Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has unveiled its inaugural Gender Framework, a pivotal initiative aimed at embedding gender into Australia’s labour market and skills system.
The framework aims to guide policymakers, analysts, and stakeholders towards more inclusive workforce data and decision-making processes. Developed through extensive collaboration with tripartite stakeholders, it is designed to be a dynamic document, that is, it is open to ongoing feedback as JSA’s Gender Economic Equality Study progresses.
There are five guiding principles which are central to the framework:
- “Interrogate and reform data – Using intersectional data to uncover deeper insights.
- Embed intersectionality – Acknowledging the diverse experiences and disadvantage in work and training.
- Collaborate and co-design – Engaging experts and communities for better informed solutions.
- Develop insight and indicators – Addressing structural barriers for long-term change.
- Innovate and lead by example – Strengthening JSA’s internal capabilities and leading data reforms.”
The framework aligns with broader government initiatives such as Closing the Gap and Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality.
JSA is currently working on a definition of intersectionality, but the Victorian government defines it as referring to “the ways in which different aspects of a person’s identity can expose them to overlapping forms of discrimination and marginalisation.”
By focusing on intersectional data JSA aims to create policy levers to manage inequalities in the world of work and education.
JSA’s commitment to evolving this framework ensures that it will remain responsive to ongoing feedback and changing societal needs. VET professionals are encouraged to engage with the framework, providing insights and experiences that can inform its development and implementation.
