Applications to join the Australian Delegation to the APEC Women in the Economy Forum have now closed.

The Office for Women is seeking Expressions of Interest to take part in the Australian delegation to the APEC Women and the Economy Forum (WEF) in Hue City, Vietnam from September 26^th – 29^th 2017. The 2017 WEF is the only APEC Forum dedicated to gender equality issues and represents an opportunity to enhance economic opportunities for women through the APEC process.

The Office for Women is seeking nominations from candidates with extensive experience relating to this year’s indicative three key priorities (and supporting eight sub-priorities):

1. Promote gender equality for inclusive economic growth.
   

   1.1 Narrow gender gaps in access to decent work, assets and skills to enhance women’s economic and financial inclusion.

   1.2 All women are entitled to health care services.

   1.3 Increase proportions of public investment in social services and infrastructure.

2. Strengthening women-owned Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises’ competitiveness and innovation.
   

   2.1 Develop women-owned microenterprises/individual business households into Small and Medium Enterprises.

   2.2 Accentuate the roles and voice of women-owned business associations/organisation in policy formulation and enforcement to enhance women-owned enterprises’ inclusion in the digital era.

3. Narrow gender gaps in human resource development.
   

   3.1 Reduce gender gaps in access to education.

   3.2 Improve professional skills for women workers.

   3.3 Reinforce solutions for labour markets and access to employment for women workers.

Please note that the APEC WEF 2017 priorities, listed above, are still subject to change from the APEC WEF Chair (Vietnam).

We welcome applications from all interested parties, and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, in particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Refer to the attached Expression of Interest document [DOCX 251KB] for selection criteria and application requirements.

Completed Expressions of Interest must be addressed to Rachael Farrell and sent to WomensBranchInternational@pmc.gov.au by midnight Sunday 9^th July 2017.