By ALESHA CAPONE
WOMEN’S Health West has called for strategies to strengthen female access to education and employment, with statistics revealing women in the region are paid significantly less on average than men.
In Brimbank, 62 per cent of women earn $599 or less per week, compared to 44 per cent of men.
In the neighbouring municipality of Melton, 56 per cent of females earn $599 or less per week, compared to 32 per cent of men.
Within Wyndham 55 per cent of women earn $599 or less per week, next to 31 per cent of the opposite gender.
In Hobsons Bay, 54 per cent of women earn $599 or less per week, while only 37 per cent of men earn that amount.
In Maribyrnong, 52 cent of women earn $599 or less per week, compared to 38 per cent of men.
These figures do not include residents in the West who are on a negative income.
On average, Australian women earn 83 cents for every dollar earned by a man.
Women’s Health West CEO Dr Robyn Gregory said contributing factors to women’s low wages included unsupportive working arrangements for child-rearing, underpaid feminised industries and an over-representation of women in casual and non-career part-time employment.
“The persistent gender wage gap in Australia has profound implications for women’s financial security and their access to resources that support health, safety and wellbeing,” Dr Gregory said.
“This leads to inequality, poor health outcomes, and vulnerability to violence in the home.
“Across the western region, women report a lower individual weekly income than their male counterparts.
“Given the proportions of women who report low individual weekly incomes in the West, it is imperative that we develop and implement strategies that strengthen women’s access to education, employment and higher income opportunities.”
