'Long time coming': APS employee census to ask cultural background of staff

Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, left, who questioned Australian Public Service Commissioner Peter Woolcott, right, about a strategy to boost cultural and linguistic diversity in the public service. Pictures by James Croucher and Karleen Minney

The next APS employee census will ask staff to identify their cultural background, in an effort to gain better data about cultural and linguistic diversity in the public service.

Appearing at Senate Estimates on Tuesday, Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi questioned the Australian Public Service Commission about the progress of a strategy to boost cultural and linguistic diversity, similar to strategies for First Nations people and women in the public service.