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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 

  1. 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. 
  2. 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? 
  3. Options analysis: Develop an option for your organisational policy, program or service that considers the potential gendered impacts. 
  4. 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.