20 Questions & Answers about Reporting:

1. What should I include in my report?
   EOWA has developed a Public Report Form as a guide to submitting your report. The Compliance Guidelines also provide assistance. In addition, a Sample Public Report has been developed to suggest details that you may wish to include in your report. To download these documents, see our Reporting Resources section.
   
   
2. What period of time is covered by the report?
   Reports are retrospective and cover the period from 1 April to 31 March.
   
   
3. When are the reports due?
   You may submit your report anytime from 01 April up to 31 May annually. Reports submitted early will receive priority assessment and feedback by EOWA.
    
4. Can I report at a more convenient time for me?
   The reporting times are not variable or flexible. However by spreading your actions over the 'compliance cycle' you can:
   • Avoid an intense human resource commitment at one time of the year; and
   • Integrate equal opportunity into ongoing business planning and strategic activities.

   It also helps to collect relevant information throughout the year.
    

5. When must I develop a workplace profile?
   Ideally, the workplace profile should be prepared at the beginning of the reporting period to analyse your priorities for the coming year and then again at the end of the reporting period to evaluate your actions.  To meet the compliance requirement for reporting, you must ensure that the workplace profile in your report refers to a date within the reporting year or no earlier than six months prior to the beginning of the actual program period. (ie, no earlier than October in the year preceding 1 April, which is the day the reporting period commences).
    
6. What happens if I do not submit a report on time?
   If you do not submit a report, EOWA will send a letter to your CEO providing 28 days' notice. (This is a requirement under the Act.) This letter is also forwarded to the parent organisation within your corporate group.
   
   
7. What are the consequences if I fail to report?
   There are two government sanctions associated with failure to comply with the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999:
   • Naming of your organisation in Parliament;
   • Contract compliance policy - which makes organisations unable to tender for government contracts and industry assistance.
   
   
8. Are there exemptions from reporting annually to EOWA?
   There are no exemptions from developing and implementing an equal opportunity for women in the workplace program.
   Organisations who have reported for more than three years and can effectively demonstrate progress and outcomes in their program can apply to be waived from reporting. A waiving application requires much greater detail and evidence than is required for the Public Report.
   
   
9. I didn't realise I had to report
   After an organisation has been registered with EOWA, they are given at least 6 months to establish a program before they are due to report. A starter kit is sent to all new organisations, which includes a sample form and guidelines. All reporting organisations receive our regular e-newsletter EOWA News Alert.
   
   
10. We have changed our details (name, address, contact, CEO, phone no. etc.)
    Please call, e-mail or write to EOWA with the relevant changes, or make the change on our online form.
    
    
11. How many reports do I have to submit?
    An organisation can submit one report to cover the whole corporate group, or subsidiaries can report separately. Parent organisations are responsible for ensuring that subsidiaries have reported to EOWA, and they are also named in Parliament if one of their subsidiaries is non-compliant. If you want to change the number of reports submitted to EOWA by your corporate group, please contact EOWA or make the change on our online form.
    
    
12. How do I obtain a copy of last year's report?
    You can visit the online searchable database of reports to obtain a copy for no charge or call the Compliance Advisory Team or e-mail EOWA.
    
    
13. How do I obtain feedback on my report?
    Client consultants assess each report and provide verbal feedback by phone on the progress of your workplace program and on the information provided in the report. On completion of the assessment, an email is sent to the Report Contact and a letter confirming compliance sent to the CEO.
     
14. We have fairly even numbers of men and women and there have been no complaints here, so do we have to report?
    All organisations with over 100 employees have to report to EOWA. Developing a workplace program is more than just looking at the numbers of men and women employed and whether there are discrimination cases at an EEO tribunal. The Act requires the development of a program and the implementation of initiatives and strategies to ensure equity exists for women at your workplace. Collecting data about where men and women work is part of this process, but achieving outcomes from your program and the development of a strategic plan is also very important.
    
    
15. Do I have to use EOWA's report form?
    The Public Report Form provided by EOWA is voluntary. However, we do recommend it as the ideal format for your report.
    
    
16. Does the CEO have to sign the report?
    The commitment of the CEO has been crucial to the success of workplace programs in our best practice organisations. The CEO, along with the Board of Directors, is ultimately responsible for the organisation's obligations under the Act. While the Act does not require reports submitted to EOWA to be signed by the CEO, they are accepted by EOWA as a true and accurate record and as have been approved by the CEO or his/her representative. (Note that if you submit your report electronically, a typed name is acceptable instead of a signature.)
    
    
17. What companies do I include on the report form?
    If your report covers more than one company, please list the other companies covered by the report on 'Organisation Details' page of your report. You may want to look at your last year's report as a guide to what has been covered previously. If there have been major changes from previous reports, please detail these in an attachment or letter or by using the online [change of details form]. All employees in a corporate group must be covered by a report. EOWA may contact you to clarify information about the companies you have listed.
    
    
18. I want to set up an equal opportunity committee. Do you have any guidelines?
    EOWA has not developed formal guidelines on establishing an equal opportunity committee but has general information about the principles of good consultation. Initially you will need to work out whether a committee is the best way to consult in your organisation and what you want the committee to achieve. It is important to consult with employees at the earliest stages of the equal opportunity planning process. To increase the success of your consultative committee, ensure that representatives are trained, have time and support to carry out their duties, and that these representatives have the support and trust of staff. Ideally there should be equal representation of employees and management. "Strategies to Engage Men as EO Partners" and a resource on "How to Develop and Maintain Management Commitment" may also be useful.
    
    
19. Do you have any sample surveys?
    To obtain free of charge validated surveys that you can use within your organisation, download the Employee Opinion Survey.
    
    
20. How do I get information on best practice initiatives and copies of best practice reports?
    EOWA has a range of information on initiatives relevant to your workplace program. Case Studies are examples of how organisations have addressed an issue in their workplace. Employment Matter Resources have practical examples, tools and guidelines which can enable you to address issues in your organisation.  Research and Resources has industry relevant information such as trends and data on flexible working, paid maternity leave, workforce and occupation trends and much more.

Public Reports are published on the EOWA website on The Online Searchable Database of Reports.