CPSU members have helped shape important progress on racial equality in the APS – including significant new NAIDOC and ceremonial leave entitlements, recognition of kinship, language allowance, right to request working from country as well as paid cultural leave entitlements.

In November 2024, the first National Anti-Racism Framework was launched by the Australian Human Rights Commission – read below about the opportunities this presents for APS members.

National Anti-Racism Framework and role of the APS

At the final APS Consultative Committee (APS CC) in December 2024 we heard from Giridharan Sivaraman, the Race Discrimination Commissioner about the new AHRC’s National Anti-Racism Framework – a comprehensive road map with 63 recommendations for eliminating racism.

The Commissioner lead a good discussion about the role the APS plays as a model employer in implementing the Framework’s workplace and employment recommendations.

The Commissioner spoke about the important role unions play in addressing racism in the workplace, negotiating industrial provisions that address structural racism (such as paid cultural leave) and the role of unions in monitoring and compliance.

The AHRC’s report indicates the persistence of systemic racism in our institutions and systems and shows the limits of diversity, equity and inclusion policies that simply prioritise ‘diversity and inclusion’ over a direct and stronger engagement with race and racism.

Workplaces are identified as vital settings for addressing racism. Key recommendations include introducing a positive duty in the Racial Discrimination Act to prevent racism in the workplace; developing and implementing internal workplace anti-racism strategies; mandatory cultural safety and anti-racism training for all workers; national standards for reporting racism in workplaces; and strategies for retaining and recruiting staff from First Nations people and other negatively racialised backgrounds, particularly in leadership and senior roles.

Read more about the APS Consultative Committee here.

Webinar and materials

CPSU has held member-only webinars on enterprise agreement entitlements including on First Nations employment and cultural leave. We hear all the time how important these provisions are for members.

If you missed the webinars, you can access the recordings and materials here.