The diversity of our workforce means that we are very representative of the communities we serve all over Australia. Valuing difference and acknowledging the individual skills and talents of our diverse workforce brings significant business benefits to Australia Post and plays a strong part in our being an employer of choice. Our 34,732 men and women are aged between 16 and 76, and represent 135 nationalities. In 2006/07, the number of employees from non-English speaking backgrounds increased to 21.1 per cent (20.9 per cent in 2005/06), while representation of people with disabilities fell slightly
to 8.5 per cent.
Representation of Indigenous staff also fell slightly in 2006/07 to 559 people – or 1.6 per cent of our workforce (1.7 per cent last year). Australia Post has long been a leader in Indigenous employment, with dedicated strategies in place since 1988. Since this time, some Indigenous employees have moved on to other opportunities outside Australia Post and we are proud to have been a stepping stone to employment success that might otherwise have been denied them. Our Workforce Diversity Business Strategy 2005–2008 emphasises the business value of productive diversity. The Diversity@Post Kit continues to be the cornerstone of our practical diversity program, as it records how managers have used workforce diversity to improve business outcomes. Stories are added to the kit twice yearly, forming a reference library for all managers.
Our EEO commitment also extends to people of non-English speaking backgrounds and those with disabilities. More information about our diversity and EEO initiatives can be found at auspost.com.au.
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In 2007, we celebrated 30 years since the introduction of our first equal employment opportunity (EEO) strategy. Well ahead of the majority of legislative requirements, Australia Post’s commitment to equal opportunity in the workplace has produced significant gains over that time – particularly for women. Thirty years ago, women represented 12.8 per cent of the Australia Post workforce; there were only 35 women managers and no female executives. Today, 39.8 per cent of our workforce are women, 19.4 per cent of our executives are women and 30.2 per cent of our managers are women, including 47.5 per cent of postal managers. The number of women
in management roles increased from 648 last year to 662 in the current year.