A four-year commitment toward achieving greater workplace gender equality has been released by Yarra Valley Water.
Yarra Valley Water’s first Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP), released on 20 July 2022, was launched to demonstrate a steadfast commitment to workplace equality.
Central to the 2021-2025 GEAP is achieving greater gender balance across the organisation, while ensuring equal pay for roles of the same or similar value.
Yarra Valley Water will also commit to greater education of staff and conducting various organisational reviews to better support gender equality.
“We’re tremendously proud to launch our first Gender Equality Action Plan, which provides us with a strong framework to build upon our long- standing commitment to promoting gender equality,” Yarra Valley Water Managing Director, Pat McCafferty said.
“Our vision is simple. We want all our employees to live in a safe and equitable society, and to be treated in a fair and respectful manner,” Mr McCafferty said.
“We are strongly determined to achieve greater gender equality at Yarra Valley Water and will continue to invest significant time and effort to reach our goals. We cherish and value every staff member for who they are, and want our workplace culture to reflect that.”
In 2015, Yarra Valley Water launched its first Diversity and Inclusion strategy and since then has driven programs for gender, LGBTIQ+, multi-cultural, disability and First Nations inclusion.
According to the water corporation, this GEAP provides a strong framework for the organisation to further its commitment to achieving gender equality.
The plan also supports delivery on the Gender Equality Act 2020; a state government strategy to improve gender equality in the workplace.
Representation of women across Yarra Valley Water rose from 44 per cent in 2015 to 50 per cent in 2021, while women in leadership increased from 35 per cent in 2018 to 45 per cent in 2022. In addition, the number of women on the organisation’s Board and Executive team is currently sitting at 50 per cent women on the Board and 50 per cent women on the Executive team.
“Our new GEAP is an important pillar of our commitment to making positive change,” Yarra Valley Water General Manager of People, Performance & Culture Amy Singe said.
“We are driven by creating a workplace that treats all staff equally and allows them to progress in their careers regardless of their gender identity,” Ms Singe said.
“Work plays an integral role in many of our lives, both professionally and personally. That’s why it’s so important that we instill a culture of equality and fairness across the board, so our staff feel proud to come to work every day. Our GEAP is an important part of that process.”
A key feature of the GEAP is extending the 14 weeks’ paid parental leave to both parents, with reduced eligibility requirements allowing both to be off work at the same time.
In preparing the GEAP, Yarra Valley Water consulted widely with a number of groups, both internally and externally, to ensure a range of different voices are represented and heard.
The organisation will closely track, measure and review its progress, while providing ongoing public reports to promote accountability and transparency.
To read the GEAP in full, and learn more about Yarra Valley Water’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, visit https://www.yvw.com.au/diversity.
