PREMIER'S COUNCIL FOR WOMEN

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:13): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about the Premier's Council for Women.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: The Premier's Council for Women provides leadership and advice to ensure that the interests of women are at the forefront of government policies and strategies. My question is: can the minister advise the chamber about how the government has worked with the Premier's Council for Women to deliver a better society for South Australians?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for his very good question. It is good to have questions of high calibre in this chamber because we do not see it from the opposition very often. As honourable members would know, the Premier's Council for Women was established by the Labor government and is an independent advisory board that advocates for equity for women in all spheres of our society. Guided by co-chairs Kate Gould and the National Centre for Excellence chair Professor Anne Edwards, the PCW has, since its inception, become one of the government's key advisory boards.

The Premier's women's council was an active participant in the review of South Australia's Strategic Plan (SASP). The council has membership on the Strategic Plan's audit committee and Community Engagement Board, and continues to maintain a focus on women and gender differentiation with respect to the SASP. Additionally, after Premier Jay Weatherill's announcement of the government's seven strategic priorities, the council has examined linkages between the council's key priorities and the government's strategic priorities.

As the chamber would be aware, one of the Jay Weatherill government's priorities is recognising the benefits of the mining boom for all. Increasing access pathways for women to enter industries that are non-traditional employers of women, such as the mining and energy industries, and supporting the women currently employed in those industries, is a major way in which this priority can be realised. The Jay Weatherill government has been a champion of this cause, and has supported this most important initiative through programs such as the South Australian STEM Skills Strategy, which aims to increase participation in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects in school, vocational education and training, and higher education.

We know that girls and women are currently generally better educated than men, with more girls finishing year 12 and, I understand, more women completing basic degrees. Although there are gender differences across the various degrees, overall women in South Australia are very highly educated. So when we see potential skills shortages looming in areas that are non-traditional for women, it is a sensible thing to do; one of the ready resources available are well-educated women, and therefore initiatives to encourage women into these non-traditional areas, particularly science and maths areas is, as I said, a very sensible thing to do.

As well as aiming to increase participation in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects in schools, vocational education and training and higher education, the Weatherill government also provides funding to organisations such as Dairy SA and the Ag Excellence Alliance, which both received $50,000 from PIRSA to fund projects that support the further development of women's leadership capabilities. Most recently it announced scholarships through the Australian Institute of Company Directors for 25 women to receive governance and leadership training.

As you would recall, Mr President, the government is also pleased to be able to support initiatives undertaken by external groups that work to advance gender equity in our community. It was with great pleasure that Premier Jay Weatherill and I were able to support the latest work undertaken by the Premier's Council for Women, in partnership with local industry and the Office for Women, 'Words into Action: a practical guide to achieve gender equity in the workplace and improve your company's performance'.

This guide aims to highlight best practice for South Australian businesses in recruiting, retaining and promoting women in organisations to an executive level. It aims to focus on industries of non-traditional employment for women, and I am advised that the council consulted extensively with DMITRE and across industry sectors to ensure that the document is relevant to current business practices.

The guide will be launched by the co-chair of the council, Kate Gould, at the CEDA Women in Leadership event in Adelaide on Friday 17 May. The guide is an important step in implementing real change for gender equity in the professional sphere and is another example of the continuous work the Jay Weatherill government has undertaken to ensure that opportunities to participate in our state's growth are available equally to all South Australians.