Current Activities and Projects

AGEC will achieve its mission through direct programs, targeted research, public advocacy and policy development as well as through support for the initiatives of other like-minded organisations. AGEC is currently involved in multiple initiatives. To explore what we are currently doing, see below.

Current Campaigns

Here is your opportunity to drive change towards gender equality in Australia

AGEC Newsletters

Read AGEC’s Quarterly Newsletter to catch up on what we’ve been doing.

AGEC Newsletter November 2019

AGEC Newsletter August 2019

AGEC Newsletter December 2020

AGEC Newsletter May 2021

AGEC Newsletter July 2021

The Director’s Blog

Welcome to the Director’s Blog!

Each month an AGEC Board member provides a blog that reflects on current topics and key priorities for gender equality.

In July we hear from AGEC Director, Louise Weine, who is the National Director of the National Association of Women in Operations and passionate about effecting real change for respect@work for women.

Respect@Work – what you can do today to drive change

Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame’s courageous story telling has ignited a fire within all of us who are working hard to shift societal and workplace attitudes to ensure safety and respect at work for everyone. This fire will not be extinguished by talk – only by action.

So how do we move from talk to action – what are the actions we can take as leaders in our own organisation TODAY?

In this blog Louise Weine explores the current context and attempt to provide you with links to useful resources and a clear pathway to action.

Lifting Australia’s gender equity performance: What we can salvage from a whirlwind 2021?

In our Inaugural Director’s Blog in May 2021 Tara Diamond considers how Australia is performing on gender equality.

What the events of the last year have taught us and where we need to focus to make real and lasting change in so many areas of work and life for women to achieve equality.

Universal Childcare – the Power to Transform our Economy

The 2021 Federal Budget was a missed opportunity for significant economic reform — something that would inject billions of dollars into the Australian economy and a significant step toward achieving true gender equality in the workplace. The economic argument for universal early childhood education is strong; what makes it compelling is the opportunity for step change for gender equality and providing Australian children with quality early learning for a better future. AGEC believes this a once in a lifetime opportunity to use stimulus measures for longer term economic reform. #ItsTime

AGEC calls for Decisive Action to end Sexual Harassment

The Australian Gender Equality Council believes all people must be respected and be safe from the threat of violence and sexual harassment. We call upon the Prime Minister, National Cabinet and every elected Member of Parliament to act against gendered violence in the Parliamentary workplace as an example to every Australian workplace. All 55 recommendations of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s 2020 Report must be implemented as a top priority, and the government must ratify the International Convention on eliminating violence and harassment at work. #ItsTime

How did the Federal Budget measure up against AGEC’s Gender Equality Manifesto?

Our assessment is “Needs Improvement”.

Though the Budget took some important steps to recognise the issues facing women in Australia today, it was a missed opportunity for significant structural and economic reform to achieve a gender-equal society.

The key women’s initiatives in the Budget are welcomed but do not go far enough, and are unlikely to provide the long term structural change needed to achieve gender equality.

$3.4 billion towards women is less than 1% of overall budget, far short of what it could and should be.

March 2021 – AGEC calls on Government to bring back the Women’s Budget Statement

AGEC calls on the government to re-introduce a Women's Budget Statement, apply a gender lens to all government policies and enact a Federal Gender Equality Act. In March AGEC campaigned with other leading advocates in the March4Justice, calling for immediate adoption...

Scholarships of up to $5,000 for current and aspiring female leaders

Scholarships of $1,000 to $5,000 are currently available to women to help support their participation in a range of online career building leadership development programs. The initiative is providing junior through to executive women managers with scholarships to...

February 2020

February saw the release of the most up to date research on how to implement gender equality in the workplace. This study has been one of AGEC’s top priorities since our launch in 2018. The Report sets out 12 key elements of leading workplace practice in gender...

November 2019

A new learning resource on unconscious bias has been added to our Resources page. The Unconscious Bias Leaning Resource, developed by Women in Gaming & Hospitality, provides real-life insights and practical tools and tips to help individuals and businesses understand...

October 2019

In October 2019 AGEC launched its Manifesto for Gender Equality, a comprehensive statement of what true gender equality looks like and what is required to achieve it. Covering 12 dimensions of work and life, AGEC’s Manifesto identifies the causes of inequality, not...

April 2019

In April 2019, AGEC’s member organisations came together for the second AGEC Annual Member Forum. At the Forum AGEC’s members galvanized to create a gender equality manifesto, which will provide the long-term framework for future campaigns and a holistic perspective...

November 2018

In November 2018, AGEC released its first research report into gender differences in career aspiration, self-confidence and leadership of school age children entitled “Hands Up For Gender Equality”. The groundbreaking study dispelled the common myth that...

18th September 2018

On the 18th September 2018, the Australian Gender Equality Council was officially launched to the Australian public. To mark the launch, AGEC released its campaign video, titled “It’s Time.” The video acknowledges the work and efforts of the suffragettes and the...

11th April 2018

On the 11th April, 2018, the Australian Gender Equality Council held its first members forum. Presentations were given outlining Australia’s continual decline in its world standing on matters of gender equality, including the glacial progress of women into senior...

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Current Projects

AGEC instrumental in groundbreaking report – Towards Board Gender Parity

Australian Gender Equality Council (AGEC) is proud to launch the Towards Board Gender Parity report, which showcases how Australia has now reached 30% of women on boards, making it one of three countries to do so without the imposition of legislated quotas. AGEC...

Leading Workplace Practice in Gender Equality – Study Report

The definitive Report on how to implement gender equality in the workplace sets out the findings of a comprehensive study led by AGEC CEO, Dr Terry Fitzsimmons and Director of UQ’s AIBE Centre for Gender Equality in the Workplace, together with Dr Miriam Yates and...

Hands Up for Gender Equality –Major Study into Confidence and Career Intentions of Adolescent Girls and Boys Dec 2018

In partnership with the UQ Business School and the Alliance of Girl Schools Australasia, AGEC released its inaugural Report on this world-first research piece setting out the facts about gender differences in adolescent children. Based on a comprehensive study of 10,000 school girls and boys, the study revealed about girl’s confidence levels and important information about ongoing gender influences in our children’s career intentions. The study’s results provide key insights that require further study to inform how we tackle persistent gender inequality going forward. A second report on the results of this study is due for release later in 2019

AGEC Seeks Support for National HUGE Study

Building on the success of the Hands Up for Gender Equality Study and Report, AGEC and AIBE Center for Gender Equality in the Workplace, have developed a proposal to undertake a comprehensive National Study into boys and girls confidence, leadership and career intentions. AGEC and AIBE are seeking assistance and co-operation from the Federal and State Governments to undertake the National Study and financial contributions from business and government to carry it out. The Study aligns with the STEM Decadal plan and has received positive responses from many parts of the community and our Member Organisations. This comprehensive National Study will provide important evidence on which to base school and community based initiatives to eliminate gender bias in our schooling system and community.

Modelling the gender pay gap and superannuation outcomes for women

Collaborating with FINSIA, the WGEA and the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law at UQ, AGEC will model the causes and impact of the gender pay and superannuation gap. It will undertake analysis of the contributing factors to form the basis of recommended changes to government policy and workplace practice.