LEADERSHIP & PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN ACTION PLAN 2021-23

www.women.tas.gov.au The Tasmanian Government acknowledges the Aboriginal Custodians of and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Communities, Sport and Recreation Department of Communities Tasmania GPO Box 65 TAS 7001 Phone: (03) 6165 8388 Email: [email protected] Website: www.women.tas.gov.au Facebook: Women in Tasmania Copyright State of Tasmania ISBN 978 0 7246 5736 3 March 2021

2 LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN ACTION PLAN Contents

Minister’s message ...... 4

Introduction ...... 7

1. Support skills development and employment pathways ...... 8

2. Facilitate leadership development ...... 10

3. Promote recognition ...... 12

Endnotes ...... 13

LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN ACTION PLAN 3 Minister’s message

The Tasmanian Government is working to ensure that all women can achieve their aspirations and participate in decisions which affect their lives and communities. We are committed to creating a more inclusive Tasmania that empowers and enables women and girls to fully participate in our economic, social, political and community life.

In recent years, we have made growth for all Tasmanians, particularly significant progress towards achieving in our recovery from COVID-19. gender equality in leadership and As women have been significantly decision-making positions. In 2018, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, As the Minister for Tasmania made history by becoming providing leadership and participation the first Australian state with a majority opportunities for women in the Women, I want to ensure female Parliament1. Since 2018, the workforce remains a priority of the that Tasmanian women number of female Parliamentarians has Tasmanian Government. Women also are empowered to access continued to rise, with women holding continue to face broader cultural and the opportunities they 56 per cent of House of Assembly institutional barriers to entering and seats and 60 per cent of Legislative advancing in non-traditional industries, need to succeed. Council seats at the time of this which this Plan seeks to address. publication.2 We also achieved our target of at least 40 per cent women We know that increasing the number of women in leadership roles across in the State Executive Service by 2020 and recognising women who excel well ahead of time and have made the community, in government, in workplaces and in sporting in their community through awards significant progress in increasing the and storytelling, we can inspire and number of women on Tasmanian organisations provides a number of benefits to individuals, organisations empower a whole new generation Government boards and committees. of Tasmanian leaders. The significant Between June 2015 and June 2020, we and the community as a whole. Gender achievements made by inductees on increased women’s representation on diverse organisations are proven high the Honour Roll make inspiring reading, Government boards and committees performers and demonstrate better and I encourage everyone to share the by a significant 12.6 per cent. financial outcomes, access the widest pool of talent and skills, are more stories on the Tasmanian Honour Roll Women make up 47 per cent representative of their communities, of Women website with the children of the Tasmanian labour force3, and foster stronger connections with and young people in your life. outnumber men in higher education clients and stakeholders. In celebrating the remarkable completion rates across Australia4, contributions that Tasmanian women and the gender pay gap in Tasmania An important part of creating make, I would like to acknowledge is trending downwards. We now future change will be increasing the , who is the first Tasmanian need to find more ways to reduce visibility of diverse female leaders to be named Australian of the Year in the barriers to women seeking and and role models to encourage all the Award Program's 61-year history. gaining employment in stable, high- Tasmanians to participate in decision paying and diverse industry roles. making and leadership positions. Grace has demonstrated extraordinary These are the roles that are critical to By celebrating women through the courage championing the #LetHerSpeak improving economic opportunity and Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women campaign, in which she used her voice

4 LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN ACTION PLAN to push for legal reform and raise public roles through initiatives such as the See workers develop the skills they need awareness about the impacts of sexual It. Dream It. Do It. Campaign, requiring to succeed. We are also investing violence. As the national winner, Grace levels of women’s representation be $400 000 over two years for measures stands among a field of inspirational met for funding under the Sport and to enhance our industry liaison and Australians, and I look forward with Recreation State Grants Program, and further build partnerships that increase anticipation to seeing the powerful creating a Tasmanian State Service leadership pipelines for women in difference and changes she makes over that is committed to gender equality these fields. the next year and beyond. through the Gender Diversity in the Through this Action Plan’s focus on This Action Plan includes actions to add Tasmanian State Service Commitment. addressing barriers that women face to to the momentum created by Grace's Along with these initiatives, the leadership and building the capability of success, including encouraging more 2020-2021 State Budget delivers new women and girls to actively participate Tasmanian women to be nominated for funding of $2.5 million over two years in the workforce, we are ensuring that Australian Honours and Awards and to develop a state-wide program to opportunities for women and girls are developing a communications campaign enable women to participate more front and centre of our plan as we to profile successful nominees. broadly across our economy. rebuild a stronger Tasmania. To achieve this, we will work with peak The activities set out in this Action Plan The Hon Sarah Courtney MP also build on many successful programs industry bodies and skills and training Minister for Women and initiatives already underway, providers to support women to train including supporting and encouraging and enter roles in industry, as well women in operational and field-based as support employers to help young

LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN ACTION PLAN 5 Where we are now 45.8% of Senior Executive Service 57.5% roles in the Tasmanian of the Tasmanian Parliament State Service were filled is female, compared to by women in June 2020, 37.5 per cent in March 2016 compared to 29.7 per cent of roles in June 2015 46.4% of Government board and committee positions were held by women in June 2020, compared to 33.8 per cent in June 2015 40.9% of positions on State Sporting Organisations are held by women, compared 43.2% to 37.78 per cent in 2015 of the 44 Order of Honours received by Tasmanians in 2020 went to women 334 The 2016 Census found that women and women’s organisations have been inducted onto the Tasmanian 55.5% Honour Roll of Women as at December 2020, with the of Tasmanian volunteers next round of inductions to were women occur in March 2021

It is significant to note that in the last decade, Tasmania has had its first female Premier, its first female Speaker in the House of Assembly and the first female Governor of Tasmania.

6 LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN ACTION PLAN Introduction

The Leadership and Participation for Women Action Plan 2021-23 (the Action Plan) provides a practical set of activities to help us increase opportunities for women in the workforce and leadership positions, promote and recognise the contribution of Tasmanian women, and ensure the impacts of COVID-19 on women are addressed.

The Action Plan is the third in a recommendations by the Premier’s Women’s Portfolio, including the series of action plans under the Economic and Social Recovery Women on Boards Strategy 2020-2025. Tasmanian Women’s Strategy 2018-2021. Advisory Council, research findings The Action Plan focuses on three It has been informed by feedback and statistical data. The Action strategic priorities. from the Tasmanian Women’s Plan is intended to build upon and Council and Government agencies, complement other initiatives in the

Strategic Priorities

1. Support skills development and SKILLS AND employment pathways. EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS 2. Facilitate leadership development. 3. Promote recognition.

Implementation of this Plan will be overseen by the Department of Communities Tasmania, informed by LEADERSHIP the Tasmanian Women’s Council and DEVELOPMENT the Tasmanian Women’s Strategy RECOGNITION Interdepartmental Committee, and progress against activities will be published annually.

LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN ACTION PLAN 7 DEVELOPMENT & PATHWAYS

Priority 1: Support skills development and employment pathways

Women represent an to attract more women into these Action 1.1 roles. Barriers to women participating Convene a roundtable with the underutilised pool of in some of Tasmania’s most thriving and Minister for Women, Minister talent, which can be essential industries include lack of role for Education and Training, harnessed to boost models, gendered work stereotypes, government agencies and relevant discouraging workplace cultures, industry representatives to identify Tasmania’s economy and workplaces hiring through traditional opportunities to attract and retain increase equal access or informal employment pipelines, women into non-traditional educational and limited access to flexible working skills and vocational training pathways, to opportunities for hours9. This impacts gender equality in and to address barriers for women to both women and men. the workplace and women’s economic accessing and completing vocational security, with average remuneration education and training pathways In recognition of this, in female-dominated industries more broadly. lower than in male-dominated the Premier’s Economic Action 1.2 industries10. Workplace gender and Social Recovery segregation has been highlighted by the Employ an Industry Liaison Officer Advisory Council has COVID-19 pandemic, as women are in the Department of Communities overrepresented in certain sectors Tasmania to support industry, recommended that the that have been hardest hit by the build partnerships and promote Tasmanian Government economic downturn. opportunities for women. support further industry Successfully leveraging the labour Action 1.3 programs to enhance potential of the whole population Develop a state-wide program to will grow and strengthen Tasmania’s attract, recruit and retain women into workplace cultural economy, and this is more important non-traditional Tasmanian industries change and development than ever as we work to recover from including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, the impacts of COVID-19. To do this, building, construction, and mining. pipelines for women5. it is important that we address the current barriers to attracting, recruiting Australia-wide, men and women and retaining women in traditionally remain concentrated in particular male-dominated industries, as well as industries, with six in 10 Australians continuing work to remove gender- working in an industry that is based barriers to employment more dominated by one gender6. Traditional broadly. The 2020-2021 State Budget male-dominated industries include delivers new funding of $2.5 million mining, construction, forestry, fisheries, over two years to develop a state- manufacturing and agriculture, with wide program to enable women women dominating health care, social to participate more broadly across assistance, education and training7. Tasmania’s economy. This program Many male-dominated industries will support more women into non- have seen an improvement in female traditional roles in industries set to play representation over the past two a vital part in supporting the COVID-19 decades8, however, we will only see recovery and will assist in levelling the equal representation if steps are taken playing field in those areas.

8 LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN ACTION PLAN LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN ACTION PLAN 9 FACILITATE OPPORTUNITIES

Priority 2: Facilitate leadership development opportunities

There is substantial 2019 around 39 per cent of adults industry peak bodies through the participating in sport as a coach leadership scholarship program, along evidence that having more were women. with the innovative strategies already women in leadership Women who are empowered to being developed and implemented provides benefits to the take on leadership roles often have a by these groups, can be utilised to positive influence on the lives of other develop further initiatives that will government, private and women.15 The Government is already provide opportunities for women in community sectors11. implementing a variety of strategies high-wage, high-demand non-traditional to encourage funded peak bodies and occupations. To do this, the Tasmanian A diverse group of leaders sporting organisations in the community Government has allocated $400 000 is more likely to be aware sector to increase gender diversity on over two years in the 2020-2021 State Budget for measures to enhance of, and committed to, their boards and committees, including requiring SSOs to have no less than industry liaison to develop leadership addressing and putting 40 per cent representation from any one pipelines for women in traditionally gender on their board or committee. male-dominated industries. Recent in place systems to consultation undertaken with the overcome structural At entry level for the sporting sector, Tasmanian Women’s Council has also the Tasmanian Government has highlighted the importance of investing barriers that disadvantage invested in grass roots improvements in training opportunities for women in certain groups of people. to increase inclusivity and accessibility partnership with these industries, such of sporting facilities for women through as mentoring programs. Equal representation in the $10 million Levelling the Playing leadership also allows Field grants program in 2018 and 2019 - Action 2.1 changes that will allow women to grow Invest in women’s leadership capability women to influence and succeed in the sporting sector. through the Women in Leadership Scholarship Program. decisions which affect Through the Women on Boards their lives, further narrow Strategy 2020-2025, (the Strategy) the Action 2.2 the gender pay gap and Tasmanian Government is also working Develop and/or support mentoring to support the increase of women on programs in partnership with key realise their full potential. Government, not-for-profit and private Tasmanian industries for women boards and committees. The Strategy aspiring to enter leadership roles. includes a commitment to progress the While women make up half of the Action 2.3 targets of 50 per cent representation private sector workforce12, men Support programs for young women continue to hold the majority of of women on Government boards and committees by July 2022 and to develop their leadership potential leadership roles across all Australian and encourage the next generation of industries13, including in female- 40 per cent representation of women in Chairperson positions by July 2025. female leaders to pursue a career in dominated sectors. In organised Parliament. sports, women are under-represented From 2021, a joint initiative under in decision making positions across the Strategy and this Action Plan will Action 2.4 management, coaching and governance. be a leadership scholarship program Administer and promote the Women The Women on State Sporting offering training in board directorship in Sport Coaching Scholarship on an Organisations Boards 2020 Report14 to early career women and leadership annual basis to provide quality coaching found that the number of women on development opportunities for women and learning opportunities to women Tasmanian State Sporting Organisations in non-traditional areas of employment. and increase the number of female (SSOs) in 2019 was 40.87 per cent The strong relationships that the coaches in Tasmania. and the AusPlay survey found that in Tasmanian Government has built with

10 LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN ACTION PLAN LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN ACTION PLAN 11 RECOGNISE ACHIEVEMENTS

Priority 3: Promote recognition

Recognising and At a national level, while women Action 3.2 continue to make extensive Support the community to increase acknowledging the contributions to our community every the number of award nominations achievements and year, they remain under-represented in of women for Order of Australia contribution of Tasmanian most public awards. According to The Honours as part of the Australian Australian Honours and Awards Branch: honours and awards system, through women is an important Repor t 2012-16, women made up only development of a nomination toolkit component towards 27.8 per cent of all Order of Australia and webpage on the Women in nominees from 1975 to 2016, and Tasmania website. achieving gender equality. only 30.3 per cent of all recipients16. Action 3.3 Awarding women high In Tasmania, 43.2 per cent of the 44 Order of Australia Honours received Develop a communications campaign profile honours and in 2020 went to women17. to profile Tasmanian women who have received Order of Australia Honours. sharing their stories The Tasmanian Government has increases the visibility undertaken a number of storytelling Action 3.4 campaigns in recent years to positively Develop a series of storytelling and profile of women, promote women in leadership and campaigns celebrating the successes, promotes positive role challenge gender stereotypes in the achievements and experiences of workplace, including the See it. Dream Tasmanian women including volunteers models in leadership for it. Do it. Program and the Women in and women working in non-traditional young women and girls, the Tasmanian State Service webpage. fields of employment, to challenge Both campaigns have showcased women gender stereotypes, document and places women’s in a wide range of diverse leadership, women’s voices, and provide positive achievements on the operational and field-based roles across and empowering stories about women. the Tasmanian State Service. A range Action 3.5 public record. of actions in awards programs and storytelling will actively promote and Continue to support International The Government’s key recognition raise the profile of Tasmanian women. Women’s Day through a small program for women is the Tasmanian The Tasmanian Government will build grants program, as an opportunity Honour Roll of Women, which on the successes of these campaigns to celebrate the contribution and pays tribute to the many and varied to ensure that women's achievements progress of women towards achievements of Tasmanian women are appropriately recognised, never gender equality. and women’s organisations by publicly forgotten, and inspire future generations recognising their accomplishments of women. and preserving their stories to inspire Action 3.1 future generations. The Honour Roll has attracted a large number Acknowledge and celebrate the of nominations and since it was achievements of Tasmanian women by established in 2005, 334 women expanding the reach and visibility of the and women’s organisations have Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women, been inducted. This work allows the including through the introduction of Government to actively promote and an award specifically acknowledging the raise the profile of outstanding women achievement of young women. and share empowering stories.

12 LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION FOR WOMEN ACTION PLAN Endnotes 1 Tasmanian Parliamentary Library, 22 May 2019, Women Members of Tasmanian State Parliament Female Franchise – Tasmania, https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/tpl/Infosheets/FemaleFranchise.htm. 2 Parliament of Tasmania, 18 August 2020, House of Assembly List of Members; Parliament of Tasmania, 12 August 2020, Tasmanian Legislative Council List of Members, https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/. 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 17 September 2020, Labour Force, Australia, https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia/latest-release#states-and-territories. 4 Workplace Gender Equality Agency, 9 August 2019, Higher education enrolments and graduate labour market statistics, https://www.wgea.gov.au/data/fact-sheets/higher-education-enrolments-and-graduate-labour-market-statistics. 5 Premier's Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council, July 2020, Interim Report, https://www.pesrac.tas.gov.au/reports. 6 Workplace Gender Equality Agency, 17 April 2019, Gender Segregation in Australia's Workforce, https://www.wgea.gov.au/data/fact-sheets/gender-segregation-in--workforce. 7 Workplace Gender Equality Agency, 17 April 2019, Gender Segregation in Australia's Workforce, https://www.wgea.gov.au/data/fact-sheets/gender-segregation-in-australias-workforce. 8 Workplace Gender Equality Agency, 17 April 2019, Gender Segregation in Australia's Workforce, https://www.wgea.gov.au/data/fact-sheets/gender-segregation-in-australias-workforce. 9 Australian Human Rights Commission, Forewords, https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/forewords, accessed 24 September 2020. 10 Workplace Gender Equality Agency, 17 April 2019, Gender Segregation in Australia's Workforce, https://www.wgea.gov.au/data/fact-sheets/gender-segregation-in-australias-workforce. 11 Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Women in leadership, https://www.wgea.gov.au/topics/women-in-leadership, accessed 24 September 2020. 12 Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Women in leadership, https://www.wgea.gov.au/topics/women-in-leadership, accessed 24 September 2020. 13 Workplace Gender Equality Agency, 17 April 2019, Gender Segregation in Australia's Workforce, https://www.wgea.gov.au/data/fact-sheets/gender-segregation-in-australias-workforce. 14 Department of Communities Tasmania, May 2020, Women on State Sporting Organisation Boards, https://www.communities.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/102507/2020-Women-on-State-Sporting-Organisation-Boards-Report.pdf. 15 https://www.unicef.org/sowc07/docs/sowc07_panel_5_5.pdf 16 The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, 2016, The Australian Honours and Awards Branch Report 2012-16, https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-06/honoursbranchreportfinaloct2016.pdf. 17 Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Honours Search Facility, (Tasmanian Honours 2011-2020), https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/search.

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