Equity & Diversity Annual Report – 2002 Foreword

This is the Bank's fifteenth annual report as required under the Equal Employment Opportunity (Commonwealth Authorities) Act 1987. It has been given a new name reflecting a wider policy focus, and has a changed format.

A four year workplace diversity plan was developed during 2001/02. In line with Government advice regarding Commonwealth employers' obligations under the above Act, the plan recognises the importance of workplace diversity and encourages the inclusion of diversity strategies in organisational plans. To better reflect the increased focus on diversity issues, the EEO Policy Committee has been renamed the Equity & Diversity Policy Committee.

Diversity covers gender, age, language, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, religious belief, and family responsibilities. Diversity also refers to the other ways in which people are different, such as educational level, life experience, work experience, socio-economic background, personality and marital status.

Workplace diversity builds on and broadens the principles of equal employment opportunity (EEO) by recognising the positive contribution that diverse skills, talents and perspectives can make to the workplace. EEO policies address continued disadvantage experienced by particular groups of people in the workplace, including women, Indigenous Australians, people with disabilities and those who suffer disadvantage on the basis of race-ethnicity. These policies remain an important foundation for the Bank's workplace diversity policies.

Under the Bank's Workplace Diversity Plan it is important that the values associated with equal employment opportunity – fairness, merit, equity and natural justice – are maintained and enhanced.

GH Board
Chairperson
Equity & Diversity Policy Committee