This year we have seen a significant shift. Governments are now recognising how women owned businesses impact women’s economic security. Thank you for supporting Femeconomy to advocate for change, and to ensure the recognition of women owned businesses.
Reflecting on 2022, we wanted to share some highlights:
- The Australian Greens announced a Policy that they will legislate to require government agencies to spend a minimum of 3% of their annual procurement budget with women-led businesses.
- The Queensland Government has committed in their Women’s Strategy to achieve economic security for women through using government’s purchasing power to drive increased gender equality in the private sector, and encourage businesses and community organisations to do the same.
- Femeconomy partnered with the Queensland Government on the Our Fair Share event, which focussed on unlocking economic participation for women in business.
- The newly elected South Australian Government has committed to introducing an Equality Bill to encourage public and private sector organisations to achieve equality and to adjust procurement and grants processes to ensure funding supports equity.
- The New South Wales Government has committed to $3.7 million to monitor the proportion of women-led businesses in government procurement and promote equitable practices in business. This will support the success of women-led businesses through government contracts, certification and a one-stop shop for advice.
- The Western Australian Government has committed to Procurement Practices to Support Gender Equality. The WA Government recognises that government procurement is a significant lever to create behaviour change to progress gender equality in Western Australia and improve women’s employment and economic outcomes. The WA Government have commenced a 12-month procurement pilot across 15 Government Departments to raise awareness of the benefits of gender equality in the workplace.
Other highlights this year include:
- Delivering the Economic Security4Women Connection Program to 10 women owned businesses in remote or very remote Western Australia.
- Participating in a roundtable discussion on Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Budgeting Review of Australia led by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in partnership with the Australian Government’s Office for Women in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- Connecting many of you to trade with each other, or to collaborate in other ways, and featured many of you across our channels to amplify your journey and your business, for example through the 2022 Female Leader Conversations Ezine.
- Nominating members for awards programs including The Order of Australia, Gender Equity Awards, NSW Women of the Year and the Ausmumpreneur Awards.
- Participating in the Women of the World Festival in Cairns.
- Being an international signatory to the Women’s Empowerment Principles.
We cannot progress gender equality alone. Collaboration is key. Thank you for your support. Let’s continue to create gender equality in Australia and beyond our shores.
ABOUT FEMECONOMY
Choose female led brands. Create gender equality.
Femeconomy educates consumers, business owners and budget owners on how their purchasing decisions can create gender equality.
Femeconomy identifies and amplifies companies that have at least 30% women on the Board of Directors or are 50% female owned.
Companies with female leaders are more likely to have workplace flexibility and less likely to have a gender pay gap, so they are helping to create gender equality for their employees and communities.
