What is Substantive Equality?

Substantive Equality means a ‘one size fits all’ model for service delivery is no longer an effective means of providing services to a community with different needs.

When all people have access to a public service that best meets the different needs of WA’s diverse community, then Substantive Equally in the public service can be achieved.

Substantive Equality in WA recognises the distinct status of Aboriginal people as the first Australians and as citizens of Australia.

What is systemic racism?

Systemic racism is racism embedded in the policies and practices of organisations. While often unintentional, systemic racism can exclude certain people from full participation in the services provided by these organisations.

Organisations may think that by treating everyone the same, they are providing the best service to everybody, however certain Indigenous, minority or marginalised members of the community have specific needs and need to be treated differently to have those needs met.

A core challenge for organisations addressing systemic racism is the need to think beyond the actions of people within the organisation. We need to see how institutional structures, routine practices and work place cultures combine to produce inequality.

What does the Substantive Equality Unit do?

The Substantive Equality Unit was established within the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) in 2006.

The Unit focuses on preventing systemic race discrimination by assisting major public sector organisations to assess their services so fair outcomes can be achieved.

For further information about the Policy Framework for Substantive Equality and its implementation, please contact an officer within the Substantive Equality Unit on (08) 9216 3909 or by email at seu@eoc.wa.gov.au or go to the Equal Opportunity Commission website. Equal Opportunity Commission website at http://www.eoc.wa.gov.au