Culture and inclusion
Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Framework
The State Service is committed to building inclusive workplaces and having a workforce that reflects the diversity of the Tasmanian community.
Our principles are:
- Our employment opportunities are accessible to everyone.
- Our employees are valued and respected.
- We support our employees to be the best they can be.
The policy is supported by the State Service Diversity and Inclusion Framework 2017-2020. The framework sets out the priorities and activities the State Service will focus on to ensure management policies and practices are supportive of everyone in the State Service.
Youth employment
To maintain and build a skilled, capable workforce we must provide career pathways for young people.
The State Service has a number of initiatives that offer a career pathway into the State Service for young people.
TasGRAD
TasGRAD is a two-year program that offers recent university graduates full-time employment and an 18-month professional development program. There is potential of a six-month rotational opportunity (within or out of the agency). Graduates are employed across a range of agencies and roles.
School-based traineeships
The State Service school-based traineeship program provides opportunities for students to combine work, training and education.
Students are able to gain a nationally recognised qualification by working part-time in the State Service and staying at school to complete their Tasmanian Certificate of Education in years 11 and 12.
The program also helps to build our year 12 retention rate by providing varied and vocational specific opportunities. Importantly, the traineeships provide students with both a qualification and work skills that may lead to further employment or education.
Disability employment
In the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, people with disability include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments. When these impairments meet various barriers, it may hinder a person’s full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.
A person may be born with disability or may experience disability later in life due to an accident, injury, illness or ageing. Many disabilities are not visible and one in five Australians have disability.
Nearly 50 per cent of people with disability of working age in Australia are not in the labour force, representing a significant opportunity for employers. These statistics emphasise the importance of prioritising disability inclusion in the workplace.
The Tasmanian State Service needs to embrace the many talents and experiences of people with disability and realise the potential of fully accessible and inclusive workplaces.
Resources for agencies
There are a number of organisations and resources to help agencies build disability-confident workplaces. Human resources teams and hiring managers are encouraged to tap into the various services and supports.
Disability Employment Portal
The Disability Employment Portal is the hub for disability employment information on the Tasmanian Government Jobs website.
The portal is for people with disability looking for jobs in the State Service and government agencies employing people with disability.
It includes information on how to get job ready and find work, how to apply, tips on resume writing and the interview process, as well as details on workplace support and adjustments. There is also information on what it is like to work for the State Service and how disability employment service providers can help people with disability.
JobAccess
JobAccess is a free information and advice service funded by the Australian Government and delivered by industry professionals.
JobAccess provides expert support to employers to help remove barriers to employing people with disability. They offer expertise across a range of specialist fields including disability and mental health, training and recruitment, workplace adjustments and occupational therapy.
JobAccess also has an employer engagement service where you can partner with the National Disability Recruitment Coordinator program.
Inclusive Employment Australia
Inclusive Employment Australia is a specialist disability employment program. It replaced the Disability Employment Services (DES) program in 2025.
The program assists people with disability, injury or health condition to prepare for, find and maintain work and grow their career.
Agencies are encouraged to build strong relationships with providers in to successfully employ and support people with disability.
Equality at Work
Equality at Work is an initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission developed to ensure all Australians with disability have access to job opportunities, fair pay and safe working conditions.
Equality at Work is the second phase of the IncludeAbility Project.
There are a number of resources for employers to support them to employ people with disability and create accessible workplaces.
Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner
Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner aims to foster a society free of discrimination, prejudice, bias and prohibited conduct. They have resources and information for employers as well as community awareness, education and fee-for-service training for workplaces.
Women in leadership
Women Supporting Women in Leadership is a program that supports women across the State Service. The program provides opportunities to share experiences, learn new skills, network and develop leadership capacity.
The program provides support, motivation and confidence for women to pursue their careers and reach their full leadership potential, recognising that women’s career paths often differ from those of others.
Supporting carers in the State Service
Carers deserve respect and recognition for the significant contribution they make to the people they care for, as well as the whole community. Many of us are not aware of the enormous contribution carers make, or fully appreciate the challenges they face every day.
While there is a lot of support available to carers, employees sometimes report having reservations about discussing their caring responsibilities with their manager or team leader. They are concerned about the impact that requesting supportive arrangements will have on their career and the judgements their manager or team leader will make.
Employees who have caring responsibilities can also feel isolated in the workplace and are concerned about how their colleagues will perceive their situation. Carers may experience stigma associated with disability and mental illness. The result can be that carers leave their jobs or take lower paid roles, impacting on their financial stability.
Carers toolkit
What the Tasmanian Government is doing
This toolkit provides information on carers and the supports available to carers. There are three key Tasmanian Government initiatives that guide support for carers in the State Service.
Carer Recognition Act
The Carer Recognition Act 2023 defines carers and sets out the obligations of Tasmanian Government agencies to respond to the needs of carers in Tasmania.
The Act defines a carer as:
- Someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has disability, mental ill health, chronic or life-limiting condition, alcohol or other drug dependence, is frail or aged, or is a child (if the person is an informal kinship carer of the child).
To support the implementation of the Act, the Tasmanian Government provided funding to Carers Tasmania to report on the experiences and needs of informal kinship carers across Tasmania.
Carers Charter
The Act includes the Carers Charter, which sets out principles for how government agencies should recognise and support carers.
Tasmanian Carer Action Plan
Supporting Tasmanian Carers: Tasmanian Carer Action Plan 2021-2025 guides government agencies, service providers and the community towards greater support for and recognition of carers and their needs.
Learn more about Supporting Tasmanian Carers: Tasmanian Carer Action Plan 2021-2025.
Information and resources for carers
Carers Tasmania
Carers Tasmania provides services for carers throughout Tasmania including:
- information, referral and advice
- carer support and wellbeing check
- free counselling
- mindfulness and therapeutic groups
- support for young carers
- links to support groups.
Carer Gateway
Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program providing free services and support for carers.
National Disability Insurance Scheme
One of the core aims of the National Disability Insurance Scheme is to better support families and carers in their caring role.
My Aged Care
My Aged Care aims to make it easier for older people, their families and carers to access information on ageing and aged care, have their needs assessed and be supported to find and access services.
Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania
Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania supports carers, relatives and friends of people with mental ill health through:
- telephone information and referral
- peer support groups, day and evening
- connecting people with networks, services and community groups
- carer engagement and participation through regional advisory groups
- facilitate carer representation on committees, boards, organisations and networks
- resources and libraries
- community awareness and education
- carer education, workshops and seminars
- forums and education to community, services, schools and professional workforces from a carer perspective.
Dementia Australia
Dementia Australia represents the 472,000 Australians living with dementia and the almost 1.6 million Australians involved in their care.
Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue works with the community to improve mental health and make it easier for people to feel better earlier, get well and stay well.
eSafety
eSafety empowers all Australians to have safer, more positive online experiences.
Tasmanian Government Discounts and Concessions
The Tasmanian Government offers a wide range of discounts and concessions on the cost of government services to people on low and fixed incomes, including assistance to afford services like electricity, healthcare, housing, education and transport.
Tasmanian Companion Card
The Tasmanian Companion Card is a photo ID card for people with disability who require lifelong support from a companion carer to participate at community venues and events.
Cardholders present their card at participating organisations when purchasing a ticket or paying an admission fee and receive a ticket for their companion carer at no charge.
Seniors Card
The Seniors Card is a free, government-issued discount card that helps older Tasmanians save on everyday goods and services.