"The ACT Government is working to build a community in which women and girls are valued contributors and equal partners. It is our vision that all women reach their potential, be recognised for their contribution and share in the benefits of our community."

 

                                                                   Joy Burch MLA

                                                                   Minister for Women

• Provide advice to the Minister for Women on all issues impacting on women.
• Provide strategic direction across Government to improve and enhance the status of ACT women and girls through the development of appropriate policies and programs.
• Develop and promote links between key stakeholders and the Government in working to improve the status of women.
• Provide Secretariat support to the Ministerial Advisory Council on Women
• Administer Grants and Scholarships programs for women.
• Manage the Women's Information and Referral Centre.
• Promote the representation and recognition of ACT women and girls through the ACT Women's Register and events including International Women's Day.

Some of Labor's achievements for ACT women include:

• The launch of the ACT Prevention of Violence against Women and Children Strategy 2011-2017, Our Responsibility: Ending Violence Against Women and Children in August 2011. The purpose of this Strategy is to involve the whole community in upholding and respecting the rights of women and children in the ACT to live free from fear and the experience of violence. This is a join strategy with the ACT Attorney-General and is the first of its kind in the ACT.
• Broadening of the eligibility criteria for the ACT Govenment's Return to Work Grants Program to allow more women in the ACT community who have been out of the workforce for an extended period of time due to caring responsibilities greater access to financial assistance as they re-enter paid employment.
• The ACT Women’s Plan 2010-15 was launched on 31 March 2010.
• The launch of the Women's Micro-credit program- allowing women on low incomes with an opportunity to develop a small business. This program provides women with interest-free loans of up to $3000, and as many as nine loans have already been provided in 2010.
• The implimentation and first stages of the gender-pay equity audit were undertaken in mid 2010, with reports from 2009 showing that there is a 5.5% difference between the pay of men and women in the ACT.
• The provision of funds to the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre and the Domestic Violence Crisis Service, enabling both services to hire new staff to meet the needs of women, men and children who have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Hosting the Women's Ministerial Conference in Septer 2010. This conference allowed the ACT government to liase with the ministers from each of the other states and territories around the country, to ensure that women of the ACT are provided with the same opportunities as elsewhere.