Diversity in health jobs

BARWON Health wants its staff to be as diverse as the community it serves.
Talent acquisition and services advisor Christine Shaw says the organisation seeks to ensure people from diverse backgrounds are attracted to working at Barwon Health.
“By building a safe and inclusive workplace we aim to attract and retain people that are representative from all areas of the community, we service” Ms Shaw says.
Barwon Health’s diversity plan includes:
· sourcing trainees and apprentices from the northern suburbs of Geelong;
· a plan to increase employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders; and
· forming a project committee to become more GLBTI-inclusive.
Barwon Health works closely with the Wathaurong community as it aims to increase staff representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to one cent of the workforce.
“We also celebrate culturally significant event such as NAIDOC Week and provide cultural awareness training for all our staff,” Ms Shaw says.
Barwon Health is working with Deakin’s Institute of Koorie Education to secure a range of student placements.
Similar efforts are being made to attract staff from the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex community.
“Eight per cent of the community identify as either gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex (GLBTI) so Barwon Health seeks to ensure we have an inclusive workplace culture that attracts members of GLBTI to want to work here,” Ms Shaw says.
Recognising the downturn in the manufacturing industry Barwon Health also seeks to provide alternative career pathways into the growing health care sector.
“We are working on a range of education and training for people from Geelong’s northern suburbs to engage in more skilled positions in the health care industry.”
The move ties in with plans for a new hospital hub in the north starting in 2017, Ms Shaw points out.
“Barwon Health needs to be representative of community we serve so our staff can provide the best care possible by understanding the challenges people from diverse backgrounds may face.
“We want the best to work here no matter what background they may be from.”