Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT) Limited

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.’. In Australia, progress toward gender equality is ongoing, yet significant challenges remain, particularly in financial security and workforce participation. Additionally, systemic issues like the undervaluation of care and the prevalence of part-time work disproportionately affect women’s financial security. So how can Australia’s governments, businesses and communities work together to tackle these persistent challenges?

In this special Work with Purpose extra episode Cath Ingram, IPAA ACT board member, speaks with Cherelle Murphy, EY Oceania chief economist, and Padma Raman PSM, executive director of the Office for Women at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, about the state of gender equality in Australia. They discuss how to improve financial inclusion for women and examine how gender-sensitive budgeting can pave the way for more equitable policies.

Discussed in this episode:

• Empowering women through financial literacy
• The importance of data sharing to improve women’s financial inclusion
• Creating workplaces free of sexual harassment and sexual discrimination
• The role of the Women in Economics Network in supporting women in their careers
• Recognising intersectional challenges faced by women.

SHOWNOTES

Media release: National gender pay gap of 13.3% just a fraction of the real cost on women | Workplace Gender Equality Agency
Gender equality and intersecting forms of diversity | Workplace Gender Equality Agency
International Women’s Day | UN Women
Padma Raman PSM’s speech | IPAA International Women’s Day breakfast and Helen William’s Oration