| Output 2.2 Women’s policy |
Performance indicators |
Research and advice to government
and assistance in coordination, communication and consultation
on a range of issues affecting women.
Administration of specific domestic violence programmes. |
Quality: The degree of satisfaction
of the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister’s Office,
the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status
of Women, and the departmental Executive, as expressed through
formal and informal feedback mechanisms, with the quality
and timeliness of advice, and the achievement of key tasks.
Feedback from non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders concerning
consultation and communication processes.
Quantity and diversity of public information materials and activities disseminated.
Cost of outputs - $8.6m |
Qualitative assessment
Methodology
Formal and informal feedback from the Prime Minister’s Senior
Adviser (Women’s Affairs), the Minister Assisting the Prime
Minister for the Status of Women and her advisers, the Parliamentary
Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Secretary of the
Social Policy Group provides the basis for qualitative assessment
of the work of Output 2.2.
The Office of the Status of Women (OSW) also receives feedback
from relevant stakeholders representing women and women’s
organisations, state and territory governments, Australian Government
departments and other divisions of the Department of the Prime
Minister and Cabinet.
Feedback
Feedback from relevant stakeholders on the advice, briefing and
support provided by OSW, on a range of issues affecting women,
was positive.
Key results
In 2002-03 OSW continued to focus on key outcomes for women,
particularly in relation to child care, work and family issues,
economic status, human rights, violence against women, and leadership.
As described below, OSW participated in a number of issue-specific
interdepartmental committees and advisory groups, and provided
briefing and coordination services, on such issues.
OSW managed its outputs through the following two branches, the
key results of which are also described below:
- Strategic Policy and Development Branch
- National Policy and Programmes Branch.
Briefing and coordination
OSW provided briefing submissions to the Prime Minister, the Minister
Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women and the Parliamentary
Secretary to the Prime Minister. OSW also coordinated responses
to ministerial correspondence, parliamentary questions on notice
and correspondence received directly from key stakeholders, including
from non-government organisations (NGOs) and the general public.
OSW continued to provide secretariat support to the Ministerial
Conference of Women’s Ministers and associated meetings of
advisers and officials held during the year. OSW prepared the Women’s
Budget Statement 2003-04.
The department received and responded to an average of 50 calls
and 50 emails per week via the OSW general information phone line,
(02) 6271 5722, and email address, women@pmc.gov.au.
Strategic Policy and Development Branch
During 2002-03 OSW provided advice and conducted research
on the legal system and on bills to amend the Sex Discrimination
Act 1984, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
Act 1986 and the Family Law Act 1975.
OSW managed Australia’s participation at the Forty-seventh
Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women,
held in the United States in March 2003. The session focused on
the themes of violence against women, and women and information
and communications technologies. OSW also provided advice to other
Australian Government agencies about the United Nations Commission
on Human Rights, the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention
and Criminal Justice, and the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific Fifth Asia Pacific Population
and Poverty Conference.
OSW continued to participate in integrating gender considerations
into the work of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum,
through the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Gender Integration. The aim
of the advisory group was to increase women’s involvement
in APEC activities and ensure that both men and women benefit from
the work of APEC. The group’s programme was successfully
completed in 2002-03. OSW also supported the Minister Assisting
the Prime Minister for the Status of Women in representing Australia
at the APEC Second Ministerial Meeting on Women held in Mexico
in September 2002.
OSW coordinated Australia’s observance of the International
Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and provided
information to the United Nations regarding gender issues in Australia.
OSW was involved in a range of interdepartmental committees on
key policy areas for women - including trafficking in persons,
and reform of the United Nations treaty committee system - and
finalised Australia’s combined fourth and fifth reports on
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women, which will be lodged later in 2003.
OSW worked with states and territories to develop a COAG indigenous
women’s action plan.
National Policy and Programmes Branch
OSW conducted research and analysis, and provided advice, on a
number of issues that impact on women’s ability to achieve
economic self-sufficiency and security. These included labour force
trends, particularly in relation to women’s participation
rates, pay equity, and child care provision.
OSW contributed to the work of a number of interdepartmental committees,
covering issues such as managing work and family, paid maternity
leave, child care, violence against women, and health and wellbeing.
Over the past 12 months, OSW identified, monitored and researched
a number of emerging issues which impact on women’s economic
status and choices, including fertility decision making and the
tax and welfare transfer system. Some of that work will feed into,
and be reported in, publications such as the next edition of the Women
in Australia series and a series of OSW focus papers. |
