The Western Australian government is inviting local governments, community sector organisations, NFPs, unincorporated and community groups to apply for its latest round of gender equality grants.
The Stronger Together: WA’s Plan for Gender Equality funding round will accept applications until October 12, 2021.
This year the government is looking to support initiatives that focus on the promotion of women’s’ economic independence, women’s safety and justice as priority themes.
Applications that can offer targeted pathways to women’s social and economic recovery will also be prioritised, in recognition of some of the acutely gendered impacts of COVID-19.
In a statement, women’s interests minister Simone McGurk said that there was still much work to be done to address gender equality in WA.
“Regrettably, Western Australia still has the nation’s biggest gender pay gap of 22% – compared to 14% nationally – and women continue to be overlooked for leadership roles and bear the load of unpaid domestic work,” McGurk said.
“These factors pile up to progressively limit women and girls’ participation in economic and social life, often having long-term negative impacts on their life outcomes.”
The grants are part of the state government’s long-term plan for gender equality that provides a 10-year roadmap for governments, businesses and communities to build a fairer and more equitable state.
One-off initiatives that run for up to six months can receive up to $5,000 funding through the program, and other longer, strategic-focused projects with partner groups can attract up to $10,000 in grant money.
“Initiatives funded under the Grants for Women program will support women and girls to reach their potential in all aspects of life – at school, in the workplace, in retirement and in their homes and communities,” the minister said.
Previous examples of successful projects have included a series of welding and plasma-cutting workshops for women, a skills summit for rural women working in the grain industry, and financial literacy workshops to improve the skills and independence of women living in the South-West.
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