Gender equity strategy and action plan

Inner West Council and our community have a longstanding and demonstrated commitment to social justice, inclusion, advocacy and diversity.

There is strong evidence linking gender inequality, and domestic and family violence. Within this context, the Gender Equity Strategy 2021 - 2025 aims to ensure that gender equity is built into Council’s existing operational systems, recruitment, planning, policy, and strategy work.

The strategy prioritises leadership, capacity building and partnership to drive gender equity in the Inner West. The focus is on enhancing the profile of our community, working collaboratively, and leveraging the skills and expertise of our members and partners. 

• Gender Equity Strategy: 2021 - 2025 (PDF 4.3MB)
• Gender Equity Implementation Action Plan: 2021 - 2022 (PDF 281.6KB)

What is Council's role?

Inner West Council recognises its responsibility to advance gender equity among our community; and to challenge gender stereotypes and power imbalances at structural, cultural and individual levels.

The aim of the Gender Equity Strategy 2021 - 2025 is to work towards an integrated, whole-of-Council approach to ensuring that gender equity is considered and prioritised in all Council planning, policy, strategies, service delivery and practice.

The Community Strategy Plan (CSP) Our Inner West 2036 guides Council to achieve the outcomes that the Inner West community has identified as priorities.

What is gender equity?

There is an important distinction between ‘gender equality’ and ‘gender equity’.

Gender equality focuses on the equal distribution of resources and opportunities. Distribution of resources can lead to vastly different outcomes for women depending on their circumstances.

Gender equity focuses on the needs and barriers that women and gender diverse people face, and aims to reduce these barriers through a systemic approach. Gender equity recognises that people’s experience in the community can be different depending on their circumstances and social position. Put simply, gender equality is about 'sameness' and gender equity focuses on 'fairness'.

What is the evidence for a strategy?

 Current International evidence, outlined in Change the story: a shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia, tells us that higher levels of violence against women are consistently associated with lower levels of gender equity in both public life and personal relationships.

The research further supports that countries with higher levels of gender equality have an array of benefits for the community, such as economic benefits and productivity, social benefits as well as lower levels of gender-based violence.  

Gender inequality often intersects with other forms of inequality and disadvantage. Research suggests some population groups are more at risk of violence including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTIQ people, multicultural communities, children, and people with disabilities.  

What are the priorities for the strategy?

To achieve gender equity, it is important that Council’s priorities are focused towards enhancing participation from all parts of our community.  The following priorities recognise the complexity and diversity of the Inner West Council local government area. The priorities are supported by initiatives detailed in the Gender Equity Strategy Implementation Action Plan – 2021 – 2022.

1. Leadership: An Inner West Council that champions for gender equity and positive change

   Council is focused on promoting and enhancing gender equity within the organisation, as well as the community. When we empower our community, such as encouraging diversity in leaders and decision-makers, we all benefit – having more diversity in positions of power promotes gender equality. 

2. Building capacity: empowering staff and the community to enhance gender equity

   Building the capacity of staff and the community to act on gender equity is a priority for Council to ensure a sustainable and whole-of-community approach towards gender equality. 

3. Partnership: working alongside the community and key stakeholders to work towards gender equity
   Inner West Council is in a position to work for change to gender equity, particularly through its role in planning and managing community facilities, public spaces, events, programs, grant distribution, service delivery and partnerships.

How will Council implement the strategy?

Implementation of the Gender Equity Strategy will be embedded in Council’s Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework and timelines to ensure that priorities are included in the long-term planning and short-term delivery of Council’s projects and programs.

Longer-term outcomes will be in the Delivery Program, which is a four-year document that aligns with the term of the elected Council. Each year, priorities will be detailed in Council’s one-year Operational Plan, and these will be reported to Council and the community through the Quarterly Reporting process.