2026 Status of Women Report Card
This resource brings together the latest national data to assess progress on gender equality across areas such as work, leadership, safety, health, and education, highlighting both gains and ongoing challenges.
The report shows positive trends, including a record workforce participation rate of 63.1% in 2025, improved representation of women in leadership, and a narrowing of the gender pay gap. Along with this, Australia is ranked 13th for gender equality internationally, which is its highest score ever.
However, the report emphasises that progress is uneven, with persistent issues continuing to impact women’s wellbeing and opportunities, such as:
- unpaid care;
- high rates of intimate partner and gender-based violence;
- gender-based attitudes and norms;
- labour market segregation;
- economic inequality and insecurity;
- issues with healthcare access; and
- emerging risks like technology-facilitated abuse.
Overall, the report card is a way to track progress, inform policy, and identify where further action is needed to achieve sustained and equitable outcomes for all women in Australia.
Downloads and links
About Community Work Australia
From setting educational standards through to determining an ethical practice framework, we support community workers in every sphere of their work life.
Set up over 50 years ago, we exist to ensure that the community benefits from an ethical and well-qualified community work labour force.