Gender equality in Victoria continues to improve according to an analysis of the recent state budget.
The Victorian Women’s Health Services Network (WHSN) and Gender Equity Victoria (GEN VIC) partnered to produce a comprehensive gender analysis of the 2024-25 Victorian budget, the first such study of its type.
The analysis highlighted policies addressing women’s safety, health and the prevention of family violence for improving gender inequality in Victoria and commended the state government for committing to gender responsive budgeting, which has now been codified into law.
“We are pleased to see the Victorian Government’s ongoing commitment to creating a more equitable society, despite the challenging economic climate,” said WHSN Chair, and CEO of Women’s Health Loddon Mallee, Tricia Currie.
Despite this progress, the analysis also revealed areas where more improvement was needed and recommended policies address the root causes of gender inequality.
They include: the need for a long-term funding model for preventing family violence and supporting victim-survivors; reframing the perception of women’s caring roles to acknowledge their significant social and economic benefits; expanding definitions of “family” in policy to be inclusive of all family structures and address gender inequity in the state’s vocational education and training system.
“This budget analysis is a vital tool in dissecting government gender equality investments and ensuring that Victoria continues to progress towards a future where every individual, regardless of their gender, can thrive,” noted GEN VIC CEO, Micaela Drieberg.
“By examining budgetary decisions through a gender lens, we can identify gaps, celebrate successes, and advocate for the changes needed to dismantle the structural inequalities that hold us back as a society.”
The full gender analysis of the Victorian Budget 2024-25 can be found on the WHSN and GEN VIC websites.
