Women's Employment and Development Strategy
Making the public sector work better for women is the sector-wide women’s employment and development strategy to improve women’s recruitment, development and retention between 2008 and 2012. You can also read a summary of the strategy and a fact sheet.
Making the public sector work better for women commits the NSW public sector to achieving these benchmarks by 2012:
- maintain women’s representation at a minimum of 60%
- increase women’s representation in non-traditional occupations from 16% to 20%
- increase women’s representation in senior positions (grade 12 and above or equivalent) from 28% to 35%.
In partnership with agencies, the Department of Premier and Cabinet will also develop benchmarks to reduce the pay gap.
To support achievement of these benchmarks, the Department of Premier and Cabinet will coordinate the following programs and initiatives:
- training and an online resource kit to support line and human resources managers to implement flexible work practices
- an e-mentoring program for women building their careers in regional and remote areas, in non-traditional occupations and in senior positions
- a career mobility program piloted with mid-career finance professionals
- an annual conference for women building their careers
- four agency-hosted Senior Women’s Network events each year
- scholarships and a child care subsidy for women to undertake the Executive Fellows Program at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government
- CEO Kits to help agencies to attract and retain women’s talent at senior levels.
Making the public sector work better for women will help to make the public sector a preferred employer for women. It aligns with the Government’s broader NSW Public Sector Workforce Strategy 2008-2012 which supports the State Plan.
In June 2007, 300 women participated in two Women’s Forums held in the Sydney CBD, Parramatta, and eight regional locations around NSW to identify practical agency and sector level actions to improve women’s recruitment, development and retention.
In December 2007, the Department of Premier and Cabinet hosted a Senior Women’s Network meeting at which 110 senior officer and senior executive women shared their ideas and offered feedback on how best to improve women’s career paths and strategically develop women’s skills and capabilities.
Making the public sector work better for women also reflects the insight and input of human resources, learning and development, equity, and line managers, and unions, representing every agency in the sector.
