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Using the GEAP guidance and template

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How to use the guidance

You do not have to use this guidance. It is an aid to help you develop your GEAP.

You can use all or parts of the guidance. This will depend on what is useful for your organisation.

The guidance takes a step-by-step approach. It walks you through the process of developing your GEAP.

Change management

Your GEAP is about changing your organisation. It aims to create fairer organisational systems.

This includes fairer outcomes for everyone. The process is called change management.

This guidance supports your existing change management approaches. It does not replace them.

Obligations under the Act

If you choose not to use this guidance, refer to GEAP requirements, changes between 2022 and 2026, and key dates(opens in a new window)?

This will help you understand what you must do under the Act.

The steps

Part 1: Preparing to develop your GEAP

Step 1: Planning your GEAP

Step 2: Analysing your data to identify forms of gender inequality

Step 3: Consulting on your audit results (we recommend two rounds of consultation. However, you must undertake at least one round. That is, step 3 and/or step 7).

Part 2: Developing your GEAP

Step 4: Considering the gender equality principles and gender pay equity principles

Step 5: Making a case for change

Step 6: Developing your strategies and measures

Step 7: Consulting on your strategies

Step 8: Resourcing your GEAP

Step 9: Instructions on submission

Part 3: After submitting your GEAP

Step 10: Meeting compliance and the compliance checking process

Step 11: Communicating your GEAP to your organisation

Step 12: Monitoring and evaluation

Step 13: Reporting on your workplace’s gender equality progress and gender impact assessments

There are key roles and responsibilities within your organisation that will help to drive this work. Visit 8.2 Advice on skills needed to develop and implement your GEAP(opens in a new window) and users of the reporting platform(opens in a new window) (including details on how to request access) for a full detailed list.

How to use the template

We strongly encourage you to use the GEAP template. This will help you make sure you include everything required under the Act. Using the template will also make it easier for us to assess your GEAP for compliance.

The template includes required and recommended items. You must include all the required items. We encourage you to include recommended items as well.

Information to help you use the GEAP template

At the end of each step, there is a box with information to help you use the GEAP template. Each section in the template includes a link to the relevant section in this guidance.

Word length

We have included suggested word lengths for each section. You are free to go under or over the word length if you have more or less to say.

Template order

The template follows the order of the steps in this GEAP guidance. It aims to reduce inefficiencies and duplication. However, developing a GEAP can be a cyclical process.

You do not have to follow the suggested step-by-step approach. Do what works best in your context. This will vary according to your organisation’s resources, skills and expertise.

For an accessible version of the 2026 GEAP template, please send a request to enquiries@genderequalitycommission.vic.gov.au.

Cover page and attestation

Cover page

The cover page provides important context. It will help us assess your GEAP. The cover page includes:

  • organisation name (required) – provide your organisation’s full legal name. Do not use an abbreviated or shorthand version. Include your organisation’s trading name. This is the name you are most well-known by in your industry or publicly
  • total number of employees (recommended): insert the total number of employees and full-time equivalent (FTE) roles in your organisation on 30 June 2025
  • location (recommended) – insert either metropolitan, regional or rural. Use your organisation’s primary location or your central office. If you insert ‘other’, please explain.

Attestation by head of organisation (required)

The head of your organisation must complete this section. They must state that they have approved your GEAP. They must also state that your organisation will provide adequate resources to implement the GEAP.

Your head of organisation can also use this space to provide further comments for the Commissioner. This is optional.

Your head of organisation is the:

  • CEO
  • Secretary (for Victorian public service departments)
  • Vice-Chancellor (for universities), or
  • equivalent.

If you do not use the GEAP template, you must include an attestation in your GEAP.

The attestation must include the following:

I confirm that I am the head of organisation (CEO or equivalent). I confirm I have reviewed and approved the submission of this gender equality action plan (GEAP) on behalf of my organisation (as named), and I attest that the implementation of the GEAP will be adequately resourced.

Sign-off details:

  • Name
  • Role title
  • Signature
  • Date of sign-off
  • Optional comments from sign-off person

Creating a designed version of your gender equality action plan (GEAP) for publication

You may prefer to create a designed version of your GEAP to publish on your website.

If you choose to do this, you:

  • must include all the required sections
  • must not alter the wording you submitted to the Commissioner in the required sections (you may fix any spelling or grammatical errors).

Use the GEAP checklist(opens in a new window) to ensure you have all the required sections.

You may:

  • reorder the content of your GEAP in your public-facing version to suit your preference
  • include additional information not required by the Commissioner.

You may also publish a designed summary and include your completed template as an appendix.

If you decide not to use the GEAP template

If you do not use the GEAP template, make sure it is clear where to find the required components in your GEAP.

Do this by:

  • Making a note in the appendix of your GEAP: list all the components that are required under the Act and where to find them in the document.
  • AND using clear headings and subheadings that match the sections required under the Act. This will make your GEAP easier for the Commissioner and her team to navigate when assessing for compliance.

Following these instructions will help you demonstrate compliance.

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