On 7 December 2020, the Premier and Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Peter Gutwein MP formally announced the adoption of the Our Watch Workplace Equality and Respect Standards by Tasmanian Government departments.
The Premier was joined at the launch by Our Watch Chief Executive Officer Patty Kinnersly, Heads of Agencies of Tasmanian Government departments and members of the Inter-agency Working Group which is driving gender equality across the State Service.
Workplaces can play an important role in actively promoting gender equality and challenging sexism and discrimination. The Standards set goals for workplaces to address gender inequality, challenge sexism and discrimination and prevent violence against women.
The Standards are designed to guide workplaces through a comprehensive organisational change process and highlight what needs to be done to create change in the three key areas of leadership, strategy and norms and practices.
The Standards are:
- Standard 1: Commitment – You are committed to preventing sexual harassment and violence against women and have structures, strategies and policies that explicitly promote gender equality.
- Standard 2: Conditions – You embed gender equality in your recruitment, remuneration and promotion processes. Men and women utilise flexible work options, without penalty.
- Standard 3: Culture – All staff feel safe and confident to express themselves. Gender stereotypes, roles and norms are actively challenged in the workplace. Staff can raise concerns about gender inequality and potential discrimination without adverse consequences.
- Standard 4: Support – You have the structures, practices and culture to ensure an appropriate response to staff and external stakeholders who experience violence, bullying and sexual harassment.
- Standard 5: Core business – The work you do and the way you promote it aligns with your commitment to gender equality and the prevention of sexual harassment and violence against women.
The Standards are informed by the internationally significant Change the Story: A shared framework for the prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia, developed by Our Watch, Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety and VicHealth.
Implementation of the Workplace Equality and Respect Standards will support delivery of Action 6 of Safe Homes, Families, Communities: Tasmania’s family and sexual violence action plan 2019-2022 (Safe Homes, Families, Communities), which commits the Government to ensuring that gender equality and respect are at the centre of all Tasmanian State Service workplaces.
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