About the Gender Equality Act obligations
Gender equality will be achieved when women, men and gender diverse people can access and enjoy equal resources and opportunities regardless of gender.
The Gender Equality Act 2020 requires certain organisations with more than 50 employees (defined entities) to complete 5 key tasks to meet their obligations under the Act:
- Promote gender equality
- Conduct gender impact assessments
- Undertake a workplace gender audit
- Create a Gender Equality Action Plan
- Report on progress
Find out if the Act applies to your organisation
The Gender Equality Act 2020 applies to 'defined entities' which are certain organisations with 50 or more employees.
Promoting gender equality
You need to consider, promote and take positive action towards achieving gender equality when developing and delivering policies, programs and services that have an impact on the public.
This duty will ensure the Victorian public sector, local councils and universities make lasting and genuine progress towards gender equality across our community.
Gender impact assessments
Gender impact assessments (GIAs) are designed to help organisations think critically about how their policies, programs and services will meet the needs of women, men and gender diverse people. These assessments can help organisations ensure all people have equal access to opportunities and resources.
Gender impact assessments should be included in your normal process for developing policies, programs and services that have a direct and significant impact on the public.
The gender impact assessment toolkit will help you assess the gendered impact of your policies, programs and services. It sets out a best-practice gender impact assessment process and includes templates for recording information, analysis and outcomes.
Workplace gender equality audit
Workplace gender auditing will help you understand your baseline and assess progress towards gender equality in your workplace. You must use your audit data to inform your Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP).
You will need to undertake a workplace gender audit every 4 years, in the same year that you do your GEAP. Please note, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, deadlines for submission of your first audit data were extended.
Guidance materials and templates are available to help you conduct a workplace gender audit and submit your results to the Commission. View the guidance for the 2023 progress audit on our website. Updated guidance and templates for the 2025 workplace gender audit will be available in May 2025.
Please note that the deadline for submitting your 2025 progress audit has been extended to 1 December 2025 (extended from 31 October 2025).
Gender Equality Action Plan
Your Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) will help you plan, apply and make progress towards gender equality. You need to develop and submit a GEAP every 4 years. Please note, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, deadlines for submission of your first GEAP were extended.
Guidance material is available to help you develop your GEAP, which sets out what you need to include. It also provides additional recommended steps that you can follow to ensure your GEAP is clear, useable and based on data and meaningful consultation.
Please note that the deadline for submitting your 2025 GEAP has been extended to 1 May 2026 (extended from 31 October 2025).
Guidance for developing your 2025 GEAP will be available in May 2025.
Reporting on progress
Reporting on progress will ensure that organisations covered by the Act are meeting their obligations to promote gender equality in the workplace as prescribed in the Act.
You are required to submit a progress report to the Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner every two years.
Guidance materials for 2023 progress reporting and conducting a 2023 progress audit are available on our website.
Please note that the deadline for submitting your 2025 progress audit has been extended to 1 May 2026 (extended from 31 October 2025).
Guidance for 2025 progress reporting will be available in May 2025.
Note: detailed guidance on progress reporting will be available in 2023
Important dates
Obligations commence
31 March 2021
Submit your first workplace gender audit
1 December 2021 (please note that this deadline was extended from 31 October 2021)
- workplace gender audit - audits must be based on data available as at 30 June 2021 (except for universities)
Submit your first Gender Equality Action Plan
31 March 2022 (please note that this deadline was extended from 31 October 2021)
Submit your first progress report
20 February 2024 (please note that this deadline was extended from 31 October 2023)
Submit your 2025 workplace gender audit
1 December 2025 (please note that this deadline was extended from 31 October 2025)
- Workplace gender audit
Submit your second Gender Equality Action Plan and progress report
1 May 2026 (please note that this deadline was extended from 31 October 2025)
- Gender Equality Action Plan
- Progress report
Submitting your Gender Equality Action Plans and progress reports
The reporting platform is now live and ready for you to submit your GEAP.
For the latest updates subscribe to our newsletter.
Updated