Wesley Mission Queensland leads industry in gender equality

Recent data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) shows Wesley Mission Queensland (WMQ) is a leader in addressing the gender pay gap and promoting a fair and equitable workplace.

WMQ secured an impressive second place among the top 10 largest operators in the care industry with a low gender pay gap, achieving a remarkable -6.7% average total remuneration gender pay gap and a median of -2.5% for the reporting period (1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024).

What is the Gender Pay Gap, and how is it measured by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency?

The Gender Pay Gap (GPG) reflects the difference in average earnings between men and women in the workforce, presented as either a percentage or a dollar figure relative to men’s earnings. For example, a 15% GPG indicates that men, on average, earn 15% more than women. WGEA assesses both the mean GPG, which represents the overall average, and the median GPG, which identifies the midpoint value. The median is particularly valuable as it mitigates the influence of extremely high or low salaries that might distort the average.

This benchmarking allows organisations to gauge their position relative to peers and industry standards, encouraging progress toward gender equality, enhancing their reputation as a preferred employer.

How does WMQ achieve gender equality?

Promotes career development

Wesley Mission Queensland CEO Jude Emmer says WMQ has a long history of supporting women, both in the workplace and the community.

'Combined with the nature of the work that we do, this means that we attract a high proportion of women employees,’ Ms Emmer said.

We also see high numbers of women in leadership at WMQ with 8 out of 10 executive leadership team members being women, 17 out of 24 in our senior leadership team and the Chair of our Board also a woman. I would hope that having so many women in senior leadership encourages other women in the organisation to pursue career advancement.

'WMQ’s learning and development program supports all employees to develop their careers, and many employees progress within the organisation to senior positions. For example, the current Director of Organisational Transformation and Director of Finance began their careers at WMQ as accountants, and the manager of our Brisbane Relief Hub started with us as a volunteer.'

Embraces diversity

However, WMQ doesn’t specifically focus on special treatment for women, rather it aims to provide a workplace that is equitable and supportive of all employees. Its workforce is comprised of people from 87 different nationalities

‘As an organisation that celebrates diversity, we create an inclusive and welcoming workplace for all people.  We treat people fairly and equitably no matter their gender, beliefs or background. This leads to a workplace where people feel comfortable and supported and this can be seen in the many long-term employees and volunteers at WMQ.’

Creates a supportive environment

WMQ offers flexible conditions where possible, including menopause leave, hybrid working arrangements and support for study.

‘79% of women in our workforce are employed either on a casual, part-time or sessional basis. The largest group is part-time who account for 76% of women working at WMQ. This provides more flexibility to women to pursue their career ambitions, while also managing responsibilities such children and/or ageing parents.’

It also helps prevent burnout in an industry which has faced many challenges over the past couple of years and may involve shift work and at times quite emotional work.

Innovative recruitment

WMQ takes a fresh and open-minded approach to recruitment.

‘Last year, we changed our full-time legal counsel role into a job share arrangement because we were approached by two candidates with this idea and their experience and skills meant we could see the value in their proposal,’ Ms Emmer said.

This arrangement is quite unusual for senior legal roles, which are generally more traditional in their approach, but it has worked out wonderfully for WMQ and the two women in those roles.

WMQ also introduced a school-based traineeship program a couple of years ago to respond to widespread workforce shortages in aged care, and to ensure it is well-prepared for future growth. It has been heartening to see the number of young people from South East Queensland schools taking up this opportunity.

‘The combination of these initiatives with our organisational values has led to a workplace that people are happy to be part of.

Having worked in several organisations over my career, I am proud to lead a gender-neutral workplace that values not just women, but all people. The benefits for our employees and customers are clear and we hope to see more progress in this area in other organisations and sectors.