Mark Doran, Calvary’s National Chief Executive Officer is “very proud of our focus on developing leadership capability in our organisation and in turn the health sector. We have 73% of our leadership positions currently occupied by women of which 30% are over 55 and 25% have over 15 years of service. Our challenge is to retain and transfer knowledge and skill whilst we attract and develop up the next generation of leaders in health care.”

Calvary recognise that the health care needs of the communities we serve are complex and varied and requires our organisation to be agile and flexible in our delivery which must be reflected in our workplace arrangements. This in turn offers staff the ability to balance work and home commitments. In addition to progress Calvary made in previous years around equitable pay scales and paid parental and paternity leave Calvary are also mindful of the social issues impacting our workforce and have addressed issues such as:

• Domestic Violence – a minimum of 10 days leave is now available for domestic violence victims

• Well-being at work – programs promoting mental and physical wellbeing

• Wealth creation for women – by partnering with key suppliers Calvary can give easy access for staff to advice on financial management, insurances and superannuation

• Access to staff benefits for casual workforce – Calvary has released staff benefits that extend to casual and permanent staff alike.

• Leadership Capability frameworks – Calvary is developing programs to develop the leaders of today and tomorrow

Calvary underwent an extensive audit process to achieve this 2016 Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation. WGEA Director Libby Lyons said: “WGEA data shows there is progress towards gender equality in Australian workplaces, but it is too slow. It is only through more employers adopting leading practices to promote gender equality in the workplace that we will see the pace of change pick up. That’s why it is so encouraging to see more than 100 organisations meet the very high standard required to receive the WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation this year.”

Criteria for the citation covers leadership, learning and development, gender remuneration gaps, flexible working and other initiatives to support family responsibilities, employee consultation, preventing sex-based harassment and discrimination, and targets for improving gender equality outcomes. Criteria are regularly strengthened to reflect best practice.

Calvary is committed to continue to play our part in bridging the gender gap for women in the workplace and to look for ways to embrace diversity in our services.