This factsheet supports duty holders working in emergency management to use gender-disaggregated data in their work. It builds on the Commission’s Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) toolkit (Step 1: Define the issues and challenge assumptions), providing sector-specific examples.
Use it to help:
- identify what data you need and where to find it
- how it can inform your GIA
- support community consultation for GIAs.
You can download a copy of this factsheet at the bottom of this page.
Data collection in emergency management
Emergency management (EM) uses data to understand community needs and responses. Many organisations use this data to plan, respond to, and recover from emergencies.
Different organisations work together before, during and after emergencies. The State Emergency Management Plan outlines the roles and responsibilities of organisations in EM.
Its important to hear from a wide range of people, including:
- community members
- multicultural and multi-faith groups
- local First Nations communities
- people with disability.
What data is required for a GIA?
Under the Gender Equality Act 2020, duty holders are required to assess the effects that a public policy, program or service may have on people of different genders. To do this, a GIA relies on gender-disaggregated data.
What is gender-disaggregated data?
Gender-disaggregated data is information broken down by gender. It helps to show differences in experiences, behaviours and outcomes for people of different genders. For example, it can show differences in access, participation and policy impacts. Gender-disaggregated data can reveal inequalities that might be missed in overall statistics. It can guide more inclusive and effective decisions.
Examples of gender-disaggregated data
Example 1: Economic recovery
Disaggregating wage data can reveal differences in how a community recovers after an emergency.
Non-disaggregated data
44% of people in this local government area earn below minimum wage.
This shows financial hardship, but not how this issue affects different groups.
Gender-disaggregated data
51% of women earn below minimum wage, compared to 34% of men.
This shows that women are more likely to experience financial hardship than men.
Example 2: Flood preparedness
Preparedness programs and communications are often delivered by control agencies or relevant organisations. These examples illustrate how data can be used, regardless of who delivers the activity.
Gender-disaggregated and intersectional data can uncover differences in access to preparedness information.
Non-disaggregated data
72% of residents felt informed about how to prepare for floods.
This looks positive, but it does not show which groups are missing out.
Gender-disaggregated data
79% of men felt informed about how to prepare for floods, compared to 59% of women.
This shows that women may face more barriers to accessing preparedness information.
Intersectional data
55% of respondents (58% of men and 51% of women) who speak English as an additional language felt informed about how to prepare for floods.
Now we start to see what is really going on. This highlights the combined impact of gender and cultural diversity on access to information.
How to gather gender-disaggregated data for your GIA
You can collect data for a GIA from several sources. This can depend on the context of your policy, program or service. The aim is to gather enough information to address the gendered impacts and intersecting forms of inequality.
1. Use existing/internal data
Look at resident demographic data, community engagement reports, or previous GIAs. Specific examples include:
- community meetings or engagement activities
- community or economic development surveys
- Emergency Relief Centre intake data
- targeted surveys exploring the experience of emergencies
- notes from focus groups or previous planning or consultation processes (for example, regional emergency management plan, municipal emergency management plan or sub-plans)
Some of this data may be collected by other organisations. You may need to work with partners to access or use it.
2. Supplement with desktop research
Look at census data, government reports, or research studies. These sources can help you identify trends and intersectional impacts. Specific examples include:
- Victorian Women’s Health Atlas
- .idcommunity
- Australian Journal of Emergency Management
- Inspector-General for Emergency Management
- Gender and Disaster Australia
- Municipal Association of Victoria
- Gender Responsive Resilience and Intersectionality in Policy and Practice
- Gender and Sexual Minorities in Disaster Risk Reduction: A Reference Guide
3. Collect new data
Conduct community engagement and consultations with diverse stakeholders to gather firsthand perspectives. This could include surveys, focus groups, or interviews. You may also support or partner in engagement activities with different organisations, depending on your role. Using a mix of approaches will help you build a clear picture of gendered impacts and support more equitable decision-making.
For support on stakeholder engagement, see:
- GIA Toolkit
- Victorian Emergency Management Planning Toolkit for People Most at Risk
- Community Engagement for Disaster Resilience Handbook
Using data to inform you GIA options analysis
Linking your gender-disaggregated data to possible actions can be challenging. These examples show how data can help shape practical and equitable options in Step 3 of your GIA (‘Options Analysis’).
Defining at-risk populations
Gender-disaggregated data
- 45% of women and 29% of men earn below the minimum wage.
- 2,700 women and 1,400 men used homelessness services in the past year.
- 76% of family violence incidents reported in the past year were experienced by women.
What that tells us
- Women are more likely to face financial hardship.
- Women are more likely to experience housing instability.
- Women are more likely to experience family violence.
Potential options
- Consider whether women should be identified as an at-risk group within relevant emergency planning or policy documents
- Consider how women experiencing family violence may be recognised within relevant planning or policy documents.
- Review the list of actions from the national Guidelines for Emergency Management and develop a Prevention of Violence against Women in Emergencies Action Plan.
Improving emergency preparedness
Gender-disaggregated data
- 75% of rural men felt informed on bushfire preparedness, compared to 60% of rural women.
- Among culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) communities, 55% felt informed on bushfire preparedness. Within this group, 60% of men and 40% of women felt well-informed.
What that tells us
- Rural women face more barriers to preparedness information.
- CARM communities, particularly women, face cultural or language barriers to preparedness information.
Potential options
- Consider how preparedness activities or information could be made more accessible and inclusive for women and CARM communities.
- Add a gender identity question in future surveys on preparedness.
- Consider targeted engagement approaches (e.g. small group discussions) to better understand experiences of preparedness.
Improving emergency relief services
Gender-disaggregated data
- 31% of EM personnel have seen colleagues making unwelcome remarks, emails or jokes about LGBTIQA+ people.
- 23% indicated that colleagues had shown homophobic or transphobic attitudes.
- 47% felt their organisation does not meet the needs of LGBTIQA+ people.
- 51% did not feel their workplace supported inclusive services for LGBTIQA+ people.
What that tells us
- Homophobic and transphobic attitudes remain within emergency services.
- Their organisation does not meet the needs of LGBTIQA+ people.
- System-level improvements are required.
Potential options
- Provide cultural competency training about LGBTIQA+:
- identities
- rights
- challenges in emergencies.
- Consider how guidance or existing processes could support safe and welcoming Emergency Relief Centres.
- Set up safe spaces and inclusive signage. This should communicate support for LGBTIQA+ personnel and community members.
If you are stuck for options to consider, Gender and Disaster Australia’s Gender and Emergency Management Checklist provides a comprehensive list of policy, program and service options to consider for inclusion in a GIA.
Download a copy of this factsheet:
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