Released: 31 March 2010

ACT Government’s new plan for Canberra women

The ACT Government today committed to building on its progress towards improving the status and lives of women and girls who live, work and study in the ACT, with the launch of its ACT Women’s Plan 2010-15.

ACT Minister for Women Joy Burch said the plan was developed following community consultation, and provided a strategic framework to guide ACT Government policy, program and service initiatives in partnership with the community and business sectors.

“It sets out the priority areas the ACT Government has identified as essential in achieving progress for women under the economic, social and environmental aspects of life,” Ms Burch said.

Ms Burch said these priorities formed the basis of the plan, and implementation would require ACT Government departments to look at how gender is considered in the planning, development and implementation of policies, programs and services, as well as in workplace practises.

The plan will build on the ACT Government’s achievements since the launch of the ACT Women’s Plan 2004-09. In 2009, the ACT had one of the highest female labour force participation rates in Australia, and an increasing number of women were employed in professional occupations.

“We have supported women’s leadership and representation through the Audrey Fagan scholarships, the Women’s Directors scholarships and the ACT Women’s Register.

“We have also worked hard to assist women to gain economic independence through initiatives such the Women’s Return to Work Program and the ACT Women’s Micro-credit Program, and we have supported working mothers by allocating $7.06 million over four years in the 2009-10 Budget to increase paid maternity and primary care giver leave to 18 weeks for ACT public service employees.”

Ms Burch acknowledged there was still work to be done to address gender inequality in the ACT, and the plan would provide a framework to assist in achieving that. She thanked members of the community who contributed to the development of the plan, including the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council on Women who ensured women from minority groups were given opportunities to provide input.

The plan is available at www.women.act.gov.au or by phoning (02) 6205 0515.

Media Contact: Victor Violante victor.violante@act.gov.au
Phone: (02) 6205 0145
Mobile: 0421 846 201