Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan

The Department of Housing and Public Works is committed to creating a workplace where respect, fairness, accessibility and inclusion are experienced by everyone, every day. Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan (PDF, 4060.43 KB) outlines how we aim to achieve this and deliver on our commitment to represent the community that we serve.

A diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce strengthens our ability to understand community needs, make better decisions and deliver responsive services for Queensland. The plan recognises that fostering an inclusive culture is a shared responsibility and requires commitment from leaders, teams and individuals across the department.

The plan outlines the goals, actions and measures to achieve our commitment and cultivate a workplace culture where the values of equity, respect, inclusion and cultural safety are embraced and demonstrated every day.

Our plan is developed and reviewed in line with the Public Sector Act 2022 obligations, which includes completion of an annual equity and diversity audit and development of an equity and diversity plan to be reviewed annually. We take a data informed approach and consultative approach using evidence and insights to guide our decision making, program design and to ensure accountability.

Our focus areas

The plan is built around four key focus areas that drive meaningful and sustainable change across the department.

Diverse and Representative Workforce

We are committed to improving representation across all levels, divisions and roles through equitable recruitment, retention and career progression practices. By building a workforce that better reflects the communities we serve, we can deliver stronger outcomes for Queenslanders.

Inclusion, Belonging and Accessibility

We will create equitable, accessible and psychologically safe workplaces where employees can fully participate and thrive. This includes reducing physical, digital and cultural barriers, improving accessibility, strengthening workplace adjustment processes and promoting inclusion across all work environments.

Leadership and Accountability

We will embed equity and inclusion into leadership practices, decision-making and performance expectations. Leaders play a critical role in creating inclusive workplaces and ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion are integrated into how we work every day.

Data, Systems and Policy

We will strengthen workforce data, systems and policies to support evidence-based decision-making and identify opportunities to remove structural barriers. Better data and more inclusive policies will help us monitor progress and target our efforts where they have the greatest impact.

How we will measure success

Progress will be monitored through workforce data and diversity targets, equity and diversity audit outcomes, employee experience measures, Working for Queensland survey results, reporting against plan actions and engagement with employee network groups and executive DEI champions.

This approach will help ensure we continue to build a workplace where all employees feel respected, included, safe and supported to thrive.

Learn more about inclusion and diversity in our department.