What is a Gender Impact Assessment?
A Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) is a tool used to examine how people of different genders may be affected by a policy, program or service.
It helps us to:
- Ensure gender equality is meaningfully considered in the design and delivery of initiatives.
- Identify and address gender-based barriers and inequalities.
- Make more inclusive, evidence-informed decisions.
- Fulfil our obligations under the Gender Equality Act 2020 (Vic), which applies to defined entities, including local councils.
- Deliver fairer and more equitable outcomes for our community.
In simple terms, a GIA helps ensure that what we design and deliver works well for everyone — women, men and people with other intersectional attributes.
When does a GIA need to be completed?
A GIA must be completed:
- When developing a new policy, program or service.
- When reviewing or updating an existing policy, program or service.
- If the initiative is likely to have a direct and significant impact on members of the community.
GIAs should be undertaken early in the planning or scoping stage to meaningfully inform decisions and ensure gender equity is embedded throughout the initiative.
Obligations under the Gender Equality Act
Under the Gender Equality Act 2020 (VIC), all defined entities, including local councils, are legally required to:
- Undertake a Gender Impact Assessment when developing or reviewing policies, programs or services that have a direct and significant impact on the public.
- Consider gender equality, intersectionality and the lived experience of people affected by the initiative.
- Demonstrate how the GIA has informed decision-making and led to changes that promote equitable outcomes.
- Maintain records of completed GIAs and include them in progress reporting to the Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector.
Compliance with these obligations is essential to improving outcomes for all community members and advancing gender equality within Council operations.
Why It Matters
GIAs are more than just a compliance requirement — they are a practical tool for fairness, access and impact.
By applying a gender lens:
- We design more inclusive and effective services
- We support safety, equity and wellbeing in our community
- We strengthen our organisation’s responsiveness, accountability and leadership on equality
Examples of when a Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) would apply at Council
Policy Development or Review
- Creating or updating a Community Safety Policy
- Developing a Public Health and Wellbeing Plan
- Revising key Council policies that impact the community
- Updating or reviewing the Council Plan
Program Design or Redesign
- Launching a new Youth Engagement Program
- Reviewing a Maternal and Child Health Outreach Service
- Designing a Family Violence Prevention Program
- Delivering sport and recreation initiatives aimed at increased community participation
Service Delivery Changes
- Redesigning customer service processes or channels
- Changing hours or locations of key council services (e.g. libraries, maternal health clinics)
- Reviewing access to early years education services
Infrastructure and Capital Works
- Planning a public park or playspace
- Upgrading sports or leisure facilities
- Designing public toilets and changerooms to be inclusive of all genders
- Reviewing street lighting or urban design elements to improve perceptions of safety
Fees, Grants, or Subsidy Schemes
- Launching community grants programs or altering eligibility criteria
What is the process for completing a Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) at Council?
Identify whether a GIA is required
A Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) must be undertaken during the scoping and planning stages of any initiative.
Under the Gender Equality Act, GIAs are mandatory for all new or revised policies, programs or services that are likely to have a direct and significant impact on the public.
Completing a GIA early helps ensure more inclusive design, better decision-making, and progress toward gender equality.
Once confirmed that a GIA is required, begin the process using Council’s GIA template.
Provide Initiative Details
The initial information includes; an overview of the initiative. Define the title, type (policy, program, service), responsible department and stage of development.
Commence the process for undertaking a GIA.
There are 4 key steps to a GIA:
1.Define the purpose and explore possible gender related issues
Clearly define the purpose, issue/need the policy, program or service is intended to address. Consider how gender—and other aspects of identity (intersectional attributes)— may influence experience of the policy, program or service.
This may entail variations between genders in access, needs, participation and outcomes.
2. Obtain evidence and consult
This step helps to test assumptions about who is affected by the initiative and how.
Use a range of data, research and stakeholder input—particularly from those with lived experience—to gain meaningful insights into potential impacts and ensure diverse perspectives are considered.
Engaging with evidence and directly affected groups can reveal how people of different genders—and those with intersecting identities—experience the program in different ways, including differences in needs, access, preferences, participation and outcomes.
Sources of evidence may include:
- Internal data and records
- Desktop research
- Staff feedback or consultant reports
- Survey results
- Demographic and population data
- Community-generated or academic research
A list of suggested evidence sources can be found below.
Consultation methods may involve:
- Conversations with clients or residents
- Input from advisory committees or community representatives
- Engagement with service providers or stakeholder groups
3. Develop options
Identify available approaches to your initiative that reduce barriers and promote gender equity. Assess the benefits, limitations, risks and resourcing requirements for each option.
Benefits might include ensuring equal access to, and benefit from, the service to people of all genders, and promoting fair and equal opportunities for women and men.
4. Recommendations
Present recommendations for the program/policy/service and record any changes made to the initiative to ensure gender equity and intersectionality is considered.
Review and endorse
Submit the completed GIA for review and formal sign-off by your manager.
Submit final GIA
Completed GIAs should be emailed to Chelsea.hayes@cgd.vic.gov.au
Research and Data Sources to Support Your Gender Impact Assessment
To complete an evidence-based Gender Impact Assessment (GIA), you are required to gather relevant data, research, and supporting evidence. The following resources are available to assist you in this process:
Greater Dandenong - Summaries of Statistical information
The Statistics and Data webpage provides a wide range of information about social statistics and data within the municipality to assist individuals, groups and organisations to better understand our community.
Gender Indicators
Key ABS economic and social indicators measuring equality between males and females, including gender pay gap and life expectancy can be found on the ABS website.
Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector (CGEPS)
CGEPS have created a data bank, a list of statistics and data sources from a range of areas that may help you to think critically about the different experiences of women, men and gender diverse people.
Data sources for conducting a gender impact assessment can be found on the CGEPS website.
Women’s Health Victoria – Women’s Health Atlas
The Women’s Health Atlas presents health and social wellbeing indicators by sex for each local government area in Victoria. Featuring over 70 indicators across eight priority health areas, the platform highlights differences between women and men, geographic variation and trends over time. It provides maps, bar charts, trend graphs, data tables and factsheets to support analysis. Updated three times a year, the Atlas is a trusted source of sex-disaggregated data to inform gender equality initiatives at the state, regional, and local levels.
What is meant by intersectionality?
Intersectionality refers to the way different aspects of a person's identity—such as gender, race, age, disability, sexuality, religion or Aboriginality—can combine to create overlapping experiences of disadvantage or discrimination.
It recognises that these attributes don’t exist in isolation. Instead, they intersect with gender inequality and can intensify the impact of discrimination, while also increasing barriers to access, support and opportunity.
In this context, we refer to these identity characteristics as “intersectional attributes.”
I wasn’t able to complete a Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) during the planning or scoping stage—what should I do?
Please contact Chelsea Hayes as soon as possible. It's important that all new or revised policies, programs, or services are captured through the GIA process, even if the assessment is completed later in the project timeline.
Further Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) Resources
Gender Equality Act 2020 – Overview
Gender Impact Assessment Workshops and Training Guidance
Commission for Gender Equality GIA toolkit and templates
Specific topics for Gender Impact Assessment (GIA)
Arts
Who can I contact for further assistance?
For support with completing a Gender Impact Assessment or advice on applying a gender lens to your initiative, please contact:
Chelsea Hayes, People and Change