The Gender Equality Act (2020) outlines five key tasks that organisations (referred to as duty holders) need to do to comply with its requirements.
Each task has specific due dates and obligations, which are outlined in the table.
Task | Due dates | More information |
| Gender impact assessment | Ongoing obligation | Summary information of your assessments is included in progress reports due every two years. |
| Audit | 2025 audit due on 1 December 2025 2027 audit due on 1 December 2027 2029 audit due on 1 December 2029 | Workplace gender audits are completed every two years. Current plans cover the period 2021 – 2025. |
| Gender equality action plan (GEAP) | 2026 GEAP due on 1 May 2026 2030 GEAP due on 1 May 2030 | Gender equality action plans are completed every four years. Current plans cover the period 2021 – 2025. |
| Progress report | 2026 progress report due on 1 May 2026 2028 progress report due on 1 May 2028 2030 progress report due on 1 May 2030 | Progress reports are completed every two years. Current reports cover the period 2023- 2025. |
| Promote gender equality | Ongoing obligation | Your gender equality action plan describes how your organisation promotes gender equality. |
Audit reporting period timelines
For most duty holders, your audit will cover data from the previous financial year. For example, for the 2027 audit, the reporting period is 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Universities have a different reporting timeline. This aligns with their existing obligations under the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Cth).
The reporting period for universities is 1 April to 31 March for the previous year. For example, for the 2027 audit, the reporting period for universities is 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Note that submission dates remain the same for all duty holders including universities.
See the infographics below for further detail on audit reporting periods and submission dates.
Reporting periods for duty holders (except universities)
Reporting periods for universities
Request an extension to submit an obligation
Duty holders can ask for an extension to submit a gender equality action plan (GEAP), progress report or audit.
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