THE HON. GREG COMBET AM MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
ACM ANGUS HOUSTON
Chief of the Defence Force
19 November 2009
104 /2009
NEW WOMEN’S PLAN TO DRIVE CULTURAL CHANGE IN DEFENCE
Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, and Air Chief Marshal
Angus Houston, the Chief of the Defence Force, announced today The Chief of the Defence
Force Action Plan for the Recruitment and Retention of Women at Parliament House.
“The ADF is moving to become more representative of the community it serves. While much
has been done to improve the recruitment and participation rates of women, Defence
recognises there is more to do,” said Mr Combet.
“This Action Plan being launched today will improve workplace flexibility, career
management, accountability, mentoring and communication across Defence raising retention
and Defence’s profile as an employer.
“The Plan has at its heart a cultural change program that will impact on everyone in Defence
at every level and workplace.
“The next few years will see changes to the performance appraisal system, career
management philosophies and practices, and personnel policies for the benefit of the women
and men in Defence and the general community.
“These changes will see a more sustainable and representative ADF workforce to best meet
the strategic challenges of the future,” Mr Combet said.
The Action Plan was developed after nearly 18 months of consultation with The Chief of the
Defence Force Reference Group on Women and 17 roundtables with 200 ADF women
across Australia.
Air Chief Marshal Houston said the Action Plan built on achievements and initiatives already
in place and introduced new measures to increase the options and attractiveness of an ADF
career.
“Defence wants to be recognised as an employer that values its members and provides them
with conditions of service that support, enable and encourage their personal circumstances
whatever they may be,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.
For further information about the Action Plan visit:
Media contacts:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet):
02 6277 7620 or 0458 276 619
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
