Diversity and Inclusion at Department of Health

The Department of Health acknowledges and respects the importance of diversity in its workforce and its representation of the community they serve. They are seeking to build a culture where flexible work arrangements are for everyone, and the health and wellbeing of their staff is invested in.

At Health, they recognise the benefits of diversity within an organisation, including increased innovation, improved understanding of-and service to-clients, and attraction of talent from the widest possible pool of potential staff. The department engages in diversity initiatives such as facilitating a number of diversity-related staff networks which are supported by members of the Senior Executive Service Champions.

The Department of Health’s Gender Equality Network is an informal staff-led network committed to supporting gender equality and flexible work by advocating for an inclusive culture. Gender diversity initiatives include:

• Gender Equality Blueprint 2017-20
• Flexible work hours 
• Home-based work guidelines 
• Domestic and Family Violence Policy
• Gender Equality Network membership

The department is committed to providing a workplace which is culturally safe and inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They recognise and value the diverse and extensive knowledge, skills and experiences that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people bring to the department and commit to providing opportunities for professional and personal development.

This commitment is supported by the following:

• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Network (NATSISN) which is an informal network run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.  
• NATSISN’s affiliate membership, Friend of the Network, through which non-Indigenous employees can show their commitment to reconciliation and learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and communities.
• 2017-19 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Champions
• Cultural Appreciation Program
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Employment and Retention Strategy

• The department’s Disability and Carers Network provides a forum for staff with disability, people who provide unpaid care and support to family members to speak up with confidence regarding issues and challenges. The network is supported by three Disability and Carers Champions. The Champions represent the network to the executive and the department to the wider Australian Public Service (APS).
• The network participates in a series of events each year to raise awareness including the Australian Network on Disability (AND) Conference, International Day of People with Disability and National Carers Week.
• The Accessibility Action Plan 2016-2019 (AAP) outlines how the department works towards their goal to make Health an employer of choice for people with disability and those who care for people with disability.
• There are also several policies in place to support staff including: the Workplace Adjustment Policy and Guidelines, Workplace Adjustment Passport, Flexible Working Arrangements, Home Based Work Guidelines, Early Intervention, Domestic and Family Violence, Fitness for Duty and Workplace Rehabilitation.

• Health Pride is the department’s employee-led network for lesbian gay, bisexual transgender and intersex (LGBTI) staff and their allies. It is supported by Senior Executive Pride Champions, who actively raise awareness for staff through events and advocate on behalf of their LGBTI employees.
• The Health Pride Network celebrates a number of events and initiatives during the year including: Wear it purple Day; International Transgender Awareness Week; International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT); and World AIDS Day.
• The department is an ongoing member of Pride in Diversity, a member-based organisation that supports the department to meet its responsibilities to staff, by assisting them to conduct training and awareness sessions for all staff.

• The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Network promotes and celebrates cultural and linguistic diversity across the Department of Health, supports staff to share the wealth of their culture, display their talents and promote the appreciation of other cultures. The Network also collaborates and synergises with other CaLD networks.
• The network participates in a series of events each year to raise awareness and engage with each other, including Harmony Day and various Network activities designed to celebrate CaLD diversity and inclusion.

The Department of Health is a member of the following best-practice organisations and programs:

• Pride in Diversity, encouraging LGBTI inclusion in our workplace
• Gold membership with Australian Network on Disability
• Diversity Council of Australia
• Health participates in the Jawun Indigenous secondment program, Pat Turner Scholarship & Sir Roland Wilson PHD Scholarship 
• Health works with Reconciliation Australia on the development of their Reconciliation Action Plan.