Crafting Inclusive Policy for Gender Equality
New policy development course for public servants emphasises gender equality
How do you craft policy and programs that address and promote gender equality? From health and education to work and pay, women and people of other gender identities still lag behind men when it comes to equal treatment and access. Gender responsive policy is key to rectifying this imbalance.
UNSW has partnered with the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) to create a new policy development course, ‘Crafting Inclusive Policy for Gender Equality’. The short course is designed to equip public servants with the skills to design and develop gender responsive policy, programs and services.
Sue Williamson, Associate Professor of Human Resource Management in the School of Business at UNSW, Canberra, says: “The Australian Government is committed to progressing gender equality in the development of policies, programs and services. Australian Public Service employees therefore need to know how to do a gender analysis. This course equips them to do this.”
Why developing gender responsive policy is critical
While progress is being made, gender inequality persists, with Australia ranked 24th in the world for gender equality, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2024 (up from 50th in 2021). The index’s rankings are based on four areas: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.
“Gender equality is both a human right and a prerequisite for achieving inclusive and prosperous societies and economies,” says the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), noting the importance of governments taking gender into account when developing policies, programs and services.
“Centres of government play a strategic role in helping identify implementation gaps, establishing effective accountability and performance frameworks, and integrating a gender equality lens in all government decision-making processes,” the OECD says.
“In this course we put our ‘gender spectacles’ on and participants learn how to do a gender analysis. Doing a gender analysis is the first step in conducting a gender impact assessment, which is a requirement for new policy proposals,” says Sue.
UNSW Canberra Associate Professor Sue Williamson
About the course: Crafting Inclusive Policy for Gender Equality
‘Crafting Inclusive Policy for Gender Equality’ aims to promote gender equality by enabling officers from throughout the APS to identify and address the differing impacts that policies and programs have on men, women, and gender-diverse people.
Throughout this 8-week course, learners will gain knowledge, skills and tools to understand the legislative frameworks that impact gender equality in an Australian Government context. The course explores the benefits of considering gender when designing policy, programs and services and teaches learners to identify the subtle and overt ways that gender and other intersectional factors impact equality. Participants will also learn how to conduct Gender Impact Assessments and be able to apply an intersectional lens to policy development, drawing on lived experiences to improve gender equality.
The program involves interactive discussions, webinars, group activities, case studies and online forums led by UNSW experts in gender equality. The course content and its delivery model are designed to be inclusive, with diverse perspectives represented in a safe, welcoming environment. By the end of the course, participants will be able to make a real impact on gender visibility in public policy processes and outcomes – and contribute towards social and economic equality for everyone in Australia.
“There’s a lot to learn about how to undertake gender analysis – and we have fun with different activities to get across the material," says Sue.
Who should take part?
This micro-credential is designed for learners with varying levels of experience in gender analysis, from beginners to more experienced participants. This program is open to people with an undergraduate degree or who have at least three years of professional experience.
Some fields and roles that should be considered in the program include:
Accounting and finance
Data and research
Human Resources
Legal and Parliamentary
Monitoring and Audit Policy
Portfolio, Program and Project Management
Service Delivery
Senior Executive Service
Policy
Each micro-credential aligns with the Australian Qualification Framework and the National Microcredential Framework and can be used towards further postgraduate qualifications with the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM).
“The course has been designed to be useful to APS employees working in a wide range of agencies. Come along and share your experiences!" says Sue.
Ready to enrol?
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