The public service and private sector have long traditions of ‘merit’ based recruitment, but approaches to merit have not always contributed to equity and diversity goals.
In the next instalment of our Lead the way webinar series, Dr Linda Colley (the Special Commissioner of Equity and Diversity Queensland) will outline new Queensland public sector approaches to recruitment and selection. Dr Colley will share insights into how they retain the primary objective of finding the right person for the job, but with a shift from a narrow focus on merit to recruiting the person ‘best suited to the position’.
She will share how this enables more holistic consideration of factors including how the applicant’s section would:
- Help the organisation achieve its equity, diversity, respect, and inclusion obligations;
- Promote a workforce that reflects the community; and
- Bring the benefits of diverse perspectives and experiences
Speaker
Special Commisioner, Equity and Diversity at Public Sector Commission
Dr Linda Colley
Short Bio
Dr Linda Colley assumed the new role of Special Commissioner Equity and Diversity in October, 2021. The role focuses on developing strategies and initiatives that promote gender pay equity and support fairness and inclusiveness across the Queensland public sector.
Previously from 2010-2021, Dr Colley was an academic at The University of Queensland and Central Queensland University. Her research focused on public employment across Australia, and particularly on gender equality. Her PhD was a study of Queensland public service employment from 1859-1999. Before that, Dr Colley was a Queensland public servant for nearly 20 years.
Dr Colley was Chair of the Queensland Work Health and Safety Board from 2017 - 2021.
View Recording
Webinar Overview
Format
Online via Zoom webinar
