Opportunity Now
The Department sponsors the Opportunity Now Initiative, which provides a focus on gender equality within the HSC and draws upon the activities of the National and Regional campaigns organised through Business in the Community.
Vision Statement: To facilitate and support employing organisations in the HSC to tackle the issue of gender equality in order that organisations achieve a more balanced workforce and a culture that is supportive to ALL staff.
In operation since 1997, the initiative is taken forward through a Regional Forum made up of representatives from the HSC, including Staff Side, and the Department.
One of the main themes addressed is the importance of balancing work and home commitments by ensuring that organisational arrangements are as helpful and supportive to home-life as is possible. To contribute to this, the Department, through Workforce Planning Unit, provides limited funding for the Summer Scheme Initiative. It is a goal of the Opportunity Now Initiative and the Department that such schemes should be mainstreamed into organisations and available extensively across all HSC employers.
