The Minister for Women, Yvette Berry has released a progress report on the first year of a three-year action plan under the 10-year ACT Women’s Plan, saying it was already improving the status of women and girls in the ACT.
Ms Berry said the Women’s Plan was a crucial step in achieving full and equal participation of women and girls in all aspects of the ACT community.
“The First Action Plan 2017-19 is a three-year plan containing 100 actions in the areas of health and wellbeing, and physical and mental health,” Ms Berry said.
“Of the 44 actions allocated for the 2017-18 year, over 95 per cent have been completed or are underway.”
She said work would continue on the remaining actions over the coming months with Year Two of the Plan also underway with around a quarter of its 56 actions already taking shape.
Ms Berry said the highlights of the Plan’s first year included a program supporting the participation and inclusion of women and girls in sport with an online portal connecting a large network of Canberra women and girls to articles related to sport and physical activity, event information and a directory of activity opportunities.
She said female-friendly infrastructure guidelines had also been developed for new and existing sporting facilities to support the needs of female participants.
“The ACT Office for Women has also delivered two gender equity forums which engage with women, community organisations and business representatives,” Ms Berry said.
“A Women in Trades Grants Program has been established to boost opportunities for women and girls in non-traditional trades.”
She said the launch of the online ACT Diversity Register would also provide opportunities for women and diverse members of the community to apply for board and committee positions.
Ms Berry said the first year had also seen the first stage of an investigation into Government procurement practices to promote gender equality completed with Year Two to consider how to implement change.
The 52-page progress report for year one of the First Action Plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
