Since 1977 the Spokeswomen’s Program has provided women employed in the NSW Public Sector with opportunities to develop their skills and networks, and promote women’s work and career needs. It has raised women’s public sector profile and improved agencies’ skills and management expertise.

A 2004-05 review of the Spokeswoman’s Program recommended it would work best if customised by agencies “to meet the specific needs of their female workforce”. The review’s extensive consultation with Women’s Liaison Officers across the sector has informed changes to the Spokeswomen’s Program.

The Spokeswomen’s Program will now become one among a suite of initiatives available to agencies as part of the five-year women’s employment and development strategy Making the public sector work better for women which aims to improve women’s recruitment, development and retention.

Making the public sector work better for women aligns with the Government’s broader NSW Public Sector Workforce Strategy 2008-2012 which supports the State Plan. Visit www.eeo.nsw.gov.au/women for more information.

In this context, agencies are no longer required to operate a Spokeswomen’s Program (Memoranda 1997-19 and 2002-11 are superseded).

The Register of Spokeswomen and Women’s Liaison Officers will continue to be maintained by the Public Sector Workforce Office (PSWO). However, the centralised Spokeswomen’s Committee will no longer operate.

The PSWO will continue to advise those agencies that choose to refine or customise their Spokeswomen’s programs. The Spokeswomen’s Program Resource Kit has been updated to assist these agencies (visit www.eeo.nsw.gov.au/spokeswomen).

Resources allocated to the Spokeswomen’s Program by the PSWO will be redirected to implementing the strategy, Making the public sector work better for women.

The PSWO will continue to work with agencies to identify and address contemporary women’s employment issues that align to agencies’ workforce capability and planning needs.

It will also host a Women Building Their Careers Conference for women in Grades 1-8 in place of the Spokeswomen’s Conference.

This Circular applies to all public sector agencies.

This includes all agencies and employees in the Government Service (Public Service Departments, Non-Public Service Divisions and Special Employment Divisions), the Teaching Service, NSW Police and the NSW Health Service. State Owned Corporations are encouraged to adopt provisions consistent with this Circular.

Robyn Kruk 
Director General

Issued : Workforce Planning Development and Equity (PSWO)
Contact: Meg Price, Manager, Workforce Planning, Development and Equity
Email: [email protected]
Telephone no: 9228 5222 Facsimile: 9228 4704
File no: PSM/09187