Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner visits HSV

In early April, HSV hosted a highly engaging and enlightening visit from Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner Dr Niki Vincent, who met with the executive team and Board representatives.

The group enjoyed a wide-ranging discussion with Dr Vincent on our work to improve gender equality at HSV while Chief People and Safety Officer Mel Nolet provided a comparison of HSV statistics over the past three years.

One of the areas Dr Vincent was particularly interested in was our work to improve our gender composition at our DC workplaces.

“From starting at 100 per cent men in our distribution operations area when HSV was formed, we now have 32 per cent women/68 per cent men,” says Mel Nolet.

“It’s thanks to a deliberate focus to build a gender-balanced workforce at the greenfield Dandenong South DC, while continuing to improve the balance at the Derrimut site over time.”

Acting Chief Logistics Officer Alan Booth shared that the experience of having more women at the Dandenong South DC is positive and helps build connections. He says the team aims to build a similar approach and culture at the Derrimut DC.

The group noted that PPE (personal protective equipment) designs are typically based on a male standard, however HSV’s product reference group practice assesses PPE for efficacy and comfort, with PPE items modelled by both women and men.

Dr Vincent talked about the Commission’s work to bring together best practice from around the world – including in the emerging digital space.

She noted that pay gaps are a persistent global problem and that pay gaps favour men regardless of gender mix. Dr Vincent compared HSV’s current pay gap of three per cent in favour of men favourably to other organisations – noting fluctuations in recent years as senior roles have changed.

Other topics discussed included sexual harassment reporting and our internal Speak Up program, which is helping to increase the frequency of formal complaints and decrease anonymous reporting.

“We greatly appreciated hearing the perspectives of Victoria’s first Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner and candid stories from her lived experience,” says Mel.

“For many of the team the insights we heard from Dr Vincent were illuminating and thought-provoking, yet all too familiar for others.”

Victorian public entities collect and report data against the seven workplace gender equality indicators and are required to show how they create positive change and drive progress against the indicators.  

HSV has published a Gender Equality Action Plan which outlines our commitment to taking positive action towards achieving workplace gender equality. Our current plan expires in June 2025 and we are commencing work on a new plan.

Above image: Staff at HSV's Dandenong South DC