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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

Outcome: People are not limited by gender roles

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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Priority area 1. Gender-based violence: End violence against women

Outcome 1.1: All people live free from violence and are safe at home, at work, at school, in the community and online

Ref. Indicator Measure Baseline (2024)
1.1.4 Percentage of people who have experienced sexual violence

The percentage of women and men who have experienced sexual violence (encompassing assault and/or threat) since the age of 15

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1.1.6 Percentage of people who have experienced physical violence

The percentage of women and men who have experienced physical violence since the age of 15

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1.1.9 Percentage of people who are safe in their homes (physical and/or sexual partner violence)

The percentage of women and men who have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a current or previous cohabiting partner since the age of 15

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1.1.10 Percentage of people who are safe in their homes (partner emotional abuse)

The percentage of women and men who have experienced emotional abuse by a current or previous cohabiting partner since the age of 15

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1.1.11 Percentage of people who are safe in their homes (partner economic abuse)

The percentage of women and men who have experienced economic abuse by a current or previous cohabiting partner since the age of 15

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Priority area 2. Unpaid and paid care: Balance unpaid work and close the gender pay gap

Outcome 2.1: The unpaid work and care gap between women and men narrows

Ref. Indicator Measure Baseline (2024)
2.1.1 Average number of hours of unpaid work done each week for women and men

The difference in hours of unpaid work and care done by women and men each week on average 

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2.1.2 Average number of hours of unpaid child care done each week for women and men

The difference in hours of unpaid child care done by women and men each week on average 

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Outcome 2.2: Parents and carers have access to affordable and high quality early childhood education and care

Ref. Indicator Measure Baseline (2024)
2.2.1 Parent and carer access to early childhood education and care (ECEC)

Family work-related needs for child care – The proportion of people aged 15 years and over not in the labour force due to caring for children, who report the main reason for not being in the labour force as child care service related

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2.2.2 Early childhood education and care is affordable and high quality

The average responses to questions on difficulty finding quality child care, availability of child care and cost of child care

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Outcome 2.3: The gap between women and men working part-time or flexibly narrows

Ref. Indicator Measure Baseline (2024)
2.3.1 Women and men working part-time

The percentage of women and men working part-time

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Outcome 2.4: The gender gap in use of and access to paid parental leave narrows

Ref. Indicator Measure Baseline (2024)
2.4.1 Women and men accessing the Australian Government's Paid Parental Leave scheme

The percentage of Government Paid Parental Leave recipients who are men and women

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2.4.5 People accessing employer paid parental leave

The percentage of men and women accessing employer paid parental leave

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Priority area 3. Economic equality and security: Close the gender pay gap and retirement income gender gap

Outcome 3.4: The retirement income gap closes

Ref. Indicator Measure Baseline (2024)
3.4.1 Women's workforce participation

The percentage of women over 15 years who are participating in the labour force (employed or unemployed)

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3.4.4 Women's reliance on their partner's income at retirement

The percentage of women who rely on their partner’s income as their main source of funds to meet living costs at retirement, compared to men

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Priority area 4. Health: Gender equity in healthcare access and outcomes

Outcome 4.1: The health care system recognises and is responsive to gendered health issues and provides women and men with increased access to information, diagnosis, treatment and services

Ref. Indicator Measure Baseline (2024)
4.1.3 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children are born healthy and strong

Aligns with targets and outcomes under Closing the Gap

Proportion of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander babies with a healthy birthweight

Closing the Gap target: Increase to 91 per cent by 2031

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Priority area 5. Leadership, representation and decision-making: Close leadership and representation gaps

Outcome 5.3: Women's participation in sport increases across all levels, including in positions of leadership

Ref. Indicator Measure Baseline (2024)
5.3.1 Women and girls participating in sport

The women’s sport-related participation rate, by age group

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