StaffLink definition: An Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, who identifies and is accepted as such by the community in which they live or work.

This information is handled carefully to allow Aboriginal people to choose to link with local health service development, cultural, career and community information and resources where available. NSW Health also relies on this information after all personal details have been removed to report on workforce demographics and in turn respond to any changes through broader planning and support.

Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO)

NSW Health supports an equitable approach to employing people who have experienced discrimination and / or disadvantage. This ensures that the workforce reflects the community who are at greater risk of adverse health. To achieve an equal outcome, support is required to build the number of people with the skills needed for individuals, families, the community and the organisation to achieve the best possible health outcomes.

Collecting EEO Information

All new staff members are asked to identify their Equal Employment Opportunity status when starting a role in NSW Health. Current staff can also update their EEO profile directly in StaffLink, or indirectly through a member of their local Human Resources team.

Using EEO Information

De-identified aggregated staff data is provided to NSW Ministry of Health by Local Health Districts, Specialist Health Networks and Pillars to report on progress against EEO targets. NSW Health in turn provides whole of system data to the NSW Public Service Commission to enable a state-wide review of all public agency outcomes on EEO targets.

Local Health Districts, Specialist Health Networks and Pillars can use de-identified aggregated staff data to identify areas to focus recruitment and retention efforts according to both staff and client drivers, such as:

• Staff EEO ratio by Directorate or Portfolio
• Clinical priorities for engaging with Aboriginal people for example Diabetes, Cardiac and Maternity are areas where Aboriginal people experience higher rates of illness and earlier deaths than the rest of the population. Engaging Aboriginal staff members to work in these areas can assist with client engagement in care programs and outcomes.
• Staff EEO spread across the breadth and depth of the positions across the District/Network/Other service, for example, employment outcomes for Aboriginal people should be reflected equitably across all salary bands in the organisation, in clinical and non-clinical roles, and from frontline workers through to senior decision-makers.
• Selected Workforce team members’ access Equal Employment Opportunity information for the purpose of addressing procedural matters and offering individualised support and networking opportunities in line with the NSW Health Privacy Management Plan.

For more guidance on how this is used please contact your local Aboriginal Manager of Workforce Development from the Contacts page of the Stepping Up website, or e-mail the NSW Health Aboriginal Workforce Unit on
MOH-aboriginalworkforce@health.nsw.gov.au.

Instructions to update Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) status

All staff are encouraged to check and update their EEO details in StaffLink via the NSWH Employee Self Service menu, then navigate to Other Personal Information and Equal Employment Opportunity.

1. Log in to StaffLink

2. Open the menu from the “hamburger” icon in the top left corner of the screen
3. Place your mouse icon over the NSWH Employee Self Service, then Other Personal Information, then click on Equal Employment Opportunity.

4. Update your details and save.

If any technical issues arise these can be addressed using the SARA portalor by phoning the State-wide Service Desk on 1300 28 55 33.