Frequently Asked Reporting Questions

Fielding calls in EOWA’s Compliance Advisory Team always provides our advisors with interesting and challenging work. Ian Johnson takes a break from helping clients develop workplace programs and answers your most frequently asked reporting questions.

Q1: Do we have to report annually?

Yes! Reports are due on an annual basis. The only two-year gap occurred when the Affirmative Action Act was amended to become the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act, 1999. If you registered with us before the 1 October 2001, you need to report to us this year.

Q2: At what time do I take my workplace profile?

It is best to take the profile somewhere around the start of the reporting period (1 April) so that you can use the profile to help with your analysis. The profile cannot be taken more than six (6) months prior to the start of the reporting period, which, for the 2002 reporting period, is October 2000. 

As the profile is mandatory and part of the public report, it cannot be made confidential.

Q3: We were told last year that we didn't have to report this year. Why do I now have to report?

The only relevant organisations that are not required to report this year are those who were formally waived from reporting by EOWA in 2001. Waiving is a formal process and you will need to have applied for and been granted waiving status.

Unless you have been formally advised by EOWA in writing in 2001 that you have been waived, you will need to submit a report to us this year.

Q4: We registered with EOWA late 2001. Do we need to report this year?

Newly registered organisations are required to have a Workplace Program in place before they are expected to report. If you registered with EOWA after 30 September 2001, you do not need to report to us until 2003 however, you should be developing and implementing your Workplace Program now!

Q5: I have just been told that I am the person who needs to submit our report.  I'm very busy right now – can I have an extension?

EOWA is able to grant extensions only if the request is made in writing, before the 31st of May, and the organisation is able to show reasonable grounds, for instance commercial or extenuating circumstances.

Q6: What happens if we don't submit a report?

If you do not submit a report to the EOWA by 31 May, your organisation’s Report Contact and CEO will be contacted and advised that you are required to submit a report or you may be non-compliant. Your organisation will also be sent a final letter advising that you have 28 days in which to submit a report to EOWA.

If, after receiving that 28-day letter, your organisation does not submit a report to EOWA, you may be named in Parliament as being non-compliant with the Act. In addition, you will not be able to access the Commonwealth Contract Compliance Policy, which states that the Commonwealth Government may not buy goods or services from a non-compliant employer or enter into a contract with a non-compliant employer.

Q7: We have lots more women than men working here, why do we need to report?

The Act makes no reference to specific numbers of women in employment; it simply requires all relevant employers to submit an annual report regarding their EOWA workplace program. However, by developing and implementing a workplace program, all employees will benefit, regardless of gender.

Q8: Our organisation’s employee numbers has dropped to under 100 this year. Do we need to report?

If your organisational hierarchy changes and the numbers of staff in your organisation fall to 79 or below, you need to inform us in writing. You will be formally advised that you are no longer required to report to us.