What is EEO?

What is EEO?

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) is about ensuring that all employees have equal access to the opportunities that are available at work by:

• making sure that workplaces are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment, and
• providing programs to assist members of EEO groups to overcome past or present disadvantage (EEO strategies could include workplace rules, policies, practices and behaviours e.g. recruitment programs and access to training and career development).

EEO groups are people affected by past or continuing disadvantage or discrimination in employment. As a result they may be more likely to be unemployed or working in lower paid jobs. These groups are:

• women
• Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders
• members of racial, ethnic, and ethno-religious minority groups
• people with a disability

Although agencies will only be required to report on the groups listed above, all agencies are encouraged to consider EEO as part of broader equity and diversity frameworks. The Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 provides for the fair treatment of all groups within the community, and includes provisions for age and carers responsibilities.

Equal Employment Opportunity is an outcome, not just a process.