New Women's Plan To Drive Cultural Change In Defence

20 November 2009

Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, and Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, the Chief of the Defence Force, announced today The Chief of the Defence Force Action Plan for the Recruitment and Retention of Women at Parliament House.

"The ADF is moving to become more representative of the community it serves. While much has been done to improve the recruitment and participation rates of women, Defence recognises there is more to do," said Mr Combet.

"This Action Plan being launched today will improve workplace flexibility, career management, accountability, mentoring and communication across Defence raising retention and Defence's profile as an employer.

"The Plan has at its heart a cultural change program that will impact on everyone in Defence at every level and workplace.

"The next few years will see changes to the performance appraisal system, career management philosophies and practices, and personnel policies for the benefit of the women and men in Defence and the general community.

"These changes will see a more sustainable and representative ADF workforce to best meet the strategic challenges of the future," Mr Combet said.

The Action Plan was developed after nearly 18 months of consultation with The Chief of the Defence Force Reference Group on Women and 17 roundtables with 200 ADF women across Australia.

Air Chief Marshal Houston said the Action Plan built on achievements and initiatives already in place and introduced new measures to increase the options and attractiveness of an ADF career.

"Defence wants to be recognised as an employer that values its members and provides them with conditions of service that support, enable and encourage their personal circumstances whatever they may be," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

For further information about the Action Plan visit: http://www.defence.gov.au/fr/RR/Womenindefence/initatives.html.