Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) - Australia

The EOWA administers the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 and its functions include to:

• Advise and assist relevant employers with their workplace programs.
• Issue guidelines for employers.
• Monitor the lodging of, and review, employer’s reports under the Act.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of workplace programs in achieving the purposes and the Act.
• Undertake research and educational programs.
• To promote understanding, acceptance and public discussion of equal opportunity for women in the workplace.
• To review the effectiveness of the Act in achieving its purposes.
• To report to the Minister on such matters in relation to equal employment opportunity for women in the workplace as the Agency sees fit.

The EOWA is required to submit annual reports on the Act and the operation of the EOWA and these reports are tabled in parliament. Details of non-compliant employers are included, and the publicity of being named in parliament is one form of sanction.

Another sanction for non-compliant employers, but which is not part of the Act, is the Contract Compliance Policy. Under this policy some State and Territory governments and the Commonwealth may not buy goods or services from a non-compliant employer, enter into a contract or provide grants under the specified industry assistance programmes with respect to the employer.

The EOWA provides a range of educational information including:

• legislative information;
• educative services;
• media releases;
• information;
• how to develop a business case;
• links to other equal opportunity sites;
• EOWA publications; and,
• school project material.