PUBLIC Sector Gender Equality Commissioner, Dr Niki Vincent, visited Heathcote Health on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Dr Vincent said the trip was one of a series of meetings with rural and regional Victorian health services.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited I\u2019m now able to get out in the regions to talk with stakeholders about how they are progressing gender equality within a rural setting,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand that there are key differences in how women and LGTBQIA+ people living in rural areas experience gender inequality compared to those living in Melbourne\u2019s metro areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cGender inequality looks different in every region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Vincent said she wanted to find out about the key issues facing organisations as they worked towards meeting their duty to progress gender equality under the Gender Equality Act 2020<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are also achievements and important progress that our rural stakeholders are making,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to hear more about this and celebrate the work being done in this area as it can often go unnoticed.\u201d<\/p>\n Heathcote Health CEO Dan Douglass said the visit focussed on the organisation\u2019s gender equality action plans and experience with gender impact assessments.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are hoping the Commissioner\u2019s visit will help us promote the importance of gender equality locally while providing an opportunity for staff to hear from the Commissioner directly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Dr Vincent said the visit could also have an impact on the future direction of gender equality initiatives in non-metropolitan Victoria.<\/p>\n \u201cThe discussions I have with rural stakeholders during my visits may influence the work the Commission is doing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will support us to unpack and target the unique issues our rural stakeholders are facing.<\/p>\n