LawLink NSW : 1999 Appendix 29

Appendix 29 - NSW Government Action Plan for Women

The NSW Attorney General’s Department is committed to the principles of equity, access, rights and participation. This commitment is reflected in our policies, programs and services which aim to improve outcomes for women.

The primarily objective from the NSW Government Action Plan for Women, which has been integrated into departmental operations, is to reduce violence against women. A number of strategies have been implemented by the Department over the past year in pursuit of this objective. These strategies form part of the Government’s commitment to overcome some of the barriers which prevent women from participating fully in all aspects of society.

The Department also works in partnership with other government agencies to promote workplace that are equitable, safe and responsive to all aspects of women’s lives.

Reducing Violence Against Women

The Violence Against Women Specialist Unit in the Department was established in 1997 to provide a co-ordinated approach to addressing the needs of women experiencing violence. The Unit, jointly funded by the Attorney General’s Department, Department of Health, NSW Police Service and the Department of Community Services, in partnership with the Department for Women, is responsible for implementing the NSW Strategy for Reducing Violence Against Women.

The Unit develops strategic policy responses to issues of violence against women and supports strategies and programs aimed at the prevention of violence. The Unit manages seventeen Regional Violence Prevention Specialists, who work to enhance linkages between government and non-Government agencies, conduct community education and training and develop regional violence prevention plans. The Unit also provides executive support to the NSW Council on Violence Against Women.

Table 1: Reducing Violence Against Women - Achievements

Goals Outcomes Strategies Achievements 1999/2000

Responses to the issue of violence against women occur within a whole of government framework. Articulation of violence against women as a key issue for government. Inform regional and local directions through central level coordination from the State Management Group.
Develop regional and local priorities in partnership with Regional Reference Groups. · State Management Group, chaired by the Director General, met five times.
· Provision of high level policy advice by Council on Violence Against Women on issues related to violence against women.
· Key policy issues identified by Regional Reference Groups.
· 17 Regional Action Plans completed and distributed.

Policy development and implementation occur in a coordinated manner across central, regional and local levels. Relevant departments, agencies and stakeholders meet on a regular basis, regarding policy development and implementation at a local, regional and central level. Oversee a strategic, integrated and cross-agency approach to planning and delivery of services responding to violence against women. · The Unit engaged with Strategy Partners and other agencies to promote coordinated responses to policy issues.
· The coordination of policy implementation at regional levels facilitated by Regional Violence Prevention Specialists
· Specialised worked to enhance linkages within and between government and non-government agencies.

Strategies aimed at preventing violence against women are developed and implemented. Increase community understanding of the nature and extent of violence against women.
Challenge community attitudes that allow violence against women to occur. Identify causes of violence against women and strategies to prevent it occurring.
Promote the provision of appropriate responses when women first report violence, with a focus on preventing further violence. · Regional Violence Prevention Specialists delivered community education events and developed educational materials.
· Continued development of a Statewide public education campaign with the message that “violence against women is against all the rules”

Improve access to appropriate health, welfare and legal services for all women who experience violence. Provision of quality services reflecting the diverse needs of women who experience violence. Improve access by ensuring regular consultation with the community. Regional consultations and forums held to facilitate communication between agencies and women from non-English speaking backgrounds, women who have a disability, older women, lesbians, and women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Promoting workplace that are equitable, safe and responsive to all aspects of women’s lives.

The Anti-Discrimination Board has a number of functions which involve promoting workplaces that are equitable, safe and responsive to all aspects of women’s lives. These functions are:
· Conducting research and community education on discrimination issues;
· Providing legal and policy advise to government; and
· Advising the Industrial Relations Commission on the issue of discrimination in the workplace.

Table 2: Promoting workplaces that are equitable, safe and responsive to all aspects of women’s lives – Achievements

Goals Outcomes Strategies Achievements 1999/2000

Identify any specific dimensions of OH & S and rehabilitation which have a differential impact on women and take appropriate action. Employers provide a healthy and safe workplace for pregnant women workers and pregnant women have greater protection from pregnancy discrimination. · Participate in the development a code of practice covering pregnancy in the workplace.
· Provide training for employers and community groups. · The ADB, in association with WorkCover and the Department of Industrial Relations has continued development of a Code of Practice covering pregnancy in the workplace taking into account recent changes in industrial relations legislation. Publication is expected shortly.

· The ADB conducts regular training sessions for employers and community groups drawing attention to matters such as pregnancy discrimination and recent amendments to State legislation making unlawful discrimination based on carer's responsibilities.

· The ADB has been working with the federal Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission on follow-up activities related to the Commission's report on pregnancy in the workplace.

Develop a whole of government approach to improving the delivery of information and increasing understanding about employment rights of women workers. Women, employers and unions have “seamless” access to information on all aspects of women’s employment rights. · Implement a training and education provide.
· Provide high level advise to Government. · The ADB has established a number of training plans and modules and produced several publications which focus on the rights of women, including rights in the workplace and anti-harassment strategies.

· The ADB advises the Attorney General on applications for exemptions from the Anti-Discrimination Act to authorise the provision of women-only services which address the special needs or continuing disadvantages faced by women in the workplace.

· The ADB maintains a regular consultation forum with women's groups and organisations and during the last year has focused attention on issues related to the concerns of older women, indigenous women and women in custodial institutions.

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information current as of: 14 February 2012

Goals	Outcomes	Strategies	Achievements 1999/2000
Responses to the issue of violence against women occur within a whole of government framework.	Articulation of violence against women as a key issue for government.	Inform regional and local directions through central level coordination from the State Management Group. Develop regional and local priorities in partnership with Regional Reference Groups.	· State Management Group, chaired by the Director General, met five times. · Provision of high level policy advice by Council on Violence Against Women on issues related to violence against women. · Key policy issues identified by Regional Reference Groups. · 17 Regional Action Plans completed and distributed.
Policy development and implementation occur in a coordinated manner across central, regional and local levels.	Relevant departments, agencies and stakeholders meet on a regular basis, regarding policy development and implementation at a local, regional and central level.	Oversee a strategic, integrated and cross-agency approach to planning and delivery of services responding to violence against women.	· The Unit engaged with Strategy Partners and other agencies to promote coordinated responses to policy issues. · The coordination of policy implementation at regional levels facilitated by Regional Violence Prevention Specialists · Specialised worked to enhance linkages within and between government and non-government agencies.
Strategies aimed at preventing violence against women are developed and implemented.	Increase community understanding of the nature and extent of violence against women. Challenge community attitudes that allow violence against women to occur.	Identify causes of violence against women and strategies to prevent it occurring. Promote the provision of appropriate responses when women first report violence, with a focus on preventing further violence.	· Regional Violence Prevention Specialists delivered community education events and developed educational materials. · Continued development of a Statewide public education campaign with the message that “violence against women is against all the rules”
Improve access to appropriate health, welfare and legal services for all women who experience violence.	Provision of quality services reflecting the diverse needs of women who experience violence.	Improve access by ensuring regular consultation with the community.	Regional consultations and forums held to facilitate communication between agencies and women from non-English speaking backgrounds, women who have a disability, older women, lesbians, and women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.