Foreword
Western Australia’s diverse population is its strength as well as a challenge. The varying backgrounds, histories and traditions of Western Australians have contributed to the development of our political, economic and social fabric which embraces a commitment to a common set of values and goals. The challenge the State Government faces is to facilitate a good quality of life for Western Australians while ensuring that those who are vulnerable, due to a variety of circumstances, are assisted and supported to achieve a similar quality of life to their peers.
Substantive Equality aims to achieve equitable outcomes for all Western Australians, as far as possible. We know that policies and practices which appear neutral can unintentionally disadvantage some people by not catering for their needs. It is important then, that services are reviewed continuously to ensure they are fair and suitable for all.The Policy Framework for Substantive Equality is the guiding mechanism for organisations to achieve this.
In the current environment it is critical for all public money to be spent wisely to maximise the outcomes achieved. It is also important for public institutions to be open, transparent and accountable. Preparedness to be flexible, creative and innovative are essential ingredients of sound service planning and delivery. The longevity of a program or service alone can no longer be an indicator of its effectiveness and continuance. Instead, service providers need to gauge whether their services are meeting the needs of their clientele. This approach is particularly important in a diverse society where each public sector agency’s clientele will comprise groups with a variety of differing needs.
The Policy Framework was broadened in 2013 to address all forms of systemic discrimination. Originally released in 2005 (when it specifically addressed systemic racism in the public sector), the Policy Framework remains an important step towards focusing Government departments’ response to the different needs of our diverse society. Equally useful for private, non-government and community organisations, Substantive Equality provides a powerful framework for change away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach, enabling services, including those contracted out, to actively address gaps and barriers and meet the needs of their diverse clients.
It is a long-term, systematic approach to addressing the often unintentional systemic discrimination in the Western Australian public sector particular in the area of service delivery. Through this Policy Framework the Government expects to build on the progress to date in identifying and addressing barriers to participation and achieving substantive equality for all citizens.
This document sets out the context for the implementation of Substantive Equality. I commend the leadership taken thus far and believe that the program will enable the public sector to achieve good outcomes for all clients it endeavours to serve. Your continuing involvement is vital to its success.
Dr John Byrne
Commissioner for Equal Opportunity
