Workplace Diversity

Staff are employed under the Public Service Act 1999. The Australian Public Service (APS) is a career-based public service that provides workplaces that are free from discrimination, patronage and favouritism; and recognises the diversity of the Australian community and fosters diversity in the workplace.

The Commission, by virtue of its small size, does not have the capacity to develop a specific and comprehensive workplace diversity program. However, the Commission celebrates and encourages diversity in its team and workplace. We comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, the Equal Employment Opportunity (Commonwealth Authorities) Act 1987, the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 and the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. Our people management policies seek to eliminate employment-related disadvantages that can come with an individual's gender, race, ethnicity or disability; being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; or being a member of a group that, from time to time, is identified as having an employment-related disadvantage.

For example, in all of our recruitment practices we actively promote and encourage applications from people with a living experience of mental health difficulties, a disability and/or are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, or come from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds. We encourage applicants to indicate this in their application. In particular, we seek to be an employer that is responsive to the needs of staff experiencing a mental health issue, recognising that the recovery journey is unique to each person and that having meaningful work, and a supportive workplace, is good for mental health and wellbeing. Wherever possible we will participate in whole of APS recruitment programs and we will progressively strengthen measures that foster our workplace diversity.