Experts took a closer look at Western Australia\u2019s sizeable gender pay gap at the \u201cWA in the Spotlight\u201d workshop, hosted by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, revealing some compelling challenges and opportunities in balancing the gender divide.<\/p>\n
Professor Alan Duncan, Director of the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, explained that WA reported the highest gender pay gap in Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn WA, the gender pay gap is 26.9 per cent against a national average of 17.5 per cent and it also has one of the lowest representations of women in executive positions,\u201d Professor Duncan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the more frustrating findings from the research discussed was that despite all the factors in play, the majority of the gender pay gap \u2013 around two thirds \u2013 comes down to the fact of being a man or woman. It really is largely about your gender.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not to say that steps aren\u2019t or shouldn\u2019t be taken to address gender inequities, but progress requires committed, decisive and integrated action by key stakeholders \u2013 businesses; governments; schools, universities and training institutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cResponsibility also extends to individuals challenging the gender stereotypes that exist in society through their own attitudes and actions.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne strategy involves making it more acceptable for men to work flexibly \u2013 the thinking being, if it gains acceptance among men, flexible work is more likely to become the social norm for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Helen Conway, Director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) was the keynote speaker for the event.\u00a0 She explained that although there had been some advancements nationally towards providing more equal opportunities for women, additional work was needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been some progress in advancing the position of women in Australian workplaces over the last few decades, but we still have a long way to go,\u201d Ms Conway said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is evidenced by the low numbers of women in leadership and management positions, Australia\u2019s relatively poor female workplace participation rate and the stubborn gender pay gap.<\/p>\n
\u201cCultural impediments such as gender bias and structural barriers, along with inadequate flexible work and career options, are key roadblocks to gender equality in Australian workplaces.<\/p>\n
\u201cGender equality will be achieved when employers align it with their business strategy and adopt a disciplined approach to executing initiatives to achieve it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The workshop included contributions from some of the leading practitioners in gender research from Australia, including:<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0Associate Professor Siobhan Austen, Curtin University
\n\u2022\u00a0Ms Rebecca Cassells, Principal Research Fellow, NATSEM
\n\u2022\u00a0Ms Susan Cull, Policy Advisor, People Strategies, Chamber of Minerals and Energy
\n\u2022\u00a0Associate Professor Therese Jefferson, Curtin Graduate School of Business
\n\u2022\u00a0Associate Professor Linley Lord, Maureen Bickley Centre for Women in Leadership
\n\u2022\u00a0Ms Liz Ritchie, WA State Director, CEDA
\n\u2022\u00a0Professor Rhonda Sharp AM, University of South Australia
\n\u2022\u00a0Professor Trish Todd, The University of Western Australia.<\/p>\n
The \u2018WA in the Spotlight\u2019 workshop series is a new initiative of the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre. The next workshop will explore the economic growth trajectory for the State and will be hosted in early 2014.<\/p>\n
The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre<\/a> is an independent economic and social research organisation located within the Curtin Business School at Curtin University. The Centre was established in 2012 through generous support from Bankwest<\/a> (a division of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia), with a core mission to undertake high quality, objective research on the key economic and social issues of relevance to Western Australia.<\/p>\n The Centre\u2019s research and engagement activities are designed to influence economic and social policy debates in state and Federal Parliament, regional and national media, and the wider Australian community. Through high quality, evidence-based research and analysis, our research outcomes inform policy makers and commentators of the economic challenges to achieving sustainable and equitable growth and prosperity both in Western Australia and nationally.<\/p>\n The Centre brings a unique philosophy to research on the major economic issues facing Western Australia. By bringing together experts from the research, policy and business communities at all stages of the process \u2013from framing and conceptualising research questions, through the conduct of research, to the communication and implementation of research findings \u2013 we ensure that our research is relevant, fit for purpose, and makes a genuine difference to the lives of Australians both in WA and nationally.<\/p>\n The Centre capitalises on Curtin University\u2019s reputation for excellence in economic modelling, forecasting, public policy research, trade and industrial economics and spatial sciences. Centre researchers have specific expertise in economic forecasting, quantitative modelling, microdata analysis and economic and social policy evaluation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Experts took a closer look at Western Australia\u2019s sizeable gender pay gap, revealing some compelling challenges and opportunities in balancing the gender divide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4275,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_research-areas":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"research-areas":[],"class_list":["post-18201","media-release","type-media-release","status-publish","hentry","category-research"],"acf":{"post_options":{"":null,"additional_content":{"title":"Media contact","content":" April Kleer, Public Relations Consultant, Curtin University<\/p>\n