YSAS launches gender equity audit to mark International Women’s Day 2021
The Youth Support + Advocacy Service (YSAS), has pledged to undertaking a thorough gender equity audit to identify any discrepancies in pay, hours worked, gender balance in leadership and other conditions among its 365 staff.
CEO Andrew Bruun announced the audit to mark International Women’s Day (March 8).
“This gender equity audit will provide us with valuable data that we can use to make any improvements necessary to ensure that YSAS is inclusive and equitable for women and female-identifying staff.” Mr Bruun said.
“We absolutely recognise that women in Australia are not on an equal footing to men in many respects, but particularly with the rates of pay. I hope this is not the case within our organisation, but if it is, we want to fix it. That’s our commitment to our staff and society more generally: we would encourage other organisations to do the same too.”
Data from the Australian Government Workplace Gender Equity Agency shows women experience a gender pay gap of 14% to 19% nationally and that this translates to long term implications for women throughout their careers, but particularly at retirement as on the whole, women retire with far less super than men.
“Our audit will identify if there are differences in pay rates between those who identify as men and women in commensurate roles at YSAS but it will also have other dimensions, examining aspects of leadership, our policies, access to professional development and our communications. We are committed to doing this right.
“Today – as we embark on this important piece of work – we do so recognising the immense contribution that so many women have made and continue to make every day to the evolution of YSAS an organisation.”
About YSAS
The Youth Support + Advocacy Service (YSAS) is Australia’s largest, youth-specific community service organisation. Operating since 1998 as Victoria’s flagship Youth Alcohol and Other Drug service, YSAS now employs over 350 skilled staff across 19 sites in metropolitan and regional Victoria. While the prime focus of YSAS remains on effective Youth AOD Treatment and sector leadership, the organisation also has extensive experience in providing young people and families with services that support improved mental health and improve meaningful community participation.