Some highlights of what the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (OEEO) achieved during 2008-2009 are listed below:

• Implemented and promoted an equal employment opportunity management planning tool for local government to optimise compliance with the requirements under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (EO Act). All local governments have an EEO Management Plan in place for 2008-2011.



• Evaluated existing strategies to improve the representation of people with disabilities and liaised with stakeholder groups about the most appropriate ways to enhance assistance provided to the public sector in this area. The Supported Work Team DVD was produced to highlight to the public sector an alternative model for employing people with disabilities. The DVD was launched at the Diversity Forum held in June 2009.



• Reviewed current programs and identified targeted strategies to address areas where there is under achievement against government objectives in the Equity and Diversity Plan for the Public Sector Workforce 2006-2009 (EDP2). This led to the development of the Strategies at Work publications to showcase leading practice strategies which enhance workforce representation across the diversity groups.



• Continued to provide advice and assistance to agencies in the second year of transition from the state based Minimum Obligatory Information Requirements system to the national Workforce Analysis Comparison Application system.



• Provided input into the Public Sector Indigenous Employment National Overview paper. The report provides an overview of Indigenous public sector employment strategies in Australian jurisdictions and New Zealand.



• Developed and implemented an EEO consultancy framework/toolkit to assist consultants work with public authorities to meet their EEO targets; showcase successful cross-sector strategies; and develop, implement and review their EEO management planning.



• The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity was awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation by CRS Australia in recognition of the employment opportunities extended to people with disabilities through the EDP2 initiative.

Key initiatives planned for 2009-2010

The OEEO has identified a number of priorities for 2009-2010 that include:

• Assist the government to advance the diversity agenda and work collaboratively with Public Sector Commission to develop innovative strategies to progress equity and diversity in a contemporary public sector.



• Evaluate existing strategies for improving the representation of diversity groups that are currently under represented in the public sector workforce. Liaise with stakeholder groups to find ways to enhance assistance provided by the OEEO to the public sector in these areas



• Liaise with local government stakeholder groups to find ways to enhance assistance provided by the OEEO to local government for equity and diversity planning.



• Hold regular Diversity Forums on equity and diversity issues.



• Review and update OEEO tools and resources.



• Work with agencies using the national WACA system to ensure appropriate equity and diversity data for public authorities in Western Australia can be collected, maintained and reported.