Independent review of the 2023 reporting process

Overview

Right Lane Consulting reviewed the 2023 reporting process. It consulted with stakeholders on how the Commission and duty holders can improve future reporting.

This included:

• focus groups across a range of duty holders from different industries, locations and organisational sizes
• interviews and discussions with the Commissioner and Commission staff
• online surveys of duty holder organisations.

Key findings

Compliance achievements

Around one-third of organisations demonstrated compliance for their whole progress report. This included reporting on:

• Gender Impact Assessments (GIA)
• Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) strategies and measures
• 7 workplace gender equality indicators.

The key areas for improvement are:

• Conducting and reporting on GIAs
• Demonstrating progress against all workplace gender equality indicators

Workplace gender equality indicators

Organisations showed the highest levels of compliance with:

• gender composition of all levels of the workforce
• gender composition of governing bodies.

The lowest compliance was for:

• sexual harassment in the workplace
• gendered segregation within the workplace.

Read more in our key insights from 2023 progress reports.

Consultation findings

Stakeholder consultation found that different organisations had different challenges.

Things that worked well

These helped organisations complete their progress report or audit:

• Senior leadership support
• Clear governance
• The Commission’s guidance, technical support, and templates
• Internal data capabilities and systems
• Sector-specific knowledge of gender and intersectionality
• Formal working groups and communities of practice
• Visits from the Commissioner and Commission staff

Areas for improvement for the Commission

The Commission should focus on:

• Resourcing constraints at the Commission
• Timely guidance materials and other resources
• Providing specific and timely feedback
• User-friendly templates reporting platform, and website.

Areas for improvement for organisations

Organisations should focus on:

• Elevating gender equality work
• Clear senior leadership approvals
• Resourcing
• Building staff capability
• Improving data and reporting systems

Commitments from the Commission

The Commission is taking steps to address priority areas of improvement. We will complete some actions immediately, and others over time.

Cohort-based approach

We will consider the specific contexts and capabilities of organisations.

What we will do

• Develop tailored resources and training materials in 2025.
• Establish regulatory priorities in 2025.

Better resources for defined entities

We will provide timely and user-friendly guidance.

We are currently updating the reporting templates and our website.

What we will do

• Provide updated guidance and templates for the next round of obligations by May 2025
• Plan for engagement and communications
• Provide additional information and materials by the end of 2025.

Improved feedback process

We need to provide timely responses to enquiries and requests for support. Clear communications will also help to set expectations for feedback timelines.

What we will do

In 2025 we will:

• Clarify feedback
• Refine templates
• Develop an updated compliance checking plan.

Downloads

Download the full report below. The report is available as a PowerPoint presentation and PDF.