The ACTPS boasts one of the lowest pay equity ratios in the country, which is most likely attributed to equitable pay structures between occupations and the high percentage of female representation in its workforce.
The results for this year are an improvement, with gender pay gap further decreasing from 3.0% as at June 2012 to 2.9% as a June 2013. Women, as a percentage of the workforce, increased from 64.7% as at June 2012 to 64.8% as at June 2013. The number of female executives was 85 out of 197 (43%) (including six of the nine Directors-General), compared to 71 out of 187 (38%) in the previous year.
The Targeted Assistance Strategy (TAS) supports two indictors in the ACT Women's Plan 2010-2015. The indicators are improved financial equity (in the economic domain) and pathways for women experiencing disadvantage, social exclusion and isolation (in the social domain). The TAS builds on the work the ACT Government has already done to support Canberrans facing financial pressures. The recommendations of the TAS report are being implemented and include flexible payment options for fees, fines and charges; an assistance website that provides a single portal for government and community assistance; and better access to public dental health schemes.
The Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate also supports the strategic outcomes of the ACT Women's Plan through its participation on the following committees:
- the ACT Women's Plan Implementation Group;
- the Governance Group for Our Responsibility: Ending Violence Against Women and Children (ACT Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children Strategy 2011-2017; and
- the Domestic Violence Prevention Council.
The Centenary of Canberra Program has been developed to recognise and celebrate the contribution of women. This includes:
- ISPS Handa Women's Australian Golf Open: The first time the Open has been played in Canberra. The event was held very successfully in February 2013, with strong national and international coverage and strong spectator numbers for the tournament.
- Sporting Women's Congress: Held in February 2013, the conference brought together some of the nation's leading sports women, administrators, academics and media to examine advances made in Canberra and develop an agenda to raise the profile of women's sport nationally. The event included a Schoolgirls' Breakfast, where girls from local ACT schools were invited to meet high profile sportswomen (supported through Community Centenary Initiatives Fund).
- The Centenary of Canberra Sportswomen's Ball: Held in February 2013 to coincide with the Sporting Women's Congress, the event was a celebration of Australian women in sport. The event was sponsored by the Centenary of Canberra. Indigenous women were supported to attend this event through the Centenary's Indigenous Cultural Program.
- National Rural Women's Conference Dinner: The Centenary of Canberra supported this event, held in Canberra in February 2013. Indigenous women from remote and regional areas of Australia were supported to attend this event through the Centenary's Indigenous Cultural Program.
- National Foundation of Australian Women Online Exhibition: From Lady Denman to Katy Gallagher – A Century of Women's Contributions to Canberra is a permanent online exhibition on the Australian Women's Register to document and publicise the contribution women and women's organisations have made to Canberra (supported through Community Centenary Initiatives Fund).
- UN Women: The Centenary of Canberra supported a group of Indigenous women to attend the International Women's Day Lunch at the National Convention Centre on 8 March 2013.
The Centenary of Canberra supports women experiencing disadvantage, social exclusion and isolation and addresses violence against women through a number projects, most notably:
- The Centenary Community Tapestry: this project has been extended to provide free workshops to disadvantaged women through homeless and refugee organisations.
- The Orange Day Bicycle Tour: The Australian Migrant and Refugee Women's Alliance will host the Tour, with support from the Centenary of Canberra. The tour will bring together 16 teams from NGO, business, sport and government agencies to compete socially to raise awareness of the elimination of all forms of violence against women.
