The Department of Premier and Cabinet’s (DPC) Gender Equality Action Plan 2021-2025 provides us with a clear pathway for establishing a fair and respectful workplace for all staff.
As a central agency within the Victorian Public Service, our department has an opportunity to be a leader in promoting gender equality in every facet of what we do, including – but not limited to – considering how pay and conditions, recruitment policies, and career development can impact women differently and what we can do to remedy inequality.
This plan commits DPC to new and achievable objectives for the next four years. As we transition to a hybrid working model that supports flexibility and gives staff greater autonomy over how they structure their professional lives, the DPC Board of Management are committed to working with you to deliver the changes needed.
As a member of the Champions of Change Coalition, I also commit to working with leaders across government and industry to accelerate progress and deliver critical reforms.
The vision and actions set out here are a credit to the work of the Gender Equality Working Group, and the critical contributions from the DPC Enablers Network, Aboriginal Staff Network, LGBTIQ+ Network and VPS5 Network. In many cases, a person experiencing one inequality or disadvantage will also be experiencing another, so it is important such a diverse group of staff have had their voices heard. The comprehensive research underpinning this plan will ensure that it meets the values and expectations of our workforce, while also meeting our obligations under the Gender Equality Act 2020.
I encourage all of you to read this plan, reflect upon its findings and action items, and take proactive steps in your own work towards building a stronger and more diverse DPC.
Jeremi Moule
Secretary
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