Achieving gender equality in aged care

The new citation significantly raises the expected level of performance by organisations from the previous Employer of Choice for Women award, which Benetas has received for the past eight years.

Benetas chief executive, Sandra Hills, says the citation is a welcome recognition of Benetas’ ongoing commitment to achieving gender equality in the workplace.

“Benetas is proud to receive the citation, which is reflective of the work we are doing to ensure we provide the most equitable, supportive and dynamic workplace for both genders,” Ms Hills says.
“We want to support all of our staff to thrive in their careers, and to do this we are committed to investing in gender equity, and our broader gender diversity strategy.

“For us, best practice in this area means ensuring the sustainability of both our organisation and our workforce, to ensure we maximise the full potential of each and every Benetas staff member.
“We are very mindful of the increasing demand on the aged care workforce, and believe it is our responsibility to invest in this area.”

Benetas’ 1,400 staff members are offered access to a range of initiatives which promote gender equality, including paid parental leave, job sharing, leadership development and mentoring programs, flexible work hours and aged care nursing scholarships.

The provider also invests heavily in related research and advocacy activities, and last year commissioned the Women at Work – Voices of Older Women study which explored the employment experiences of older women, compared to younger generations.