by which the Victorian Government expresses its support for tourism, formally liaises with the tourism industry, and through which a cohesive promotion of Victoria to domestic and international markets occurs.

It does this in a number of ways, including: focused advertising; selling products in conjunction with motivational promotions; co-ordinating Victorian representation at major travel trade events; establishing offices in major international markets; lobbying relevant tourism organisations to increase Victoria's profile in itineraries and promotions; liaising with relevant Australian and overseas organisations for increasing the number of air services into Victoria and improving Victoria's air transport services; funding local tourist associations on a dollar-for dollar basis for the production of targeted promotional material; and providing leadership in the marketing of Victoria's tourism.

The economic impact of tourism has greatly increased over recent years, and the contribution of tourism to the Victorian economy is substantial. Total tourism expenditure in Victoria is $4 billion for 1989-90 (Bureau of Industry Economics estimates). Seven per cent of the Victorian work force is reliant to some extent on tourist expenditure. The current employment estimate for the industry is about 130,000 (National Economic Institute of Research Survey).

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 18.8m $20.2m $16.57m

Women Working in Tourism Victoria's tourism industry is characterised by many small businesses, which sell goods and services to tourists. While there are no gender statistics available on the ownership of Victorian tourism businesses, it is estimated that approximately one-third of Victorian small businesses are owned by women. The employment conditions in the tourism industry can be advantageous for women, as the hours can be flexible and the work may be part-time or casual.

In Victoria, current statistics indicate that women constitute 54 per cent of all persons directly employed in the tourism and recreation industry. This is a significant statistic when in comparison, women comprise only 42.1 per cent of the overall work force (ABS, Labour Force Survey, February 1991).

TOURISM • 194 As stated previously, the Victorian Tourism Commission is now a marketing organisation and does not participate in many of the activities and programs referred to in previous reports. There were, however, several programs that were initiated by the Victorian Tourism Commission during 1990-91 that had an impact on women.

Tourism discounts for the Over 60s - 'Senior Savings' There are approximately 673,000 Victorians aged 60 plus of which 378,000 are women. As this group constitutes one of the most important tourism markets in Victoria, the Senior Savings program was launched in July 1990 by the Victorian Tourism Commission. There were 69,700 applicants, who each received a Senior Savings card and booklet, which entitled them to discounts at a variety of tourist attractions and accommodation throughout Victoria.

In March 1991, the Senior Savings program became part of the new Seniors Card which is administrated by the Older Persons Planning Office. The Seniors Card program provides a wider range of concessions to the senior citizen.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 185,0000 $180,000 transferred to Ministry of Ethnic, Municipal and Community Affairs

People with Disabilities An initiative aimed at providing greater tourist information for the disabled in Victoria will have an impact on women, who are predominantly the carers for the disabled. Information on tourist attractions, specialised operators, coach tours, accommodation and restaurants with appropriate facilities for the disabled, was collated and has been given to the Multiple Sclerosis Society (MSS) of Victoria. MSS will produce a booklet, which will outline the various attractions, accommodation and restaurants, throughout Victoria, which have facilities for people in wheelchairs.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $15,000 $1,645 transferred to Multiple Sclerosis Society

TOURISM • 195 MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT Transport House 589 Collins Street MELBOURNE 3000 Telephone: (03) 619 6666

The role of the Ministry of Transport is to contribute to the continued development and improvement of the Victorian transport system in response to the current and future needs of the Victorian community. The Ministry is responsible for the co- ordination of the activities of the public transport sector; the formulation of transport policies and performance targets; and for the development, co- ordination and monitoring of strategic plans and resource budgets for the Ministry and the Authorities.

Statutory bodies accountable to the Minister include inner budget sector authorities - the Public Transport Corporation, the Roads Corporation; and the Marine Board of Victoria; and the outer budget agencies - the Grain Elevators Board and the Transport Accident Commission.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 1,582m $l,601m $l,447m (inner budget sector)

Transport is an essential Government service. The development of the public transport system, the road network and road-use management, are determined by patterns of urban and regional development, and the needs of the major users. Although transport services are directed towards the whole community, public transport is especially relevant to women. A passenger profile survey conducted in 1988 (Ove Arup and Partners) showed that 57 per cent of users of the metropolitan transport system were women.

The Ministry of Transport aims to ensure that consultation occurs in relation to the planning and delivery of services so that services and programs best meet consumers' needs. This approach provides an opportunity for women's interests, as much as for other groups, to be reflected in the decisions made in relation to the provision of services.

TRAVEL SAFE

Passenger safety and comfort of travel were a priority in 1990-91. New initiatives were introduced to combat vandalism and crime and to dramatically improve the appearance of stations. The 1991-92 financial year will see the continuation of these initiatives and maintenance of focus on safety and security through presence of uniformed staff on the system, improvements in station environment, improved technology and involvement of the community in safety programs.

TRANSPORT • 196 Staff and Police Presence To ensure an adequate level of security on the public transport system, the Transit Police, Transit Patrol and Revenue Protection Officers, currently undertake daily patrols on the public transport network.

Station Environment Evaluations of the performance of closed circuit TV cameras (CCTV) at stations shows that they are effective in reducing assaults and other crimes at stations and also in reducing graffiti and vandalism. The CCTV program will be continued at stations with particular assault, graffiti and vandalism (and other crime) problems. It is planned to install CCTV at a further twenty three railway stations, bringing the total to over fifty by the end of the 1991-92 financial year.

One of the major areas of improvement is in the standard of lighting on platforms and in, car parks and station surrounds. The lighting program will be continued and standard of lighting provided will be further assessed to determine whether it meets the expectations of a sufficiently safe environment.

Public telephones will continue to be installed on platforms of suburban stations, enhancing customer security and extending services provided to passengers. By the end of 1991-92, all suburban stations will have a public telephone.

Safe Travel Forum The Forum has been formed as one of a number of initiatives to improve the safety of travellers on the public transport system. It includes representatives of State Government and local government agencies, community groups and trade unions, and serves as a venue for development of practical means of making public transport safer for the community. The Victorian Women's Consultative Council, the Women's Collective for Safer Public Transport, the Older Persons' Action Centre and the Victorian Community Council Against Violence are represented on the Council.

One of the major initiatives of the Forum is the safety audits program. The Forum has issued newsletters and questionnaires to ascertain the community views on safety needs and to involve the community in creating solutions to these needs. The Safe Travel Forum is assisting in providing the Victorian contribution to the National Seminar on violence in urban environment, which will take place in November 1991.

Station Clean-Up and Safety Audits The station clean-up program and safety audits are designed to make our stations safer and change the way people feel about them.

Anti-Graffiti Program A strategy to reduce the incidence of graffiti on the public transport system is currently being implemented. The strategy includes the following initiatives: deterrent measures for repeat offenders; creation of opportunities for legal aerosol

TRANSPORT • 197 art; education and community support; and upgrading of equipment to speed up removal of graffiti.

Total TRAVELSAFE Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $N/A $20.92m $23m

MEETING COMMUNITY NEEDS

Transport for People with Disabilities A study of transport needs of people with disabilities and of the existing barriers to mobility was commissioned by the Ministry in 1988. Women are highly represented among both frail older people and people who suffer mobility impairments. A substantial number of the recommendations of the study have been implemented.

In December 1990 the Minister for Transport convened the Accessible Transport Consultative Council, which represents seventeen disability groups, to provide strategic advice on transport policies and services for people with disabilities. Further, the Ministry has convened, in conjunction with the Council, a Working Party, to advance the implementation of services for people with disabilities.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $0.288m $0.207m $0320m

Multi-purpose Taxis The Multi-purpose Taxi Program assists people whose permanent disabilities inhibit their access to public transport services. Members are entitled to a 50 per cent fare discount on all taxis in Victoria up to $25 per trip. Total membership at the end of June 1991 was 94,500. Some 73 per cent of these members are women. The availability of wheelchair-accessible maxi-taxis increased greatly during the 1990-91 financial year, with the release of 70 additional taxi licences. It is expected that there will be a tenfold increase in the availability of this service as vehicles become available.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $12m $11.5m $12.4m

Off-peak Bus Services/Telebus The off-peak bus service program introduced during 1988-89 will continue to operate in 1991-92. The program's objective is to improve transport services in the middle and outer suburbs, especially during extended Saturday shopping hours. This is of assistance to women in the paid work force who are the main carers for families. A Telebus service operates in an outer metropolitan area (Croydon- Lilydale); this service is particularly helpful to frail older people as the minibuses can be booked to collect passengers from home at a minimal charge. Evidence shows that older women use public transport to a significant degree.

TRANSPORT • 198 Pedestrian Safety Strategy This strategy is conducted in local government areas and aims to assist educators in promoting safe routes to school, to reduce accidents to pedestrians under the influence of alcohol, and to secure a more sympathetic approach to the needs of elderly pedestrians. The strategy comprises three programs: Safe Routes to School, Walk with Care, and Responsible Serving of Alcohol. Although the pedestrian safety strategy is aimed at all pedestrians, it has significant impact on women as they are the main carers of children, and are highly represented among pedestrians generally, in particular among pedestrians over 70 years old.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $ 0.240m $0.230m $0350m

Basinet Loan Scheme This program promotes the use of restraints for infants up to 6 months old to increase their safety while travelling and to reduce their road-accident-injury rate. The scheme was instituted as a result of a survey in 1989, which showed that only 12 per cent of infants under 12 months of age were restrained in vehicles. The scheme has provided more than 17,500 basinets across the 210 Victorian municipalities. VICROADS estimates that this provides for an estimated 50 per cent of Victoria's annual birthrate. The scheme is of particular assistance to people on low incomes and to women, who are the main carers of in infants.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Actual Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $0.700m $0.710m $0.560m

ASSISTANCE FOR LOWER INCOME GROUPS

Passenger Transport Subsidies Certain disadvantaged groups, such as pensioners, the unemployed, sickness benefits beneficiaries and students, are entitled to obtain concessional fares. In addition, blind people and World War I veterans and their wives or widows are entitled to free travel.

The sixty plus ticket, available to people aged 60 years or older who are not in full-time employment, is now complemented by the Seniors Card. Women over 60 years of age rely heavily on public transport to get around. The sixty plus ticket and the Seniors Card are, therefore, of great benefit to them. The Public Transport Corporation assisted in the distribution of the Seniors Card applications as a service to its customers. Its contribution is in the form of revenue foregone.

Senior Citizens Week The Transport Portfolio supports the Senior Citizens Week activities by provision of free public transport to holders of the Seniors Card and to other people over 60 years of age who are not in full time employment.

TRANSPORT • 199 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 1 Treasury Place MELBOURNE 3002. Telephone: (03) 651 5111

The Department of the Treasury advises the Government on the allocation of Victoria's resources. Responsibilities include:

• co-ordination of financial management, budgetary policy and budgetary requirements of Government. Advising through relevant committees of cabinet on short, medium and long-term financial and budgetary objectives and priorities; • providing a focus for the development of improved approaches to financial management throughout public administration in Victoria; • developing revenue options and managing the collection of most revenue; and • setting budgetary parameters and standards for financial and economic management for public authorities.

Treasury has overall responsibility for the State Budget, revenue monitoring and collection, and for economic planning.

Major statutory authorities and other bodies accountable to the Treasurer include: the Emergency Services Superannuation Board; Land Tax Hardship Relief Board; Probate Duty Hardship Relief Board; Hospitals Superannuation Board; Metropolitan Fire Brigades Superannuation Board; State Insurance Office; State Superannuation Board; Victorian Public Authorities Finance Agency; Rural Finance Corporation; Local Authorities Superannuation Board; State Casual Employee's Superannuation Board; Young Farmers Finance Council; and the Victorian Debt Retirement Authority.

Other separate administrations within the department are the Stamp Duties Office, the State Taxation Office and the Victorian Development Fund.

Budget Estimate 1990-91 Budget Expenditure 1990-91 Budget Estimate 1991-92 $1,981.800 $1,094.300 $2,308.300

It should be noted that estimated outlays include appropriations to the Treasurer, which are allocated subsequently to other Ministers.

The Department's primary objective is to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of all public sector resources, in accordance with Government priorities. Treasury's role as a central agency of Government is generally not one which provides direct services to women in the community. Rather budgets are determined for departments, which specifically provide services for women.

Stamp Duty Rebate Scheme The Stamp Duties Office administers the pensioner's Stamp Duty Rebate Scheme.

TREASURY • 200 The Scheme provides: relief from stamp duty for eligible pensioners moving to accommodation more suitable to their needs; stamp duty exemptions for eligible first home buyers with families; and relief from financial institutions duty (FID) for most pensioners where payments are directly credited to accounts with financial institutions.

Land Tax and Probate Duty Hardship Relief Boards The State Taxation Office administers the Hardship Relief Boards. In genuine cases of hardship in paying land taxes or probate duties, the relevant hardship relief board may allow a waiver of tax payments in whole or part. These provisions provide substantial relief for women.

TREASURY • 201 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN IN THE VICTORIAN PUBLIC SECTOR

INTRODUCTION This chapter on equal opportunity for women in the public sector describes the activities of the Victorian Public Service Board (in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet), and the Public Authorities Equal Employment Opportunity Unit (in the Department of Labour).

The Victorian Public Service Board's entry has information on the role and function of the Board in promoting merit and equity outcomes for women. The Board has identified five key objectives in the new Women's Employment Strategy for 1991-94. These objectives are:

• to remove barriers and improve career opportunities for women in traditionally segregated occupations; • to increase the numbers of women in the technical and professional occupations; • to maintain the rate of representation of women in middle and senior management; • to assist workers with family responsibilities by implementing new flexible working arrangements and conditions of service; and • to improve career opportunities through work-force management strategies.

The Public Authorities Equal Employment Opportunity Unit in the Department of Labour, has responsibility for administering the Public Authorities (Equal Employment Opportunity) Act. The Act was passed by Parliament in November 1990 and was proclaimed on 30 July 1990. The Act brings the remaining public authorities not covered by equal employment opportunity legislation into line with local government, the Victorian Public Service and Commonwealth public authorities.

The Act covers the following authorities:

• the State Training Board and the governing body of any TAFE Institution referred to in the Vocational Education and Training Act 1990; • the board of management or governing body of a public hospital referred to in the Health Services Act 1988; • the committee of management of an ambulance service referred to by the Ambulance Services Act 1986; • any authority referred to in the Water Act 1989; • the Chief Executive, Ministry of Education; • the Chief Commissioner of Police, and • any other body constituted for a public purpose (such authorities include various trusts, boards and committees, corporations and centres in the areas of agriculture, arts, gaming and finance).

PUBLIC SECTOR EO • 202 THE VICTORIAN PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD

The Victorian Public Service Board (PSB) plays a major role in promoting the application of merit principles and equal employment in the Victorian Public Service (VPS). Under the Victorian Public Service Act 1974, the Board has introduced a range of equal-employment-opportunity initiatives, including Action Plans for Women. This section reports on the evaluation of the Action Plans for Women 1988-90 and the development of a new Women's Employment Strategy.

Evaluation of the Action Plan for Women 1988-90 An Action Plan for Women was introduced in 1988. This sets out strategic objectives for women's employment and provided a framework to promote and protect equity in employment in the Victorian Public Service.

The plan aimed to improve the status of women in the areas of traditional and non- traditional women's employment, and in middle and senior management. To achieve this, the plan called for agencies to develop local action plans which addressed local requirements and also placed greater responsibility and initiative in the hands of agencies for the implementation of equity initiatives.

The 1988-90 Action Plan for Women was evaluated in November 1990. Some of the achievements were as follows:

• Local action plans developed in all agencies, proposing a range of strategies in keeping with personnel management practices and the three action areas nominated in the Action Plan for Women 1988-90. • Strategies and activities associated with action-plan implementation at agency level, including: the use of creative marketing and recruitment campaigns, and scholarship programs to attract women into traditional male occupations; career management and planning strategies; and mentoring programs. • Special attention was given to the equitable use of training and development opportunities, and to improving working conditions for women.

Statistical results from the evaluation of the Action Plan for Women 1988-90 reveal that women's representation within management, administrative and professional employment categories is improving. However, women remain concentrated in traditionally women-dominated professional areas, and occupational segregation of the sexes continues to be a characteristic of technical, trade and services sectors. This segregation reflects trends in the labour force generally. Women also continue to dominate in the keyboard and clerical categories. Within the Administrative Officer stream (ADM), women account for approximately 50 per cent of base-grade positions, however, after the ADM-3 level, the representation of women at higher levels decreases significantly.

Table 1 sets out the representation of women in management and professional categories, and administrative, clerical and keyboard positions in 1987 and 1990.

PUBLIC SECTOR EO • 203 REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN MANAGEMENT, PROFESSIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, CLERICAL AND KEYBOARD CATEGORIES IN THE VICTORIAN PUBLIC SERVICE

CATEGORY 1987 1990 VARIATION Total No. of Women Total No. of Women Total No. of Women Group Women as % of Group Womèn as % of Group Women as % of No. in Group No. in Group No. i n Group Group Group Group

Senior 595 81 13.6 883 166 18.8 +288 +85 +5.2 Management (Chief Administrator, Senior Officers &SES)

SES 466 73 15.0 794 154 19.4 +328 +81 +4.4

Middle Management 1959 431 22.0 2707 750 27.8 +748 +319 +5.8 (ADM 6-ADM 8)

ADM 1 - ADM 8 6326 1860 29.4 7147 2530 35.4 +821 +670 +6.0

Professional 5320 1451 27.2 5394 1897 35.1 +74 +446 +7.9

CO 1 - CO 7 4361 2515 57.7 5420 3458 63.8 +1059 +943 +6.1

Keyboard Staff 3298 3227 97.8 2931 2898 98.9 -367 -329 +1.1

Because gender segregation continues to be a feature of the Victorian Public Service, the objectives of the Action Plan for Women 1988-90 are still relevant and critical to breaking down gender segregation within the work-force and improving career prospects for women.

Women's Employment Strategy 1991-94 The action areas of the Action Plan for Women 1988-90 are reaffirmed under the new Women's Employment Strategy in the Public Service for 1991-94. As well, two additional action areas have been identified. They focus on flexible working arrangements and conditions of service, and on monitoring the impact of work- force reduction on the status of women in the Victorian Public Service. In summary, target groups and service-wide objectives set for the three-year time- frame of this strategy are:

• Action Area: Women in traditionally segregated occupations Objective: To remove barriers and improve career opportunities for women who have been segregated in areas of female employment. • Action Area: Women in non-traditional occupations

PUBLIC SECTOR EO • 204 Objective: To achieve a real increase in actual numbers of women in non- traditional technical and professional occupations, and to maintain current proportions of representation. Action Area: Women in middle and senior management Objective: To maintain the rate of increase in representation in middle and senior management categories achieved over the 1988-90 period. Action Area: Flexible working arrangements and women workers Objective: To assist workers to combine work and family responsibilities through the implementation of flexible working arrangements and conditions of service. Action Area: Women and work-force management Objective: To improve career opportunities for women through the use of work-force management strategies.

Occupational Segregation Award restructuring proposals under the Structural Efficiency Principle are key initiatives which address occupational segregation in the public service.

A VPS initiative has been the amalgamation of administrative, clerical and keyboard categories into a combined Office Based Structure (OBS). The initiative, which was approved by the Board in June 1991, will provide more flexibility in the design of office-based jobs and place greater emphasis on training needs of office-based staff and their career opportunities.

Implementation of OBS will involve: the redesign of nearly half of all jobs in the public service; competency-based training; on-the-job learning; as well as recognition of prior learning and accreditation of training courses. These strategies will be particularly beneficial to women in keyboard and clerical jobs, who have had limited career prospects in the past.

Another review of work practices, including 3,000 staff employed in the Non- Direct Care area in psychiatric and intellectual disability institutions, is underway. More than 50 per cent of staff are employed as domestic service assistants, many are women. Women employed as domestic service assistants can also expect to benefit from strategies such as workplace redesign, training in occupational health and safety, and in training in literacy and numeracy.

Work-Force Management The implementation of work force management strategies can improve career opportunities for women through work-force planning and systematic career development involving redeployment and retraining. However, the 'contingent' work force employed on a part-time or temporary basis, the majority of whom are women, is vulnerable to work force reduction.

Under the 1991 strategy, agencies will work with the Workforce Management Unit, Department of Labour, to identify skill shortage areas, which will provide

PUBLIC SECTOR EO • 205 new employment opportunities for women. Agencies will also target vacancies in non-traditional areas and provide on-the-job training to enable women to take advantage of these positions. Work -force planning guidelines will be provided to agencies, and workshops will be held in 1991 to assist agencies making work-force management decisions.

Although women represent nearly 45 per cent of permanent staff, 60 per cent of staff employed in temporary positions are women. The impact of redundancy decisions on temporary employees is addressed under the new strategy. In line with PSB guidelines, agencies should ensure that all temporary employees, with two years of continuous service and one year in a permanent position, are given the opportunity to compete on merit for appointment to their own positions. In addition, the Government has now issued guidelines which state that temporary employees with five years or more continuous service are eligible for redeployment or permanent appointment.

The PSB, as a result of two service-wide reviews on Temporary Employment and Lateral Recruitment in 1991, recently made recommendations on a revised framework for the management of temporary employment in agencies. The recommendations require agencies to provide regular reports on temporary staff numbers validated against payroll data, in line with Government requirements. Agencies are also to develop strategies which restrict the practice of using temporary staff in permanent positions.

Career Development The Women's Employment Strategy promotes an integrated approach to career development within the Victorian Public Service. Women are actively encouraged to participate in a number of specifically targeted staff development programs and initiatives run by the Public Service Board. These programs include a Management Education Program and Pilot Agency Interchange Programs developed for Administrative Officers at levels 4 to 6. The latter program aims to extend the experience and skills of women in the Senior Executive feeder group by broadening work experiences of officers through job-placement opportunities amongst a core group of agencies. In this way, women will be able to develop skills which are readily transferable to other agencies.

Agency Role Models The strategy also encourages agencies to develop opportunities for networking and mentoring. A number of agencies have developed initiatives in this area. The Health Department Victoria and the Department of Agriculture have developed career management and planning strategies, and the Ministry of Education and Training has encouraged women in the Senior Executive Service (SES) to participate in a mentor scheme and provide role models and support for women at middle-management levels. The Ministry has also developed a succession- planning model for all SES positions; and a formal job-rotation scheme. The use of job-rotation programs and support networks by agencies is very important in entering non-traditional areas.

PUBLIC SECTOR EO • 206 Flexible Working Arrangements A range of flexible working arrangements and conditions of employment will be introduced into the public service in consultation with relevant unions. These initiatives include extended family leave of seven years, more accessible permanent part-time employment; extension of a model of employment which involves 48 weeks service paid over 52 weeks (the 48/45 model); and extension of leave-without-pay provisions, including study leave.

The provision of more flexible working arrangements and conditions of employment will assist women to re-enter the work-force and help resolve some of the conflicts between work and family responsibilities.

Agency Strategies Agencies will again be expected to develop individual agency strategies in line with service-wide objectives. The Merit Employment Programs Unit within the Office of Merit Protection of the Board will assist agencies in the development of their programs and will monitor their progress in meeting the service-wide objectives of the Women's Employment Strategy.

Agencies will be asked to provide half yearly reports to their Chief Administrator and Minister, and will also be asked to provide a summarised equal employment opportunity report of their progress in their annual report. The Public Service Board will then submit a report to the Premier -on the results achieved in the Victorian Public Service.

PUBLIC AUTHORITIES (EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY)

The Public Authorities (Equal Employment Opportunity) Unit was established in the Department of Labour in May 1991 to manage the introduction and implementation of the Public Authorities (Equal Employment Opportunity) Act 1990. The Act was passed by Parliament in November 1990 and proclaimed in July 1991. It came into force on 31 July 1991.

The purposes of the Act are: • to provide equal employment opportunity programs in public authorities; • to establish reporting requirements for programs; • to require observance of the personnel management practices set out in the legislation.

Broadly, the Act aims to facilitate the best employment practices possible, offering all employees, or prospective employees fair access to job opportunities and promotions. Recognition of this process is formalised through development of equal employment opportunity programs with inbuilt performance measures and evaluation. Additionally, all public authorities are required by the legislation to provide information annually on numbers of men and women employees by job type and job classification.

PUBLIC SECTOR EO • 207 Initial statistical information sought from public authorities by the Minister for Labour indicates two important facts. First, the information on numbers of women and men by job type and/or job classification is not currently readily available from a number of key public sector industries. Secondly, where information is available, it supports the understanding that very few women hold managerial positions and, where women are employed, they are found at the lower classification levels.

A number of public authorities already have well-developed equal employment opportunity policies.

The reporting requirements of this Act, especially where the report is incorporated into the agency's annual report, will further highlight activities being undertaken and provide a basis for measuring success of programs. Additionally, this process further integrates equal employment opportunity programs with general business objectives and results.

Public authorities are required by the Act to report either through their annual report or to the Minister for Labour within three months of the end of their financial year. The first reports will be expected at the end of the 1991-92 financial year. The Minister for Labour will then make his report to Parliament.

PUBLIC SECTOR EO • 208 IDENTIFICATION OF KEY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH BUDGET PAPER NO S

This chart identifies significant programs and services for women by agency, program, sub-program and, where possible, component. A fuller explanation of the chart can be found in the Introduction to this report.

Information can be read in conjunction with 1991-92 State Budget Papers No. 3, The Consolidated Fund 1991-92, and No. 5, Program Budget Outlays 1991-92. These Budget Papers provide a statement of each budget-sector agency's entire operations. Programs and services are grouped under headings used in Chapter 2: Overview of Women's Progress and Services.

KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS USED FOR AGENCIES NAMES

DAR Department of Agriculture MOA Ministry for the Arts AGD Attorney-General's Department CSV Community Services Victoria DCE Department of Conservation and Environment MCA Ministry of Consumer Affairs MOET Ministry of Education and Training CEO Office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity MEMCA Ministry of Ethnic, Municipal and Community Affairs HDV Health Department Victoria DOL Department of Labour MPH Ministry of Planning and Housing MPES Ministry for Police and Emergency Services DPC Department of the Premier and Cabinet OPCC Office of Preschool and Child Care PSB Public Service Board DSB Department of Small Business DSR Department of Sport and Recreation SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR WOMEN Grants for Family CSV Program 193 Violence Initiatives Sub Program: Community Development and Assistance Component: Family Violence Education and Support

Women's Refuges CSV Program 193 Sub Program: Supported Accommodation Component: Domestic Violence Services

Outreach Services for CSV Program 193 Women Sub Program: Supported Accommodation Component: Domestic Violence Services

Family Violence MOET Program 291 Professional Education Sub Program: Portfolio Development and Co-ordination Taskforce Component: Portfolio Co-ordination

Community Awareness MPES Program 575 Campaign Sub Program: Corporate Services

Safety Audits Program MPES Program 575 Sub Program: Law Enforcement Component: Crime Prevention

Crisis Support Services MPES Program 575 Sub Program: Corporate Services

Community Policing MPES Program 590 Squads, Family Violence Sub Program: Operating Support Services Project Office Component: Special Projects

Protective Behaviour MPES Program 591 Program, Rape Squad, Sub Program: Crime Investigation Crime Prevention Bureau

Community Council DPC Program 603 Against Violence Sub Program: Policy Advising Component: Social Development

Campaign on Family HDV Program 393 Violence Sub Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups

HEALTH SERVICES HDV Program 393 Breast Cancer Screening Program Sub Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups

HDV Pro ram 393 cervicaCervical Cancecancer Screeninscreening SubS Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups

HDV Program 393 Birthing Services Sub Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND SUPPORT

Neighbouihood Houses CSV Program 193 Sub Program: Community Development & Assistance Component: Community Participation & Development

Community Support & CSV Program 193 Development Giants Sub Program: Community Development & Assistance

Job and Course Explorer MOET Program 291 Sub Program: Portfolio Development & Co-ordination Component: Portfolio Co-ordination

Women's Information & CSV Program 193 Referral Exchange Sub Program: Community Development & Assistance Component: Community Participation & Development

Domestic Violence & CSV Program 193 Incest Resource Centre Sub Program: Supported Accommodation Component: Domestic Violence Services

Healthsharing Women HDV Program 393

Sub Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups

Sexual Assault Services HDV Program 393

Sub Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups

Women's Health HDV Program 393 Information Resource Collective Sub Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups

Women In Industry, HDV Program 393 Contraception & Health Sub Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups

Emergency Housing & MPH Program 395730 Housing Information Sub Program: SupplementarFinancial Suppory Servicet s to Special Groups Services Program

Sexual Assault Services HDV Program 393 Sub Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups

Women's Health Centres HDV Program 393 Sub Program: Community Health Centres

Women's Health in HDV Program 393 Community Health Sub Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups Centres

Health Self Help HDV Program 393 Programs for Women Sub Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups Health Project for Women HDV Program 393 from Non-English Sub Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups Speaking Badcgrounds Component: Women's Health Services

Aboriginal Women's HDV Program 393 Health Programs Sub Program: Supplementary Services to Special Groups

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Equal Opportunity MOET Program 294 Resource Centres Sub Program: Equal Education Opportunity Component: Education of Women and Girls

Maths, Science and MOET Program 294 Technology Education Sub Program: Equal Education Opportunity Centre for Girls, Component: Education of Women and Girls Hypatia's Place

Action Plan for Girls MOET Program 294 Sub Program: Equal Education Opportunity Component: Education of Women and Girls

Aboriginal Education MOET Program 296 Sub Program: Local Support and Development Component: Program Support and Development

Women Talk Work MOET Program 294 Register Sub Program: Equal Education Opportunity Component: Education of Women and Girls

Negotiated Targets MOET Program 297 Strategy Sub Program: Educational Services Component: Equal Opportunity

TAFE Equal Opportunity MOET Program 297 Officers Sub Program: Administrative Services Component: College

National Plan of Action MOET Program 297 for Women in TAFE Sub Program: Educational Services Component: Equal Opportunity

National Plan of Action MOET Program 297 for Women in TAFE Sub Program: Educational Services Component: Equal Opportunity

Affirmative Action in MOET Program 297 Training Sub Program: Educational Services Component: Equal Opportunity

Women in Correctional MOET Program 297 Environments Sub Program: Educational Services Component: Equal Opportunity Education Programs MOET Program 296 through Community Sub Program: Education and Delivery Support Providers Component: Community Providers

WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT

JobLink DOL Program 484 Sub Program: State Employment Schemes Component: JobLink

Workstart DOL Program 484 Sub Program: Workstart Victoria Components: Employment Services, Counselling & Placement Services, Information Services

Support for Women in DSB Program 637 Small Business Sub Program: Small Business Development Component: Small Business Development Corporation

CHILDCARE

Occasional Care OPCC Program 200 Sub Program: Preschool Services Component:Occasional Care

Child Care expanded in OPCC Program 200 TAFE colleges Sub Program: Preschool Services Component: TAFE Child Care

Work-based Child Care OPCC Program 200 Sub Program: Work Based Child Care

Long-day Care OPCC Program 200 Sub Program: Preschool Services Component: Long Day Care

Out-of-school-hours OPCC Program 200 Services Sub Program: School-age Services Component: Out-of-school-hours Services

ECONOMIC SECURITY

Concessions for CSV Program 198 Pensioners and Sub Program: Program Management Beneficiaries Component: Rate Concessions, Transport

Poverty Action Program CSV Program 193 Sub Program: Community Development & Assistance Component: Poverty Action Program HOUSING

Rental Rebates MPH Program 567 Sub Program: Rental operations

Rental Housing MPH Program 570 Co-operatives Sub Program: Stock Aquisition-Community Housing Component: Rental Housing Co-operatives

Priority Housing Finance MPH Program 569 Priority Property Settlement

Home Opportunity Loans MPH Program 569 Scheme Sub Program: Mortgage Assistance Component: Home Opportunity Loans Scheme

Shared Home Ownership MPH Program 569 Scheme Sub Program: Shared Home Ownership Housing Establishment MPH Fund/ Bond & Relocation SuPrograb Programm 570 : Financial Support Assistance Scheme

Women's Refuges Services MPH Program 570 Sub Program: Stock Aquisition & Community Housing

Tenant & Community MPH Program 567 Support Sub Program: Housing Advocacy Research & Advice

Rental Operations MPH Program 570 Sub Program: Rental Operations

PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING

Victorian Women's DPC Program 603 Consultative Council Sub Program: Policy Advising Component: Women's Policy Co-ordination Unit

Consultative Committee of DSR Program 651 Women on Leisure & Sub Program: Recreation Development Recreation Component: State Recreation Organisations Secretariat Support

Ministerial Advisory MOET Program 291 Committee on Women and Sub Program: Portfolio Development & Girls Co-ordination Component: Portfolio Co-ordination Counter-Sexist Advisory MOET Committee Program 294 Sub Program: Equal Education Opportunity Component: Education of Women and Girls

Family Violence Prevention AGD Program 165 Committee Sub Program: Policy and Research Ministerial Advisoiy MPH Program 567,568,570 Committee on Women & Housing

POLICY UNITS AND PROGRAMS

Women's Policy DPC Program 603 Co-ordination Unit Sub Program: Policy Advising Component: Women's Policy Co-ordination Unit

Rural Women's Network MEMCAProgram 347 & Project Officer: Women Sub Program: Rural Women's Network in Agriculture Component: Services to Rural Communities & Women, Communication between Rural Communities & Government

Education of Girls Unit MOET Program 294 Sub Program: Equal Education Opportunity Component: Education of Women and Girls

Women's Employment DOL Program 484 Branch Sub Program: State Employment Schemes Component: Women's Employment

Office of Merit Protection PSB Program 610 Sub Program: Personnel Management Component: Merit Protection

Public Authorities Unit DOL Program 484 Sub Program: State Employment Schemes Component: Women's Employment

Women's Health Policy HDV Program 393 and Programs Unit Sub Program: Program Support

OTHER

Project Officers & DCE Program 202 Women's Participation in Sub Program: Executive Natural Resource Component: Executive and Strategic Support Management

Women in Landcare DCE Program 207 Sub Program: Land Protection & Restoration

Community Grants for DCE Program 202 programs in Conservation Sub Program: Executive & Environment Component: Executive Management

Environmental Choice DCE Program 210 Sub Program: Environment Component: Environmental Labelling

Advancing Women's DSR Program 651 Sport Campaign Sub Program: Sport & Fitness Development Component: Sport & Fitness for Specific Populations INDEX

A aboriginal affairs 17-19 aboriginal education 83 aboriginal women 9,11,17-18,29,46,57,77,83,92,102,116,120,148 (see also Koori/Koorie women) adoption information 42-43,46-47 advisory bodies 15,56 aged, see older women agriculture, women in, 20-21 AIDS 48,123 apprenticeships 87-88,91 award restructure, women 99,126-129,138,205

B birthing services 15,116 business, women in, 12,18,182-185

C cancer screening, breast 14,115,171 cervical 14,116,120,124,171 care, disabled 40,45,51,198 extended family 42,45,47 older people 105,119,198 psychiatric 121-122,205 career advice 81,91,102 (see also JAC) careers 24,57,75,112,131,143 carers, women as, 16,40,105,114 child birth/bearing 15,116 child care 13,57,68,92,126,179-181 (see also Office of Preschool and Child Care) child protection 42,47,99,163 Commissioner for Equal Opportunity 33,94,95 community awareness campaign, see Violence is Ugly community based orders 66-69 Community Council Against Violence 6,8,44,159-161,174 community grants, 43,54,63,75,97,99,120,123,144,152,157,158,187-188,190 community health centres 14,119-120 community learning centres, 10,13,82,83,85 (also see neighbourhood houses) Community Support and Development Grants 43 complaints (see also Ombudsman) consumer 60-63 discrimination 94-95 concessions 8,46,55,106,144-145,195 conservation, women in, 52-55 consumers, women as, 59-64 contraception 118,120 corrections, women and 66-73 (see also prisons) credit 59,61,64 Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987 5-6,34-35,43-5,161 Crimes (Sexual Offences) Act 1991 6-7,35,168

D decision making, women in 15-16,55,169 dental health 122-123 disabilities, women and 37-38,45,50-51,103,131,195,198 discrimination, sexual 1,33,94-95,102 disputes, trade 58,60 domestic violence 5-6,36,45-46,148-149,159-161,170 (see family violence) Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre 5,45 drugs and alcohol, and women 64-65,72,122

E early intervention services 41 education, higher, 10,75,77,85-87,91 training, 10-12,68,71-72,74-78,82,86-92 non-English-speaking women, 83,88,90 subject choice 10,79,81,85,87 emergency housing 9,147,155 employment programs 12,50,125,133,168 Enterprise Connection 12,185 environment, women in, 21-23,52-55,109,150 equal education opportunity 9,10,75,76,78-80,85-88,91 equal employment opportunity 2,3,13,102,128,129 local government 102 public authorities 2,3,13,29,167,207-208 public service 2,3,171,176,202-207, equal opportunity complaints 94-95 exhibitions, art 28,30-31,169

F Fairlea Prison 69-71,73 family law 34-36 family planning, see contraception family violence 4-6,9,34-35,43-46,77,123,148,160-161,163-164 Family Violence Act, See Crimes (Family Violence) Act Family Violence Prevention Committee 5,15,34,98,148,158,171,164 farming, women in, 21-23,109 G gardening 24 gender inclusive guidelines 77 Guide for Working Women 12,127

H health, women prisoners,70-73,170 maternal and child health, 15,41 Health Promotion Foundation 11,115,123,124 Healthsharing Women 15,117 Home and Community Care (HACC) 45,121 housing, finance,153,154 Hypatia's Place 9-10,79

I Incest 5,45,96,160 (see also Family & Domestic Violence) Intervention Orders 5,34-35,163

International Women's Day 26,28,30-31,56,64,86,98,106,167,169

J JAC - Job and Course Explorer 11,78 Joblink 12,131-132 K kindergartens 179 Koori, Koorie 9,11,17-18,29,46,57,77,83,116,120 (see also Aboriginal women) L LandCare 23,53 language services 98 legal aid, advice 33-37,46,139 literacy 10-11,24,29,68,75-76,82-84,92,134,177,205

M maintenance 34,36-37 mammography, see cancer screening breast maternal and child health services 15,41 mathematics & science, technical skills for girls 9-10,79,143 Maths, Science and Education Centre, see Hypatia's Place migrant women, 11,60-61,75,83, (see also non-English-speaking) N negotiated targets policy 87 neighbourhood houses 10-13,22,43,53,60,76,78,82-83 85,97,107,145,152,172,180 (see also community learning centres) Networks Rural Women's, 107,110,111 Women's Ethnic, 97 non-English-speaking background, women 41,44,46,77,88,96-98,116- 118,124,137,171,191 nursing, 119

O occupational health and safety 12,88,118,125,135-138,176-177,205 offenders, women 48-49,66-69,73,92,131,170 Office of Preschool and Child Care 13,92,126,179-181 (see also Child Care) older women, 148,151,198 Ombudsman 174-175,167 outreach, domestic violence 5,46 outworkers 12 overseas qualifications 12,90,133

P participation of women, see decision making prisoners, women 69-73,170 prisons 69-73 Public Authorities (EEO) Act 1990 129,167,202,207-208 Public Authorities Unit 129 Q Quit Campaign 124

R rape, see sexual assault rebates, see concessions refuges 5,45,46,77,148,155 Register of women 167,169 respite care 51 rural women, see farming, women in and Rural Women's Network

S Safe Travel Forum 7,197 safety for women 4-5,7-9,40,104-105,143,151,158-161,196,187 science and technology education 9-10,79 Senior Citizens Week 173,199 sexual assault 6-7,103-104,115,159-160,163,169 sexual assault services 7,116-117,121 sport and recreation, women in 188,192-193 students at risk 76 Superannuation 139 Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) 45, T TAPE 10-13,71,74,82,84-93,134,180,183,202 targeted apprenticeship access 87,88 tenants 58-59,62-64,149,151-153 transport, safety/security 7,196-197,199 training 125-126,131,134,168,177,183

U unemployment 121

V Victorian Health Promotion Foundation 14,115,123-124 Victorian Advisory Committee on Rape 6,15,115,158,171 Victorian Community Council Against Violence, see Community Council Against Violence Victorian Women's Consultative Council 15-16,171-173 (VWCC) Victorian Women's Trust 12-13,18,168,184 Violence is Ugly Campaign 7-8,159 vocational education/training 68,70-71,73,86-87,93,170,202

W Winlaton 36,47-49 Women's Employment Strategy 176,178,202-207 women's health information services 15,117-118,124 women's health centres 14,117 Women's Information and Referral Exchange 44 (WIRE) Women's Peace Garden 54 Women's Refuge Referral Service 5,46 Women's Register 167-169 workers with family responsibilities 170,202 Workstart 12,130-131,134 Y young women, 9,11,42-49,57,68,75,88,103-104,121,124,135 139,147,151-152,192-193 youth affairs 102-104,125,133 youth training centres 48,76 Youth Grants 103-104

VCCtOKCtL' GROWING TOGETHER