Comprehensive Gender Analysis of State Budget 2024-25 by WHSN & GEN VIC
MELBOURNE, VIC, 17 May 2024 - The Victorian Women's Health Services Network (WHSN) and Gender Equity Victoria (GEN VIC) have partnered to produce the first comprehensive gender analysis of the Victorian State Budget for 2024-25. As leading organisations dedicated to advancing the health, wellbeing and equality of all Victorian women, this groundbreaking report examines the budget through an intersectional gender lens, assessing its potential impact on creating a safer, healthier and more equitable future for all Victorians.
The analysis highlights the positive steps taken by the Victorian Government in addressing gender inequalities, particularly in areas such as women's safety, health and the prevention of family violence. The report commends the government's commitment to gender responsive budgeting, which has now been codified into law, marking a significant milestone in Victoria's journey towards gender equality.
"We are pleased to see the Victorian Government's ongoing commitment to creating a more equitable society, despite the challenging economic climate," said WHSN Chair, and CEO of Women’s Health Loddon Mallee Tricia Currie ."The continuation of funding for crucial services and the introduction of gender responsive budgeting legislation demonstrate progress. However, our analysis also reveals areas where sustained, long-term investment is needed to address the root causes of gender inequality."
In the analysis WHSN and GENVIC
Welcome investments in women’s health services, preventing family violence and supporting victim-survivors, but the need for a sustainable, long-term funding model remains.
Reflect on the positive measures for cost-of-living relief, but a call for more comprehensive strategies to address systemic economic inequalities affecting women.
Advocate for government investment and support for women's care work to be recognized not just as a means to increase workforce participation, but also as a valuable contribution to society and the economy. Policies should reframe the perception of women's caring roles to acknowledge their significant social and economic benefits.
Highlight the unique needs of diverse communities but see opportunities to strengthen intersectional approaches.
Advocate for an expanded definitions of "family" in policy to be inclusive of all family structures.
Make a call to action to address gender inequity in the state's vocational education and training system.
"This budget analysis is a vital tool in dissecting government gender equality investments and ensuring that Victoria continues to progress towards a future where every individual, regardless of their gender, can thrive," noted GEN VIC CEO Micaela Drieberg "By examining budgetary decisions through a gender lens, we can identify gaps, celebrate successes, and advocate for the changes needed to dismantle the structural inequalities that hold us back as a society."
The WHSN and GEN VIC are committed to working collaboratively with the Victorian Government and all stakeholders to action the recommendations put forward in this report. The full gender analysis of the Victorian Budget 2024-25 can be found on the WHSN and GEN VIC websites.
Resources
The full report can be found on the Victorian Women’s Health Services Website
About the Victorian Women's Health Services Network:
The Victorian Women's Health Services Network is a collective of 12 state government-funded women's health services, each a centre of excellence in gendered health promotion, primary prevention, and gender equity. Together they work collaboratively for a fairer, safer, and healthier Victoria.
About Gender Equality Victoria:
Gender Equality Victoria is an independent member-based organisation representing over 40 entities across Victoria dedicated to achieving intersectional gender equality. GEN VIC provides support to a growing gender equity movement across industries, communities and sectors to create a gender equal society where all people can thrive.
Media Contact:
For: the Women’s Health Services For: Gender Equity Victoria
Tricia Currie Micaela Drieberg
Chair, Women’s Health Services Network CEO, Gender Equity Victoria
Phone: 0428365929 Phone: 0403034307
Email: tricia.currie@whlm.org.au Email: ceo@genvic.org.au
Summary of Recommendations for Victoria's 2024-25 State Budget: Promoting Gender Equality and Inclusivity
In its Gender Analysis of Victoria's 2024-25 State Budget, GENVIC and the WHSN argue that in forward budgets, governments need to invest further to prioritise gender equality across all portfolios to truly address the systemic barriers and empowering women from diverse backgrounds.
The report contains a set of recommendations. By way of summary GENVIC and the WHSN advocate for:
Dismantling discrimination and supporting diverse family structures
Addressing the gender pay gap and investing in secure, accessible housing for women
Recognizing the value of care work and its contribution to economic growth
Promoting diversity in leadership positions and implementing targeted actions to eradicate the gender pay gap
Investing in gender equality initiatives and capacity building within gender-focused policies
Developing a transformational gender strategy for Victoria's VET and Adult Education system
Encouraging men and boys to pursue careers in Nursing, Education, Welfare, and Social Work
Sharing disaggregated data on initiatives like Free TAFE and their impact on women and disadvantaged groups
Increasing funding for training programs, workforce retention, and community legal services in the family violence sector
Endorsing a comprehensive government strategy to prevent gender-based violence
Addressing vulnerabilities and investing in community resilience to climate change-driven disasters
Implementing an intersectional approach in mental health service delivery and increasing funding for primary prevention programs
Allocating resources for preventative sexual and reproductive health services, education programs, and culturally competent care
Applying an intersectional gender lens across all policy formulation, allocation, and implementation
Investing in programs to dismantle systemic barriers, close the educational gap, and promote cultural competency training for service providers
By prioritising these recommendations, Victoria can make significant strides towards achieving genuine, transformative equality for all women and building a more inclusive, equitable society.