Gender Equity
ACEVic is involved in numerous projects across the State to build the capability of community education practitioners and providers. All projects contribute to the growth and sustainability of the sector.
Gender Equity Program
Gender inequality is acknowledged as the core driver of violence against women and is a recognised social issue in Australia. Following the Royal Commission into Family Violence in Victoria in 2015, the Victorian Government adopted all the recommendations. From the Royal Commission, a range of projects emerged, including the development of an accredited Course in Gender Equity, to help train and upskill the emerging workforce and to support gender equity and the prevention of violence against women.
Victoria’s Gender Equality Act came into effect in February 2020. The legislation applies to public sector workplaces and will help close the gender pay gap, improve gender equality at all levels of the workforce and reduce workplace sexual harassment.
ACEVic has been a proud consortia member of the Workforce Training and Innovation Fund, Gender Equity Accredited Training project, which has seen the development and accreditation of the 22521VIC Course in Gender Equity, Gender Equity Micro-credentials and two Gender Equity Pathway Programs. We are excited that LLOs RTOs will be able to deliver the accredited Course in Gender Equity. The course will be on the 2021 Funded Course List and to support delivery, teaching and learning resources will be made available from the Department of Education and Training to Skills First Funded LLs. The adult and community education sector are ideally placed to teach gender equity. As a sector, we are at the forefront of innovative teaching practice that provides flexible programs that support community and industry needs.
22521VIC Course in Gender Equity
The units of competency that make up the 22521VIC Course in Gender Equity cover the skills and knowledge required to understand gender equity theories, frameworks and regulatory environments and effectively contribute to gender equity within a work role.
The 22521VIC Course in Gender Equity includes eight units of competency:
1. VU22770 Develop a gender lens to support gender equity work
2. VU22771 Apply a gender lens to own work role
3. VU22772 Communicate effectively with gender equity stakeholders
4. VU22773 Establish support for gender equity work
5. VU22774 Explore gender equity policy and practice in the workplace
6. VU22775 Undertake a gender assessment
7. VU22776 Develop gender equity strategies
8. VU22777 Implement and monitor gender equity strategies
The 22521VIC Course in Gender Equity is on training.gov.au
You can also read more about the course and the project on the WHV website.
Gender Equity Micro-credentials
The Gender Equity Accredited Training project has also developed a suite of gender Equity Micro-credentials. The Gender Equity Micro-credentials are online credentials that have been developed by industry for industry, ensuring their relevance to the professional development needs of the emerging workforce contributing to gender equality in the workplace. The Micro-credentials are suitable for any person whose work role requires them to have an understanding and awareness of gender equity in the workplace.
Gender Equity Pathway Programs
The Gender Equity Pathway courses are ideal for people who are interested in learning about gender equity, the emerging roles in gender equity work, and how the Australian workplace is changing. Learners may be from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background, women returning to the workforce, or anyone changing work, such as people who have been retrenched.
These courses offer a pathway into employment or further study. Gender equity work is found across many industries and sectors from Community Services to Women’s Health Services, Local Government, Sport and Recreation, and Education. Gender equity work is a growing field, with new roles emerging. Understanding gender equity will put learners in a strong position, as they will be able to understand and respond to modern workplace needs
Two short courses have been developed to provide an introduction to gender equity work. Both courses are 20 hours long and are taught in five four-hour blocks. The short courses are: 1. Introduction to gender equity work 2. Prepare for employment: The changing Australian workplace
Acknowledgements
ACEVic acknowledges and congratulates Coonara Community House and Yarrawonga Education and Training for their participation in the Gender Equity Accredited Training project. As consortia members, both Learn Locals piloted a number of the units of competency for the Course in Gender Equity while supporting their students to swiftly pivot to remote learning during the COVID-10 pandemic. ACEVic recognises the key lead role of Women’s Health Victoria (WHV) who deftly led the consortium of partners; RMIT, Monash University, Women with Disabilities Victoria, along with LLOs; Coonara Community House and Yarrawonga Education and Training.
Other Projects
