Conference to tackle workforce diversity
More than 100 university careers staff, graduate recruiters and program and policy developers are set to converge on the University of the Sunshine Coast later this month for a three-day conference about workforce diversity within graduate employment.
Workforce diversity is about creating inclusive work environments that are free from unlawful discrimination and harassment and where people are valued for their diverse experiences, knowledge and abilities.
The National Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service conference from Monday 27 to Wednesday 29 November will focus on whether the same employment opportunities exist for all talented university graduates.
Convener and USC graduate employment officer Ngaere Blair said the forum would explore the barriers, implications and cutting-edge solutions to ensuring greater equity of access to opportunities for university graduates from diverse backgrounds.
"The conference also will investigate how innovative human resource management practices such as diversity management can enrich organisations, help solve recruitment and retention problems and promote satisfying graduate careers,’’ she said.
"This conference will feature some exciting keynote speakers in the area of workforce diversity including Jack Pearson, an indigenous group leader from Sinclair Knight Merz, Dr Yuka Fujimoto, a Deakin University academic in areas such as diversity and workforce marginalisation, and Mark Lazaroo from Employers Network on Disability."
Another speaker will be USC graduate and Paralympian medallist Marayke Jonkers.
The conference is supported by the Federal Government (through the Department of Education, Science and Training and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations), Graduate Careers Australia, Defence Force Recruiting, CareerHub, UniMail, Jiig-Cal, The Office of Employment Advocate, the Queensland Government and the University of Southern Queensland.
Opportunities still exist to sponsor or attend the conference. Contact Ngaere Blair on phone (07) 5430 1226, fax (07) 5430 2882, email nblair@usc.edu.au or visit the website www.nagcas.org.au/conference for more details.