New Report Exposes Persistent Gender Pay Gaps—and Why Action Matters Now

The latest Insights Report from the Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector reveals that every industry, every workforce classification, and nearly every organisation in Victoria’s public sector has a gender pay gap. This is not just about equal pay for equal work—it’s about how systems value or undervalue different kinds of work, who gets promoted, and who has access to leadership.

The report finds that women, especially First Nations women, disabled women, migrant and refugee women, and women in lower-paid roles, are consistently paid less than their male counterparts. These gaps are a direct result of entrenched gender stereotypes, undervaluing of feminised work, and unequal care responsibilities.

At Training for Respect, we understand that workplace gender inequality—including pay inequity—is both a driver and consequence of gendered violence. In education and training settings, this means tackling inequity in staff wages, representation in leadership, and student pathways into secure, fairly paid work.

📘 Read the full report from the Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector