After the March4Justice placed women and gender equality in the spotlight, we are pleased to see the Victorian government increase its investment in gender equality, listening to the millions of Victorian women who called for real change.
In November 2020, we set out our blueprint for how Victoria could achieve a gender-equal recovery from COVID-19. As the peak body for gender equity, we consulted with over 50 of our member organisations to create this plan. We’re pleased to see the government fulfilling our collective call for:
- Increased funding for Women’s Health Services;
- A gender equality budget unit within treasury;
- Creation of 47,000 gender equal jobs in the care economy (mental health, early childhood, COVID-19 healthcare and teaching), and;
- Prioritised funding for women’s economic participation.
“A gender equal recovery from COVID-19 needed targeted investment in jobs, healthcare and the economy. We’re pleased to see so many of our members priority areas addressed in the budget. A good start has been made for Women’s Health Services and we’re pleased to see the creation of 47,000 jobs in the care economy where the majority of employees are women”, says Tanja Kovac, CEO of GEN VIC.
“Despite these strong steps towards a gender equal future, we know that there is much more to do. With vaccine hesitancy high amongst older women, ensuring women’s confidence in their healthcare choices is essential to primary prevention and health promotion. They will need sustained investment over the next few years.”
“We look forward to applying a gender lens to the $3.8 billion investment in mental health reform so that women and gender diverse people are not forgotten in this historic moment.”
“Women and gender diverse people were harshly effected in the creative industries after COVID-19. The significant investments announced today to assist the creative economy in Victoria must ensure that events and tourist activities are geared to support those who have been hardest hit.”
Now that the acute risk of COVID-19 is under control, we are looking forward to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee on Gender Responsive Budgeting getting back on track and helping to shape the direction of the new gender equality budget unit within treasury.
–ENDS
MEDIA ENQUIRIES. Tanja Kovac, CEO GEN VIC, Ph. Mob 0419 910 577, genvic@genvic.org.au
