Welcome to the Women in Defence website.
In a time of demographic change, the ADF cannot afford to ignore 50 percent of Australia’s population and be seen as unwelcoming and inflexible due to its outdated policies and procedures.
In today’s world women and men want, and need, work and family life and need to find ways to balance the two commitments. Policy, practice and culture need to accept this and ensure it is acceptable and normal for men and women to take extended leave from work or utilise flexible working arrangements. Defence is doing more to ensure women are able to meet both commitments. Each of the Services is implementing initiatives to ensure this occurs.
The Chief of the Defence Force released his Action Plan for the Recruitment and Retention of Women on 19 November 2009. The Action Plan has 29 initiatives grouped under six themes. It is an ambitious and challenging agenda that will touch everyone in the ADF in some way, shape or form. I encourage you to find out more about the initiatives, what they mean for you and how you can contribute to them.
We live in a world of opportunity. It is important today’s women pursue and embrace these opportunities to pave the foundation for the future. The challenge for each of us is to continue to change so women can realise their personal and professional goals, whatever they may be.