Diversity and inclusion
As part of the Australian Public Service, we want to represent the community we serve. We embrace and celebrate diversity and welcome all people to work with us.
We have dedicated initiatives to encourage applications and support people from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds working with us.
On this page:
Employee networks and working groups
From day one, FWO has practised what it preached with its inclusivity and its celebration of diversity. I love the freedom I have to be a staunch member of the PROUD - LGBTIQ+ Network in the FWO and continue to celebrate the full inclusion that FWO champions
– Technical Liaison Officer, based in a regional location.
We have many employee networks and working groups that promote diversity and inclusion.
These include:
- FWObility for people with disability and carers’ interest group
- PROUD! network for our LGBTQIA+ staff and allies
- FWOGen our gender equality network
- First Nations Employee network
- Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group
- a linguistically diverse register for staff who speak another language.
Supporting our people
I have the flexibility I need to manage my disabilities - mostly because I have a supportive manager who really cares about me and sees the value in making adjustments to my work arrangements to allow me to keep contributing my skills and knowledge to the workplace. I also value working in a friendly culture with people who want to help the public. I need predictability and routine and working here gives me that.
– Senior HR Adviser, based in Adelaide.
Other ways we support people from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences include:
- workplace accessibility and adjustments for people with disability
- reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process
- pathways to employment, including affirmative measures and Indigenous Apprenticeships Program
- extending opportunities for people with a disability through programs like Stepping Into
- celebrating significant events like Pride Month, Harmony Week and NAIDOC Week
- access to cultural leave
- ability to request substitution of public holidays
- flexible working arrangements that help employees balance their work and personal priorities
- development opportunities that build understanding of diversity and inclusion
- focusing on gender pay equality – the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) reported our pay gap as 2.5%, which is less than half the APS average of 5.2%.
Our memberships
The FWO is a champion of inclusivity and actually does celebrate diversity.
– Technical Liaison Officer, based in a regional location in NSW.
