National Guidelines in Australia - Government

Commonwealth Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business

Relevant guidelines produced by the Commonwealth Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business include:

1. The workplace relations policy  includes policies to assisting people balance their work and family responsibilities through developing workplace agreements.

2. A series of guides dealing with a wide range of work and family issues. 

3. Guide to Combining Breastfeeding and Work

Department of Education, Science and Training

The Department has a number of policies which are of interest to women:

1. "Gender Equity: A Framework for Australian Schools" contains principles for action and strategic directions for education systems. Strategic areas include school curriculum, culture and management practices to better address different educational needs of different groups of girls and boys. See also the Schools Work Towards Gender Equity project. 

2. The National Strategy for Vocational Education and Training contains policies which improve access by women to education and training.

3. Universities are required to submit annual equity plans to the Department of Education, Science and Training . Women are an identified equity group for the purposes of the equity plans. Universities are required to provide data to the government on access, participation, retention and success of women.

4. The National Women's Vocational Education and Training Strategy is a national project of the Australian National Training Authority. Covering the period from 1996-1999, the overall objective of the Strategy was to ensure that the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector developed ways to promote and improve opportunities for women in terms of access, participation and successful outcomes. It outlined a national direction for governments, industry, and training providers to ensure that the needs of women were consistently addressed as a priority in policy making, planning, resourcing, implementing and developing VET.

5. National Training Packages support a range of learning and career pathways and flexible combinations of on- and off-the-job training. All training packages include guidelines for the assessment and recognition of prior learning.

Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency

The Agency has issued a number of guidelines including:

• Guidelines to employers on compliance with the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999.

• A workplace analysis toolkit for employers to assist them in identifying the equal opportunity issues for women in their workplace.

• Guidelines on workplace classifications and surveys.

In addition another relevant policy is the Contract Compliance Policy.  Under this policy some State and Territory governments and the Commonwealth may not buy goods or services from, or enter into a contract with, an employer who does not comply with the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999.

Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HREOC)

Examples of relevant guidelines produced by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission include:

1. The Sexual Harassment Code of Practice which provides guidelines to employers on policies and procedures to eliminate and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.

2. Sexual Harassment and Educational Institutions: A Guide to Federal Sex Discrimination Act  which summarises the position of educational institutions under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and provides case studies and advice for students and employees of educational institutions on their rights under the Act.

3. Guidelines for Writing and Publishing Recruitment Advertisements. 

4. Stretching Flexibility: Enterprise Bargaining, Women Workers and Changes to Working Hours contains guidelines on flexible working hours and relevant collective agreements

5. The Equal pay Handbook provides guidance to employers on their obligations under the equal remuneration provisions of the Workplace Relations Act 1996.

Office of the Status of Women

The Office of the Status of Women has responsibility for a number of specific policies or guidelines of interest to women:

• The National Strategy for an Ageing Australia includes policy development for older women.

• The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace framework.

• A guide, entitled "Every Women’s Guide to Getting into Politics"  which lists advice and sources of training and experience in public speaking and political campaigning.

• National Plan of Action under the follow-up to the Beijing Platform for Action.

Public Service

1. Managing Workplace Diversity Guidelines, which, together with the Public Service Act 1999 require all Commonwealth agencies to develop and implement workplace diversity programs for maintaining EEO.

2. Guidelines on Workplace Diversity and other issues of interest to women, are available on-line. 

3. Advice circulars which include information on issues such as workplace harassment (Advice No. 21), Discrimination in APS Employment (Advice No. 22) and Workplace Diversity Programs (Circular 1998/15). 

4. Guidelines provided for public service managers also include equity principles.