Our EEO & Diversity Forums provide an opportunity for those who share an interest in workplace diversity to come together and hear about relevant issues and to network with colleagues. While the role of the Office of EEO is to work with the State and local government sectors, the Forums are open to anyone from State, Federal, local government and the private sector.

September 2006 - Lifting Our Game – Improved Representation For People With Disabilities in the Public Sector

This Forum focussed on recruitment of people with disabilities into the Western Australian public sector workforce. The morning’s program included a presentation from representatives from ACE, the Disability Employment Network (DEN) peak body. Trevor Paterson and Brian Park spoke on how ACE members could assist agencies in sourcing and placing people with disabilities into their workforce. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation given by the ACE representatives is available as well as details of all ACE members in WA.

The Forum attendees then heard from representatives of two public sector agencies – the City of Cockburn and the University of WA – on their use of supported work teams. Their presentation was prefaced by an introduction on the use of supported work teams from Shirley Russell of South Metropolitan Personnel, one of the disability employment agencies that assist disabled workers to enter the workforce. A copy of Shirley’s presentation and transcript of the presentation is available, plus further information on assistance available to organisations interested in utilising the teams approach to employment of people with disabilities.

A transcript of the presentation given by Jill Zumach, the Social Service Team Leader at the City of Cockburn and David Gibson, one of the Team members at Cockburn, is available.

We then heard about the SWEAT Project from another DEN member - EDGE Employment Solutions - and Central TAFE. SWEAT (or Supported Work Experience into Traineeships and Apprenticeships) is a career development strategy which aims to give Year 11 students with a disability the opportunity to work in agencies via traineeships or apprenticeships. Central TAFE told attendees how they had taken on three young people in a range of different roles in their organisation. Further information on the SWEAT program can be obtained by contacting EDGE Employment Solutions.

The Forum concluded with a description from the OEEO on its forthcoming updated on-line version of the publication “Accessing Abilities”, which will provide an overview of the key issues associated with employment of people with disabilities. It will also provide a useful tool in disability awareness raising activities within agencies.

A copy of the Office of EEO presentation is also available.

June 2006 - Equity & Diversity Plan for the Public Sector Workshop 2006-2009

This Forum showcased the Government’s new Equity and Diversity Plan for the Public Sector Workforce 2006-2009, which had been released bythe Premier earlier in June. The afternoon’s program included a presentation on the key points of the new Plan from Noela Taylor, the Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment. She outlined the whole-of-Government strategies for priority areas within the Plan and emphasised the necessity of agencies developing their own Plans to ensue that sector wide targets were met. There was also a brief overview of the new on-line e-Planning tool, which was expected to be available for agencies to use in July.

A copy of the Office of EEO presentation is available.

The Forum attendees then heard from representatives of three public sector agencies on how they had gone about developing equity and diversity Plans within their organisations in the past

A copy of the Power Point slides used by the agency representatives are available below.

• Public Transport Authority
• Department of the Attorney General
• Department of Culture and the Arts

The afternoon concluded with a panel forum when the audience had an opportunity to put questions to panel members and staff from the Office of EEO on issues associated with EEO planning.

March 2006 - Youth

Introduction

This Forum focussed on recruitment, retention and development of young people in the public sector. The morning’s program included a presentation from Michelle Reynolds, the acting Assistant Director General of the Public Sector Management Division of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Michelle spoke on the various Government's youth programmes, and how agencies might best compete for the diminishing numbers of young people entering the labour market.

Michelle's PowerPoint presentation.

The Forum attendees then heard from representatives of two public sector agencies, that have been ‘putting into practice’ strategies to ensure that they build their workforce of the future.

• Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPI)
• Main Roads WA

The morning concluded with a panel of young speakers who are (or have recently been) participating in either a traineeship or graduate programme within DPI or Main Roads. They were asked to discuss their own personal experiences, based around the following questions:

• Which programme are you participating in, and how long have you been in the programme?
• What attracted you to the programme?
• How well do you think the programme had delivered against expectations you had when you first started in, or first heard about the programme? (Comment here could focus on issues such as: what types of support participants have had (coaching, mentoring, etc.); did they receive an appropriate induction into the public sector and the agency in which they were placed.)
• What could there be 'more of', and 'less of' in the programme in which you are participating?
• What are you looking for in your next role in the sector, and do you have long-term plans to work in the public sector?

All panel members spoke positively about their experience in participating in the various programmes, and how beneficial it had been to their own careers and personal development.