4125.0 - Gender Indicators, Australia, Aug 2013  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/08/2013   
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DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND CITIZENSHIP GLOSSARY




ASX 200 Index

An index that tracks the top 200 companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). The top 200 companies are selected based on their float-adjusted market capitalisation i.e. their liquidity as well as the number of shares on issue multiplied by the current share price.

ASX Top 200 Census data for 2002, 2003 and 2004 was based on a population of less than n=200. The 2002 ASX Census (n=152) excluded trusts and overseas based companies, and the 2003 (n=196) and 2004 (n=197) ASX Census de-duplicated several companies listed twice because of the different types of securities listed by the same company (e.g. ordinary shares and preferences).

ASX 500 Index

An index that tracks the top 500 companies listed on the ASX. The index is not float-adjusted i.e. not screened for liquidity. The 2012 Australian Census of Women in Leadership conducted by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency is the first year where data based on ASX top 500 companies has been included .

Australian Public Service (APS)

Australian Government departments and agencies where staff members are employed under the Public Service Act 1999. The APS provides the support needed to undertake the Australian Government's roles and responsibilities on behalf of the Australian people. It achieves this by providing policy advice and managing and facilitating the delivery of programs, regulations, information and services agreed by the Government.

Board directors

Those holding a seat on a company board including Executive and Non-Executive members but excluding Alternate Directors.

Cabinet

The Government's pre-eminent policy-making body, consisting of senior ministers and presided over by the Prime Minister. Major policy and legislative proposals are decided by the Cabinet.

Council for the Order of Australia

An independent advisory body, including representatives of every state and territory, public office holders (ex-officio) and community representatives, that considers all nominations for appointments and awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia. The Council consists of 19 members from across Australia who are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Council meets twice yearly to consider all nominations and make recommendations to the Governor-General on who should receive awards in the Order of Australia, as well as the level of award.

Executive managers

The most senior person in the organisation (e.g. Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director) and those who report directly to that person, including those based outside Australia. Executive managers include both executive and non-executive directors. From the 2010 Australian Census of Women in Leadership, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency adopted the term 'executive key management personnel'Executive Key Management Personnel

All Key Management Personnel who are executives of the company (thus, excluding all Non-Executive Directors).

Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)

The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) is a joint Standard and Poor’s/Morgan Stanley Capital International product aimed at standardising industry definitions. GICS consists of 10 Sectors aggregated from 24 Industry Groups, 67 Industries, and 147 Sub-Industries. Analysis in the Australian Census of Women in Leadership is at the Industry Group level system used by the Australian Stock Exchange. The Australian market has traditionally been associated with 24 industry sectors unique to this country. GICS consists of 10 economic sectors aggregated from 23 industry groups, 59 industries, and 122 sub-industries currently covering over 12,000 companies globally.

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Australian Federal Parliament, the other being the Senate. It is sometimes referred to as the 'people's house', the 'house of government' or the 'lower house'. The House has 150 members and each member represents an electoral division. Members are elected by a system known as preferential voting, under which voters rank candidates in order of preference. Each House of Representatives may continue for up to three years, after which general elections must be held.

Industry

An industry is a group of businesses or organisations that undertake similar economic activities to produce goods and services.

In this domain industry is classified according to the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). This domain uses GICS industry classification as Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) collects data on industry based on this classification.

In the 'Economic Security' domain, industry is classified according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (cat. no. 1292.0).

Line roles

Positions with responsibility for profit-and-loss or direct client service which include:
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Chief Operating Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Business Unit Head - Function based; Sales
  • Marketing, Merchandising, Customer Service
  • Production, Manufacturing, Engineering
  • Other line or function
  • Business Unit Head - Region based and other Executive Director.
Order of Australia

The highest recognition for outstanding achievement and service to the nation or humanity. There are two divisions of the Order of Australia: the General (or Civil) Division and the Military Division. Each Division has the following four levels:
  • Companion of the Order (AC) - Australia's greatest civic honour, awarded for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or humanity at large
  • Officer of the Order (AO) - awarded for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or humanity at large
  • Member of the Order (AM) - awarded for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group
  • Medal of the Order (OAM) - awarded for service worthy of particular recognition.

Nominations for the General Division come directly from the community, which are then considered by the Council for the Order of Australia. In assessing a nomination, the Council seeks to satisfy that the nominee has:
  • demonstrated achievement at a high level
  • made a contribution over and above what might be reasonably expected through paid employment, or
  • whose voluntary contribution to the community stands out from others who have also made a valuable contribution.

The Council makes recommendations direct to the Governor-General, including the level of award. The Governor-General also makes appointments to the Military Division of the Order of Australia on the recommendation of the Minister for Defence.

Appointments to the Order of Australia are publicly announced on Australia Day (26 January) and the Queen's Birthday public holiday (June).

Parliamentarian

A member of parliament.

Senate

The Senate is one of the two houses of the Australian Federal Parliament. It is sometimes referred to as the 'upper house'. It consists of 76 senators, 12 from each of the six states and two from each of the mainland territories. It shares the power to make laws with the other House of the Parliament, the House of Representatives. The Senate is elected by proportional representation, so that its composition closely reflects the voting pattern of the electors.

Support (staff) roles

Positions that have more of a corporate role with responsibility for supporting Main (or Line) business functions which include:
  • Legal
  • Company Secretary
  • Strategy, Business Development; Human Resources
  • Information Technology
  • Public Affairs, Communication; Finance, Tax
  • Other Support or Staff and Risk, Underwriting and Compliance.