Diversity

Diversity is about recognising, respecting and valuing our differences.

South Australia has a diverse population. In acknowledging Aboriginal people as the State’s first people, we also acknowledge the many people from more than 200 culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse backgrounds who call South Australia home.

We also acknowledge the wider diversity of our community, including age, ability, gender diversity, sexuality and relationship and reproductive status.

We are committed to ensuring the South Australian public sector is as diverse as the community it serves. Diversity is one of the four foundations of the Code of Ethics for the South Australian public sector.

It ensures the public sector is brings a range of perspectives, experiences and opportunities to our work.

Equity

Equity recognises each person has different circumstances and acknowledges different approaches are necessary.

Equity requires public sector agencies address structural barriers and inequalities that may exist in the workforce and takes a proactive approach to promoting fairness and justice.

The image below illustrates equity compared to equality.  Image courtesy of Interaction Institute for Social Change | Artist: Angus Maguire.

Inclusion

Inclusion is about creating a workplace culture where people feel and are respected, valued, trusted and safe to contribute the diversity of their lived experience.

Inclusion ensures the public sector is a welcoming and supportive environment for all employees and stakeholders, regardless of their background and identity.

Intersectionality

Intersectionality recognises people’s lives are shaped by their identities, relationships and social factors. These combine with attitudes, systems and structures in society. An intersectional lens or approach is required to achieve inclusion and equity.

The South Australian public sector is committed to reflecting the diverse community it serves while creating an inclusive workplace for all its people. Diversity and inclusion underpins creating a contemporary and innovative public sector, which can better serve the needs of the community.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy outlines the public sector’s continued commitment towards building a diverse, equitable and inclusive South Australian public sector workforce where everyone belongs and is valued for their uniqueness.

It includes 31 deliverables / actions to be met by 2026.

There are four key focus areas:

1. Diversity, equity and inclusion is central to all we do
   • Policies and processes across the sector prioritise inclusiveness and employees feel safe, visible and represented
2. Empowering all voices we serve
   • Employees know their concerns will be taken seriously with zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment
3. Reflecting the community we serve
   • The public sector is an inclusive employer of choice that reflects the community we serve
4. New targets to advance disability employment
   • More people living with disability choose a career within the sector and their employee experience is positive

The Strategy builds on the previous Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 and Plan, and the South Australian Public Sector Disability Employment Strategy. It has been shaped by inputs including learnings from the Disability, Diversity and Inclusion Community of Practice, the public sector employee survey results and our workforce composition.

The Strategy was endorsed by the South Australian Government’s Senior Leadership Committee and launched in December 2023.

The strategy connects all initiatives within the South Australian public sector, which are designed to create and foster workplaces where everyone belongs, including, but not limited to the:

• Anti-Racism Strategy
• State Disability Inclusion Plan
• South Australian Multicultural Charter
• South Australia’s Implementation Plan for the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
• South Australia’s Gender Pay Gap Taskforce
• Equal Opportunity’s WE’RE EQUAL program
• Autism Strategy
• WHS Cultural Safety Framework

The strategy works alongside existing frameworks and efforts to improve inclusion within the South Australian public sector. Reducing silos between diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are key to the strategy’s success.

The actions will be delivered from 2023 to 2026 and have been developed for maximum impact in elevating diversity, equity and inclusion within the public sector.

The first Diversity and Inclusion Strategy resulted in the sector working together to achieve a lot.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Many public sector agencies established their own agency diversity and inclusion strategies
• The SA Public Sector Disability Employment Strategy and Toolkit was launched
• The Disability, Diversity and Inclusion (DDI) Community of Practice was established with representation of over 120 public sector employees who champion diversity and inclusion for their agencies and across the sector
• The Aboriginal Leadership Program to advance the skills of Aboriginal employees wishing to step into a leadership role, or those wishing to develop their leadership capabilities, was delivered
• 29 public sector agencies achieved White Ribbon Workplace Accreditation, committing to a culture of zero tolerance towards violence against women
• A public sector LGBTIQA+ allies program was established and resources to promote LGBTIQA+ inclusive workplaces published.

WE’RE EQUAL, an initiative of Equal Opportunity SA, helps workplaces display zero tolerance for all forms of discrimination, bullying, and harassment. One of the deliverables under the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy is for agencies to sign up to the We’re Equal Statement of Commitment.

Click HERE to register your agency.

For more information, visit WE'RE EQUAL or contact equal@sa.gov.au.

The Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment will coordinate the governance and implementation by agencies.

Progress will be reported in the annual State of the Sector report, and to the Senior Leadership Council.

To support implementation:

• The Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Committee will function as a key leadership group with a whole-of-government perspective. It includes executive leaders from across the public sector.
• The Disability, Diversity and Inclusion Community of Practice will support through collaboration and sharing best practice. It includes members from across the public sector who actively support diversity and inclusion in their agency, across public sector agencies and / or their broader community.
• Additional public sector Community of Practice groups and networks will be engaged.

We recognise that as implementation progresses we will need to reflect on and refine the Strategy.

For more information, please email OCPSEDiversityInclusion@sa.gov.au.