Outcomes

This project aims to:

• promote the importance of a sector-wide approach to data collection with a focus on gender
• gather, organise, and analyse workforce data from across SA councils
• identify the key gender equity issues for the sector
• explore a tool to assist with the voluntary disclosure of information for ongoing benchmarking
• produce a final report with strategies which align with state and federal priorities and actions for local councils.

Background and purpose

Through the Local Government Workforce and Gender Equality project progress will be made to address gender equity, skills shortages and inclusivity in local government.

The project aims to help assess, measure, and benchmark performance on gender equity by collecting data from across the state’s councils.

The project will assess and address systemic drivers of gender inequality through centralised collection and management of workforce data. Analysis of the data will identify key gender related issues for the sector to help inform the development of initiatives to achieve improved gender diversity and equality in the sector workforce.

Who is this for?

This work is for local councils to help them reduce gender inequality in their workforce.

How the project is being delivered

This project is being led by Local Government Professionals SA.

The project will be led by a team of key stakeholders from both metropolitan and regional councils as well as members from LG Professionals SA Networks.

The initial phase will involve the development and implementation of the data collection tool and analysis.

Following the project, an evaluation process will assess the lessons learned, guiding future project outputs and scope.

Project Progress, April 2024

Project completion:  25%

There is considerable interest in this project and it's timing coincides with progress that is also being made in both Australian and South Australian government strategic and policy approaches.

The Gender Equality Project lead role commenced in December 2023 and has thus far focused on researching the current practice and state of gender equality strategies and actions in Australia and overseas.

Employment data has been sourced from the Office of Local Government. Collaboration with the LGA is now occurring to determine the best, sustainable reporting and analysis of this data.

Engagement has commenced within the local government sector and also with key representatives of key state government agencies. In line with the United Nations and Australian and South Australian government key strategies, the decision was made to change the word equity, in the project title, to equality.