THE Greater Bendigo Gender Equity Coalition has been developing a five-year plan that will look into how the region can be more equitable.<\/p>\n
Chair of the coalition Sue Clarke said a focus has been put on overseeing structural, relational and attitudinal change across a number of groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coalition decided to focus on six key areas being workplace, education, health, sport and recreation, emergency management, and the general community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Clarke said the strategy will look at organisations\u2019 top decision making and power balance in workplaces and community groups.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s been the focus and in developing the plan [the coalition has] thought of issues around gender roles and responsibilities and is considering how we as a community can work together in a much more equal way,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Established in 2018, the coalition backed last month\u2019s March 4 Justice and advocates against violence for women.<\/p>\n
The coalition is made up of 34 different organisations across Bendigo, each bringing a different area of knowledge to support gender equity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt consists of Bendigo Health, local business, library services, the Djar Djar Warrung Clan, public organisations such as councils but also not-for-profit organisations, businesses and community groups,\u201d Ms Clarke said.<\/p>\n
Ms Clarke has been involved in gender equity work since the 1970s, considering issues facing women such as access to childcare, violence and employment opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been one of my passions to look at how decisions are made and how people particularly women are recruited on to boards,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFifteen years ago, it was quite unusual to have a female board director, now there are high expectations that the community should be represented by skill set and also from a point of view of gender.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Clarke said the strategy ensures that gender equity remains in the public conversation as everybody\u2019s business.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me it\u2019s really important to listen and hear from the coalition about what\u2019s working and what\u2019s not and were resources might need to be refocused,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to be very conscious that we don\u2019t leave this to be just women\u2019s business.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to keep the conversation alive to make progress.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Greater Bendigo Gender Equity Coalition has been developing a five-year plan that will look into how the region can be more equitable. Chair of the coalition Sue Clarke said a focus has been put on overseeing structural, relational and attitudinal change across a number of groups. \u201cThe coalition decided to focus on six key […]<\/p>\n