The gender pay gap is real – and in most cases, it’s women whose financials fare worse.
But one elite West Australian all boys’ school is bucking the traditional gender pay gap trend – and favouring women, with salaries of almost 200 per cent more than men.
The figures from East Perth’s Trinity College create a unique gender pay gap – and one much larger than any other Australian school.
The inaugural gender pay gap report released yesterday by The Workplace Gender Equality Agency reveals a 194 per cent pay gap at Trinity College, with female staff members benefiting. The release of the report marks the first time the gender pay gaps of nearly 5000 private-sector Australian businesses have been showcased.
Nationwide, private schools are among the eight per cent of the country’s large employers with pay gaps in favour of women.
Not all top private schools are paying female teachers more
The number puts the prestigious private school well above the next school on the list – a New South Wales school with a pay gap of 71.6 per cent – and goes against the clear national trend that shows Australian companies, on average, are paying men around 20 per cent more for the same job.
The top 20 list for biggest pay gaps featured two other WA schools that both paid more in favour of women – Scotch College with a gap of just over 24 per cent and Wesley College with a gap of more than 26 per cent.
But the news was tempered by the revelation that WA’s South Coast Baptist College had a gender pay gap of 44.6 per cent in favour of men.
Publicity of company pay gaps is positive
Workplace Gender Equality Agency chief executive Mary Wooldridge says the decision to publicise company-level gender pay gaps is a significant shift.
“Employers now have that public accountability for that performance,” she says.
“All employers should be aiming for a gender pay gap within +/-five per cent. This range allows for normal business fluctuations and employee movements, while signifying that an employer has a focus on identifying and addressing inequalities and is taking action to ensure there is gender equality throughout an organisation.”
The pay gaps were assessed by calculating annualised pay. They do not include partner or chief executive pay.
The publication of employer gender pay gaps is a pivotal moment for equality in Australia, says Federal Minister for Women Katy Gallagher.
“The gender pay gap is a persistent and complex problem that costs the Australian economy $51.8 billion every year,” she says.
“Transparency and accountability are critical for driving change.”
