Including Gender: An APS Guide to Gender Analysis and Gender Impact Assessment

How to use this guide

This APS Guide to Gender Analysis and Gender Impact Assessment (the Guide) provides information to assist Australian Public Service (APS) policy makers developing a Cabinet Submission or New Policy Proposal (NPP) in fulfilling gender analysis requirements set by the Australian Government.

The objectives of the guide are to:

This Guide is divided into 4 parts:

  • Part 1 explains the importance of including gender in policy development and decision making.
  • Part 2 explains what gender analysis is and how it is conducted.
  • Part 3 provides instructions for completing a Gender Impact Assessment, which is a separate attachment to the Cabinet Submission.
  • Part 4 provides instructions for completing a Gender Equality Summary, which is included in the Impacts Table of the Cabinet Submission or NPP.
  • Gender Impact Assessment template and checklist.

A quick reference guide is available.

For questions about the Guide please refer to the resources on the Gender Analysis Community of Practice on GovTeams or contact the Office for Women (OFW) at GIA@pmc.gov.au

Gender Responsive Budgeting at a glance

Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) is a core Australian Government commitment to drive gender equality by giving decision‑makers information about the gendered impacts of proposals being considered by the Cabinet and its Committees. Working for Women highlights GRB as a key mechanism to ensure that government policies and investments support gender equality. GRB is the responsibility of all departments as set out in the Cabinet Handbook, Budget Process Operational Rules and this Guide.

GRB weaves consideration of gender equality through the Cabinet and Budget process. It is a key way the government can identify, fund and support measures to close gender gaps and avoid decisions that inadvertently exacerbate gender inequality.

GRB requires policy makers to conduct gender analysis for all proposals and self-assess proposals against the 4 criteria for Gender Impact Assessment (see Appendix A). Policy makers are required to complete a Gender Impact Assessment for proposals that meet one or more of the criteria. Policy makers use the outcomes of the gender analysis and/or Gender Impact Assessment to inform the Gender Equality Summary that is included in the Impacts Table of the Cabinet Submission or New Policy Proposal.

Quick guide to terminology

Gender analysis is a process using data and evidence to assess whether a policy or budget proposal has gendered impacts (i.e. will affect women and men differently). This includes implications for gender equality, or differentiated or disproportionate impacts based on gender and intersectional considerations. Gender analysis is targeted and proportional, ensuring the effort in conducting analysis is proportional to the potential impact, value and scope of the policy.

Gender Impact Assessment is required when a Cabinet Submission or NPP meets one or more of 4 criteria (see Appendix A). Gender Impact Assessment requires detailed gender analysis to advise on the gendered impacts of a proposal. The findings inform the design of actions included as part of the proposal to progress gender equality and mitigate differentiated or disproportionate gendered impacts. The gender analysis findings and actions inform an on-balance assessment of the overall impact of the proposal on gender equality – that is, weighing the benefits and risks of the proposal against each other to determine the gendered impact of the proposal as a whole. A Gender Impact Assessment is a separate attachment to the Cabinet Submission.

Gender Equality Summary provides an overview of the gender analysis outcomes to inform decision-makers of the gendered impacts of the proposal and how it relates to gender equality. Where a Gender Impact Assessment is required, the Gender Equality Summary outlines the gender equality actions and the overall impact of the proposal on gender equality. The Gender Equality Summary is included in the Impacts Table of the Cabinet Submission or NPP.