Women

Women and girls in Western Australia deserve to live and work safely in a community where diversity is embraced and where access to rights, resources, opportunities and protections is not determined by gender.
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Although there has been significant progress towards gender equality, women continue to experience barriers and inequalities in the home, workplace and the community. For example:

  • Women experience family and domestic violence, as well as sexual violence and assault, at significantly higher rates than men.
  • There is a gap of 21.4 per cent between the average full-time weekly earnings of Western Australian men and women, compared to the national average of 13.0 per cent.
  • Women perform more unpaid domestic and caring duties than men, even when they work full-time.
  • Women’s career progression to leadership roles can be adversely affected by workplace practices and attitudes that are biased towards traditional gender roles in families where one parent, usually the mother, provides primary care to children.

Communities partners with ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿, business, industry and community sector organisations to deliver initiatives and programs that contribute to achieving gender equality in Western Australia.

Our work is underpinned by Stronger Together: WA’s Plan for Gender Equality, which provides a framework with practical steps for a whole-of-community approach to advancing gender equality over the next 10-years.

Other initiatives

Communities supports a range of initiatives that seek to improve social and economic outcomes for women across the State, including:

Cover page for the report titled Stronger Together, WA's Plan for Gender Equality.

Stronger Together: WA's Plan for Gender Equality

Stronger Together: WA's Plan for Gender Equality was released in 2020, as a framework for ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿, business and the community to take action to create a fairer and more equitable Western Australia.
Graphic with title reading '2022 Women's Report Card'

Women's Report Card

Women’s Report Cards have been produced since 2004 and provide a statistical snapshot of women in Western Australia across a range of key indicators. The reports are an evidence base to inform policies, services and programs in the public, corporate and community sectors.
A women smiling and embracing a young child.

Grants for Women

The Women’s Grants for a Stronger Future program aims to support a wider range of initiatives through increased funding for projects and programs that advance gender equality across four priority areas: Safety and Justice; Women's Economic Independence; Health and Wellbeing; Women in Leadership.
compilation of filtered photographs in tile format, featuring women of various cultures and age groups

Respect@Work

Implementing Respect@Work: WA State ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ Progress Report 2022.
Image of young resilient looking Aboriginal woman in mining work clothes with arms folded

Respect in Mining

Respect in Mining is a pilot initiative in small-to-medium mining companies to give organisation leaders the skills to build workers’ relationships that are characterised by non-violence, equality, mutual respect, and trust.
Photo of young professional woman working in an office setting

Women's Workplace Safety Information and Resources Hub

The Department of Communities is committed to supporting individuals and organisations to make workplace safe for all women.

Announcements

group photo of a group of Aboriginal girls and women on a street with a colourful murel on a wall behind them
News story

Expanded grants program supports stronger future for women

Department of Communities Women’s Grants for a Stronger Future Program is now open, with a record $1.085 million in funding available. The Grants support the development of a variety of projects that advance gender equality, to build a better, fairer and more equitable community.

See also

International Women's Day

Minister for Women's Interests

Hon Sue M Ellery BA MLC

Contact

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