Australian women executives, general managers, & managers in the aged care private sector are paid 8% - 18% less than their male peers.
© Danielle Robertson Consulting Pty Ltd t/as DR Care Solutions
For the first time, the Commonwealth Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA)[1] last week released its gender pay gap data across private sector employers with more than 100 employees.
This means that you can go into the WGEA Data Explorer tool[2], find an employer and explore differences between the pay levels of their men and women employees, and find out what they plan to do about it.
On releasing the data, WGEA said that across all employers in all sectors, 50% have a gender pay gap of over 9.1%. An acceptable pay gap is +/-5%[3].
Women executives and general managers are paid around 8% less than their male counterparts.
Women managers are paid around 18% less than their male counterparts.
So this International Women’s Day (8 March 2024), if you hold one of these roles, consider the opportunity WGEA has given you to have a conversation with your employer about your level of pay.
If you work for a smaller organisation and/or hold a different role, explore the data to see whether your male counterpart is paid more, and if necessary, start a conversation.
Last year we started celebrating our women leaders in the aged care private sector and we’re keeping that tradition.
Within the 20 largest residential care providers in Australia[4], we celebrate the leadership of:
Rachel Argaman, CEO of Opal since May 2018
Linda Mellors, CEO of Regis since September 2019
Tracey Burton, CEO of Uniting & Wesley Mission NSW since April 2018
Ingrid Harvey, CEO of Blue Cross since March 2022
Angela Nolan, CEO of Mercy Services since October 2022
Janet Muir, CEO of RSL LifeCare since September 2022
Cathy Thomas, Group Executive, Blue Care since February 2019
Maryann Curry, Chief Executive, Residential Care, Anglicare (Sydney), since April 2023
And within the 20 largest home care package providers[4] we celebrate:
Prue Bowden, CEO, Home Health, Australian Unity
Dale Fisher AM, CEO, Silverchain
Deidre McGill, Chief Operating Officer, Home & Community Support, Bolton Clarke
Sarah Warner, Co-Franchise Owner, Home Instead
Sarah Newman, General Manager, BaptistCare at Home NSW & ACT
Geraldine Lannon, CEO, Baptcare
Sue Cooke, Executive Director, Anglicare Southern Queensland
Mel Ottaway, Executive Manager, Community & Living Services , Resthaven
Bernadette Gotch, CEO, KinCare
Catherine Daley, CEO, Integratedliving Australia
Lynda Chalmers, CEO, Care Connect
Karen Sahli, Co-Franchise Owner, Right at Home
Cassandra Matthews, Chief Executive, Seniors Living, Anglicare (Sydney)
The leader listings have been researched and compiled by DR Care Solutions.
In a sector dominated by women employees (81%)[2], one would naturally expect a majority representation of women in chief executive and general manager positions. For those holding these positions, take a look at WGEA’s recent pay gap data release.
Need help caring for or supporting a loved one? Please feel free to call me, Danielle Robertson, at any time for an initial complimentary discussion on how to set up the right care, support and assistance at the right time and in the right place.
[1] Australian Government Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA)
[2] WGEA Data Explorer
[3] WGEA Employer Gender Pay Gaps Published First Time
[4] KPMG Aged Care Market Analysis 2023