A few years ago when a major new Melbourne bike path was proposed with a stretch enclosed in a cage, it caused significant concern for women cyclists. The limited escape routes left them feeling vulnerable to physical attack, raising questions about whether women had been consulted in the design.
It’s just one of many examples of how design – of services, programs and infrastructure – can unintentionally exclude some groups. It’s a compelling reminder of the importance of including people from diverse communities when we design or change something that directly and significantly affects the public.
That’s the premise of a Gender Impact Assessment, a tool that’s used to encourage organisations to think critically about how policies, programs and services meet the different needs of women, men and gender diverse people.
Considering gendered impacts of policies and services
All Victorian public sector organisations, universities, and local councils with 50 or more employees are required (under the Gender Equality Act 2020) to undertake gender impact assessments when developing or reviewing policies, programs, and services that have a significant public impact. It involves a methodical four-step process with key questions to consider with team members and stakeholders.
What strikes us is that gender impact assessments could be applied much more widely in Australia – by public sector and private sector organisations – where their services impact the public. A gender impact assessment also prompts us to consider intersecting factors such as age, disability, culture, race, sexual orientation, faith, and more. That means taking into consideration how different aspects of a person’s identity can expose them to overlapping forms of discrimination and marginalisation – for example, in public spaces women from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds and gender diverse people are more likely to encounter acts of verbal or physical assault. Reflecting this broader lens, some of our clients now refer to the process as an ‘Equity Impact Assessment’ (City of Greater Bendigo) or ‘Diversity Impact Assessment’ (Deakin University).
As a participant in one of our workshops recently said, “The key insight was the importance of consultation and gathering data from a range of stakeholders to ensure diverse perspectives are considered and integrated into the design.” Another said how much they now appreciated early intervention to mitigate unintended negative impacts.
How we’re helping organisations apply a gender impact lens
Over the past few years, the team at Diversity Partners has supported a wide range of organisations through capability-building workshops as well as preparing gender impact assessments.
These organisations include local councils, universities and higher education providers, water and energy authorities, emergency services, public transport infrastructure, and government financial services.
Here’s some examples:
Gender impact assessment of local council design for a new aquatic and leisure centre
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Gender impact assessment of the design and delivery of a new professional development program for electrical workers for an industry safety regulator
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Gender impact assessment to inform the review of a community advisory committee’s membership and the supporting processes for attracting and selecting members from diverse backgrounds for a cemeteries trust
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Gender impact assessment of the design of a community engagement toolkit for an organisation in the water and infrastructure sector
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Whether your project is big or small, applying a gender impact lens leads to fairer, safer, and more inclusive design. It improves policy outcomes, strengthens equity, and ensures better use of public resources – benefiting the whole community.
We work with organisations in a range of ways, including:
- Capability-building workshops and customised case studies for application
- Development of practical tools and checklists as part of an organisation’s gender impact assessment toolkit
- Advisory and coaching support
- Preparation of gender impact assessments.