Workforce diversity and equity

Introduction

We are committed to recruiting and training diverse staff to ensure our organisation reflects our client base and our state.

Our staff networks

Legal Aid NSW has five staff networks that allow staff from diverse backgrounds to connect, share their experiences and provide feedback and advice to Legal Aid NSW leadership.

• Aboriginal Staff Network.
• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Staff Network.
• disAbility Staff Network.
• Legally Queer Staff Network.
• Young Professionals Network.

Our staff networks were crucial contributors to our Legal Aid NSW Disability Inclusion Action Plan and Cultural Competence and Diversity Framework. For more information, see Meeting the needs of diverse clients.

Project Respect

In August 2023, we completed our work on Project Respect and released the project’s final report. Project Respect engaged staff to discuss what a fair, respectful and inclusive workplace means to ensure every staff member has an equal opportunity to thrive at Legal Aid NSW. The Chairs of our pride, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and disAbility staff networks, as well as the Aboriginal advisory group on behalf of the Aboriginal Staff Network, worked with external consultants to develop a set of recommendations based on insights gained from consultations with staff. Our Executive accepted 44 of the 46 recommendations. The recommendations were incorporated as actions under the Legal Aid NSW Strategic Plan 2023–2028 and are being implemented.

Changes we have made as a result of Project Respect include:

• implementing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board chaired by the CEO, which includes co-chairs from each of our staff networks
• providing anti-racism training for all staff
• updating our anti-racism and discrimination policies
• establishing a Respectful Workplace Team within our HR Division, and
• creating a new complaints and dispute resolution framework.

Partnering with JobAccess to improve recruitment for people with disability

JobAccess is a national government hub that provides workplace and employment information for people with disability and employers who want to hire them. The National Disability Recruitment Coordinator is the employer engagement arm of JobAccess and is funded by the Department of Social Services to support larger employers in building disability initiatives and confidence.

We have been working in partnership with JobAccess to assist with workplace adjustments, and they completed a review of our recruitment practices through the lens of a person with disability. JobAccess was impressed with our practices and has provided some suggestions for improvement. Their recommendations will be included in our Disability Inclusion Action Plan, which will be finalised and implemented in 2024–25.

The year ahead

• We will turn on the Microsoft 365 pronoun feature, which gives employees the option of including their pronouns on their profile cards and making them visible to people on Microsoft Teams.
• We will continue to prioritise staff safety, health and wellbeing and embed an inclusive and respectful culture so we can attract, retain, develop and reward a highly engaged workforce.