Action Area #6—Leveraging our external influence

‘The APS can be a leader in gender equality if we see it as a core part of how we do our work as public servants’ 

APS Submission Respondent

Key actions

6A Agencies will continue to progressively embed or strengthen gender equality outcomes in the course of their everyday work. This includes considering how policy development and service delivery design may impact genders differently.

6B Agencies will demonstrate leadership on gender equality beyond their workplace in their relationships with industry and communities.

Tips for agencies

Driving change beyond the workplace. This can include external advocacy by leaders, applying a gendered lens on the development and implementation of policies and practices and supply chain management. Existing and potential suppliers and/or  partners can also be encouraged to demonstrate their commitment to, and action on, gender equality.

Success for this action area

Success is an APS that has a positive reputation for prioritising gender equality. Our strong, APS-wide commitments to gender equality are well known. We draw on our positive workplace experiences and knowledge of ‘what works’ to shape approaches. Our efforts have a positive impact on our external relationships and help to affect change in other workplaces.

Holding ourselves to account

Agencies talk about their commitment to gender equality in external fora, such  
as conferences and industry forums, as part of promoting the APS as a gender equality leader. Agencies develop capability in gender expertise and identifying overall  workforce impacts.