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. Explore what we are currently doing below.
Current Campaigns
AGEC Newsletters
Read AGEC’s Newsletter to catch up on what we’ve been doing.
The Director’s Blog
Each month an AGEC Board member provides a blog that reflects on current topics and key priorities for gender equality.
Gender Equality Lessons from Women on Boards
In July, 2021, with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the University of Queensland (UQ), AGEC investigated how Australia had reached over 34% women on its ASX200 boards as well as implications for the future.
In this blog, Dr Terry Fitzsimmons, AGEC’s Managing Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland Business School, explains what the study found and explores what we can learn from it in further gender equality in the workplace.
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.
News
April 2025 – AGEC Federal Election Town Hall on the major parties gender equality priorities
To be held on 29 April 7-8pm AEST and hosted by AGEC Chair Coral Ross AM, this important event will feature ALP Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher MP, Minister for Women, and Greens Senator the Hon Larissa Waters MP. We also await confirmation from the Hon Sussan Ley MP,...
April 2025 – AGEC Announces 2025 Federal Election Priorities for a Gender Equal Australia
Women make up just over half of Australia’s population. Yet we continue to face significant safety issues in our homes, workplaces and communities, barriers to accessing employment and increased income insecurity throughout our lives. At home, 27% of women have faced...
March 2025 – Federal Budget is modest but on the right track for achieving gender equality
The Australian Gender Equality Council says the Federal Budget confirms the government's commitment to gender equality and support for a national strategy, albeit modest. Funding initiatives include women's health and medicines, gender based violence, underpaid care...
February 2025 – AGEC 2025 – 2026 Pre Budget Submission
AGEC's FY25-26 Pre Budget submission cautions that now is not the time to take the focus off gender equality initiatives which will deliver a stronger Australian economy and community. The comprehensive submission calls for real and lasting transformation by...
May 2024 – Federal Budget mixed and fails to deliver on gender equality
The Australian Gender Equality Council says the Federal Budget was mixed and fails to deliver on the intent of achieving gender equality in a generation. The budget confirmed funding for several gender equality initiatives in gender-based violence, under-paid care...
Policy Position Statements
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
Studies & Reports
April 2025 – AGEC Federal Election Town Hall on the major parties gender equality priorities
To be held on 29 April 7-8pm AEST and hosted by AGEC Chair Coral Ross AM, this important event will feature ALP Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher MP, Minister for Women, and Greens Senator the Hon Larissa Waters MP. We also await confirmation from the Hon Sussan Ley MP,...
April 2025 – AGEC Announces 2025 Federal Election Priorities for a Gender Equal Australia
Women make up just over half of Australia’s population. Yet we continue to face significant safety issues in our homes, workplaces and communities, barriers to accessing employment and increased income insecurity throughout our lives. At home, 27% of women have faced...
March 2024 – National Gender Equality Strategy : Working for Women
AGEC has consistently advocated for successive governments to develop a truly comprehensive National Gender Equality Strategy, which address the causes not just the symptoms of gender inequality. The Federal Government's release in March 2024 of Working for Women is...
August 2022 – AGEC & NAWIC Partner UQ in COVID-19 Report
UQ Business School has released a comprehensive Report on the impact of COVID-19 on women. The study undertaken with the support of AGEC and, one of its founding members, NAWIC, reveals the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Australian women and provides...
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...