What is a Gender Impact Assessment, and where do I start?
Under the Gender Equality Act 2020, defined entities within the Victorian public sector must complete a Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) on all policies, programs, and services that directly and significantly impact the public and that are new or are being reviewed.
A GIA is a way to measure whether policies, programs and services meet the different needs of women, men and gender diverse people.
The Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector states that a GIA must:
- assess the effects that the policy, program or service can have on people of different genders
- explain how the policy, program or service will be changed to better support Victorians of all genders and promote gender equality
- apply an intersectional approach to consider how gender inequality can be compounded by disadvantage or discrimination that a person may experience on the basis of other factors such as age, disability or ethnicity.
Completing a Gender Impact Assessment – the FOUR STEPS
- Define the issue and challenge assumptions: Think about how gender and other factors might shape the policy issue, program or service you are working on.
- Understand your context: What information do you have, and what evidence is needed, to understand how gender shapes the context of your organisational policy issue, program or service?
- Options analysis: Develop an option for your organisational policy, program or service that considers the potential gendered impacts.
- Make recommendations: Develop a final recommendation based on your evidence and analysis.
How Women’s Health East’s gender equality experts can help you undertake a Gender Impact Assessment:
- Tailored and bespoke training packages in undertaking gender impact assessments
- Expert advisory and consultancy services
- Specialist activities and community consultations
Contact Women’s Health East’s Manager Gender Equality, Melissa O’Reilly, at moreilly@whe.org.au for further information about our gender impact assessment services.
