Baseline report
Data as at March 2024
This report provides sources and reference points for each indicator and measure listed in the reporting framework of Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality. As a baseline, this is a point-in-time data and reference set on the status of gender equality in Australia at the time of the Strategy's release on 7 March 2024.
This report lists the data the Government will monitor to assess the impact of Working for Women and progress towards gender equality over the next 10 years. These data points have been selected in order to track progress against the ambitions of Working for Women and provide insight into the experiences of women and men in Australia. This baseline report will inform the mid-point review of Working for Women to be conducted in 2029.
Data sources used in this report are reported on different cycles from monthly through to every five years. Some data sources are updated on an ad hoc basis. The mid-point review will include the release of a mid-point update to the baseline to track change towards gender equality. Data measures and sources may also be added over time where more appropriate data sets emerge.
Where available, the data includes disaggregated data for First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people with disability, people of different ages, and LGBTIQA+ people. There are limitations to this data in some cases, particularly where there are small population or sample sizes. The Government will work to improve data to help inform better outcomes for all Australians.
In addition to this report and the mid-point review, the Government will continue to release Status of Women Report Cards annually, highlighting key statistics across the priority areas of Working for Women.
Where indicators are informed by targets from existing strategies, time frames and target levels have been included in this report. The remaining indicators outline directional goals, but are not targets with specific time frames.
Foundation: Gender attitudes and stereotypes
| Indicator | Measure | Baseline (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Increased community attitudes that reject gender inequality Aligns with targets under the Outcomes Framework of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032 |
Mean score on the Australian Gender Inequality Scale for attitudes that reject gender inequality National Plan target: two point increase every four years |
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| Young people rejecting gender inequality | Difference in the percentage of respondents aged 16-24 years with an advanced rejection of gender inequality and all persons If young people have significantly higher levels of rejection of gender inequality than the general population, this will indicate progressive trend in attitudes to gender inequality (and vice versa). |
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| Indicator | Measure | Baseline (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion of families with a female as the primary or sole income earner in the household | Proportion of couples aged under 65 with at least one member employed where a woman earns more than her male partner |
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| Proportion of girls studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in year 12 | Proportion of female student enrolment in STEM subjects in year 12, disaggregated by Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics |
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| Proportion of boys studying health and arts in year 12 | Proportion of male student enrolment in health and creative arts subjects in year 12 |
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| Men's and women's enrolments at university | The percentage of male and female enrolments in university, by field of study |
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| Agreement with statements supportive of shared care and paid work | Average agreement with the statement (increasing): 'Children do just as well if the mother earns the money and the father cares for the home and children' |
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| Agreement with statements enforcing traditional gender roles | Average agreement with the statement (decreasing): 'It is better for everyone involved if the man earns the money and the woman takes care of the home and children' |
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