Diversity and Inclusion at the Attorney-General's Department

We are committed to maintaining a culture that values, respects and fosters inclusiveness. We recognise that to be a high performing department and to reflect the diversity of the Australians we serve, we need to have a diverse workforce with diverse experiences and points of view. Our people are critical to the department’s success, and as such, our culture is one where everyone feels valued for the differences they bring. 
You will have opportunities to form strong networks through activities including the AGD Social Club, lunchtime sports and employee diversity networks including:

• PRIDE in AGD
• Celebrating Ability Network
• Indigenous Employee Network
• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Network (CALD)
• Women’s Network

AGD’s commitment to closing the gap is reflected in our Indigenous ‘Reconciliation Action Plan’.

AGD’s Indigenous Employee Network (IEN) provides support to its members and offers consolidated advice to the department on workplace issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees. The IEN partners with other parts of the department to ensure recruitment, retention and career development opportunities are provided to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees within the department.

AGD recognises and supports Indigenous Australians through annual events including:

• NAIDOC Week events
• Eddie Mabo Day
• National Reconciliation Week
• Coming of the Light 
• International Day of the World's Indigenous People 
• National Sorry Day
• Close the Gap Day 
• The Anniversary of the Apology, and 
• Australia Day – known to many Indigenous people as Survival Day.

AGS, through its pro bono program, provides free legal assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities requiring legal services.

We also support indigenous employment opportunities managed by other APS agencies including the:

• Indigenous Australian Government Development Program (IAGDP),
• Indigenous Intern Program, and
• 2022 Indigenous Graduate Pathway Program.

We are committed to building a culture that values flexibility and fosters inclusion.

Our focus is on ensuring all employees have access to inclusive and flexible work practices and that their managers, our structures, workplace conditions and systems support professional and personal circumstances. The department supports inclusive practices through:

• The Celebrating Ability Network (CAN): A network for employees committed to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace for all. We seek to represent individuals living with or supporting someone living with a disability and to increase the profile of these groups within the department. The CAN members include employees with a disability, caring responsibilities and allies passionate about helping the department become more disability aware.
• The Disability and Mental Health Action Plan (DMAP): The plan aims to address barriers that might prevent an employee or a stakeholder with a disability or long term medical or mental health condition, from fully participating in AGD’s workplace. The plan sets out meaningful actions and measurable targets, focussing on the following key areas:
  • culture of inclusion
  • accessibility (including physical access for external stakeholders)
  • recruitment, retention and development of people with disability
  • reporting and accountability.
• Reasonable adjustments are available to support and enable employees with disability, and carers of people with disability to perform their role to their full potential ensuring they are able to participate fully in the workplace. Reasonable adjustments can be permanent or temporary and can be designed to respond to all forms of disability, including mental health conditions. Employees can also record adjustments using AGD’s Reasonable Adjustment Passport.

Training and activities: We aim to create a culture of inclusion through various events, including mental health week. The Graduate Fundraising Committee hosts a series of events during mental health week for all employees. Training is regularly offered to managers and employees to raise awareness of disability and mental health in the workplace.

PRIDE in AGD (Promoting Respect, Inclusion, Diversity and Equality) was established in 2015. The network’s purpose is to increase awareness and understanding of LGBTIQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and related communities) issues, and support the development and implementation of LGBTIQ+ and related workplace diversity initiatives within the department.
PRIDE in AGD creates an inclusive and friendly workplace through social and informative events and providing advice to the wider department.

AGD is a proud member and supporter of the following organisations:

• Gold Member of the Australian Network on Disability
• Member of Pride in Diversity
• Founding member of the Male Champions of Change
• Reconciliation Action Plan member organisation
• Member of Supply Nation