Over the last few years, International Women’s Day has become a focal point for organisational efforts focused on gender equality and diversity, equity and inclusion.
International Women’s Day this year also coincides with the two-year anniversary of the start of the global pandemic, which has had profound and disproportionate impacts on women across all aspects of life.
COVID lockdowns saw many professional women operating home-school / home-office work combined with other unpaid caring roles. And Australia’s Gender Pay Gap Statistics show that women earn up to $261.50 per week less than men in similar positions*.
So are we moving towards a durable plan of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the workplace?
Or is career burnout and family stress on the rise for professional women?
In 2022 we have the opportunity, more than ever before, to be proactive in tackling gender stereotypes and to be flexible in the approach to professional work, in favour of a more balanced, diverse and inclusive workplace.
We met with CatholicCare Victoria CEO Agnes, and Family Counsellor Janette, to discuss women in the workplace and the theme for this International Women’s Day: Break the Bias.
Women in the workplace at CatholicCare Victoria
Our Equity and Equal Opportunity Statement underpins our workplace practices at CatholicCare Victoria.
As at 8 February 2022, our workforce composition consists of 82% (410) female employees, which includes 20 managers and nine senior managers.
We’re committed to development opportunities for our female staff and offer learning and development programs, higher duties and secondments.
As the majority of our employees at CatholicCare Victoria are employed under an Award, we have pay equity for staff of all genders within our organisation. Our Nomination and Remuneration Committee has and will continue to focus on pay equity for executive positions across CatholicCare Victoria.
Our workplace is a family friendly one
We promote a family friendly workplace through our parental leave and personal and carer’s leave provisions that are more generous than the National Employment Standards.
We also offer workplace flexibility for all staff, including working part-time and purchasing additional leave, to balance work and family/life commitments. And we offer individual workplace flexibility arrangements for our female staff returning to work from parental leave.
In some of our offices, we have breast feeding and lactation facilities to support our staff who are mothers.
Our Board is gender balanced
The Board, our governing body, strives to include gender balance and is committed to continuing to increase the representation of women on the Board.
Our 50/50 gender representation was a goal for December 2023, but we achieved this last year through a dedicated recruitment program for new Board members.
We are committed to the safety of all our staff and to preventing workplace sexual harassment, through regular training to all staff and the ongoing development of a safe culture and workplace.
Agnes Sheehan | CEO
Janette | Family Counsellor
Liz Gellel | Marketing Coordinator – Digital Lead
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