Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC) x EQI: Creating a More Inclusive Public Service

We partnered with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC) to create a foundational gender equality education program tailored to the public service context. Through accessible, engaging content and ongoing support, we helped PMC build workforce-wide understanding that supports informed policy-making and advances Australia’s national gender equality agenda. 

The Challenge

PMC’s workforce spans multiple departments and agencies with varying levels of understanding and awareness of gender equality, particularly what it means in practice for policy development. The challenge was to design education that was clear and accessible for those new to gender equality concepts, yet engaging and relevant enough for staff with more advanced knowledge.  

The Government at the time was committed to a platform strongly focused on gender equality, recognising systemic inequality as a significant barrier to national progress. This created a critical opportunity to equip PMC’s policy makers with a shared baseline of gender equality understanding which would directly influence national policies and outcomes. 

The complexity of managing a widely distributed workforce with different learning systems further required a partner who could deliver scalable training while providing tailored support to ensure uptake and engagement. 

The Solution

We created an introductory gender equality learning journey designed specifically for the public sector. The content focused on the government’s commitments and priorities, including gender impact assessment and gender-responsive budgeting, demonstrating how these tools address inequality. Participants learned to recognise how gender and other intersectional factors influence people’s experiences of government services and how to integrate gender considerations into policy, programs, and services. 

Recognising diverse levels of knowledge, the program was crafted to be clear and foundational yet dynamic and engaging, appealing to a broad spectrum of learners. Video content and micro-learning modules were incorporated to cater to different learning styles and reinforce key messages. 

Our team worked closely with PMC to manage technical rollouts, user access and troubleshooting across various learning platforms, ensuring smooth delivery and participation. We provided ongoing coaching and strategic advice to help embed gender equality knowledge into day-to-day policy work.

The Impact

This foundational training has established a consistent and robust understanding of gender equality across PMC’s diverse workforce. By equipping policy makers with the knowledge and confidence to integrate gender analysis into their work, the program has directly influenced the creation of more inclusive and equitable national policies. 

The measurable results speak for themselves: 94% of participants report a strong understanding of gender equality post-training which is a 41% increase from before. Even more compelling, 92% of learners intend to apply these insights in their policy work, ensuring gender equality principles are embedded throughout government decision-making and policy development. 

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