1. Scope
This policy applies to all programs delivered by or funded by the Department for Communities in Western Australia; this includes services receiving program funding from the Department for Communities.
This policy will also apply to any other entities that become part of the Department for Communities while this policy is current. This is a system wide policy and supersedes all policies related to substantive equality in the Department for Communities.
2. Context
The WA Government is committed to a public sector that takes pride in the provision of services to a diverse community and to continuous improvement in the provision of services in a fair and non-discriminatory manner. In keeping with this commitment, the Government is seeking to provide all Western Australians with improved access to services that best meet their needs.
The ‘Policy Framework for Substantive Equality (the Policy Framework)’ provides a clear direction for addressing systemic discrimination and responding to the different needs of individuals in the community through a process of continuous improvement. Its objectives are:
§ To achieve substantive equality in the WA public sector by eliminating systemic racial discrimination in the provision of public sector services
§ To promote sensitivity to the different needs of client groups.
To achieve this, public sector agencies will:
§ assess how policies, programs and practices affect Indigenous people and ethnic minorities
§ monitor the implementation of policies and programs and make sure they meet the diverse needs of the people of WA
§ ensure that staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills to address issues of systemic racism
§ recognise and appraise organisational progress towards achieving substantive equality.
Public sector agencies will be responsible for ensuring that the ‘Policy Framework’ is integral to service delivery.
The Department for Communities is committed to implementing the Government of Western Australia’s ‘Policy Framework for Substantive Equality (the Policy Framework)’ and is accountable for meeting substantive equality outcomes across services provided and funded by government. Implementation will extend to all service areas of operation within the Department for Communities.
The Department for Communities commits to:
§ selecting a service/divisional area/s of operation each year in which substantive equality will be addressed and annually negotiating with the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity the scope of implementation of the Policy Framework for the area/s nominated
§ ensuring that commitment to the Policy Framework is communicated throughout the organisation
§ nominating a senior officer who will be the contact person between the Department for Communities and the Commissioner (for Equal Opportunity) through the Substantive Equality Unit
§ reporting on the achievements in relation to what was negotiated with the Commission in the annual report
§ ensuring the Policy Framework is reflected in operational, strategic and associated plans and policies in the Department for Communities.
Substantive equality seeks to recognise that some policies and practices actively prevent particular groups of people from understanding or accessing services that others take for granted. Therefore, in order for people to be treated equally, it is necessary to treat people differently to cater for different needs.
To achieve this, the Department for Communities is required to:
§ assess how policies, programs and practices affect WA Aboriginal people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
§ monitor policies, programs and practices to ensure they meet the diverse needs of these groups
§ ensure that staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills to address issues of systemic racism
§ recognise and appraise organisational progress towards achieving substantive equality.
The Department for Communities will work in partnership with the Substantive Equality Unit (Equal Opportunity Commission) to develop, monitor and report on the implementation of the ‘Policy Framework’.
The Director General is responsible for the implementation of the ‘Policy Framework’ and reports on its progress to the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity of WA.
3. Definitions
Substantive Equality
Substantive equality recognises that:
§ rights, entitlements, opportunities and access are not necessarily distributed equally throughout society
§ equal or the same application of rules to unequal groups can have unequal results
§ where service delivery agencies cater to the needs of the majority group, other people with different needs may miss out on essential services.
Equal treatment, therefore, is not about treating people the same; it is about treating people differently in order to cater for different needs.
4. Supporting Documents
Policy Framework for Substantive Equality, 2005 (WA Government).
5. Relevant Legislation
‘Equal Opportunity Act 1984’
6. Policy Authorisation
This document details the Department for Communities Substantive Equality Policy to ensure barriers to access, information and services are identified, addressed and eliminated.