Media release
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Upper Hutt City Council Wins Diversity Award at EEO Trust Awards
DIScover, Upper Hutt City Council’s programme for training staff to better serve customers with disabilities, scoops the
Diversity award at the ANZ New Zealand & EEO Trust Work & Life Awards 2012.
UPPER HUTT, Wellington NZ, 04 SEP 2012—Upper Hutt City Council made one of 62 entries to this year’s ANZ New Zealand and
Equal Employment Opportunities Trust Work and Life Awards. Although it was the only council that entered the awards, its
DIScover programme took away the Diversity award at the event, which was held in Auckland last Thursday.
Upper Hutt City Council has many departments that connect directly with the community, such as its library, traditional
service desks, a swimming pool, and an entertainment centre. To make sure everyone has a positive experience, it
undertook staff training to ensure disabled people, in particular, are treated appropriately.
Council Community Development Advisor, Frances McEwen says the idea resulted in DIScover, which is a complete resource
kit including booklets and staff training workshops. “DIScover has also increased disability awareness among Council
staff and acceptance of staff within Council who have a disability. Little training in this area had ever been provided
in the past."
Other councils, agencies, organisations, and even the disabled community have expressed interest and are now using the
resource. Council’s Director of Community Services, Andrea Curtis says, “This project was a real community effort. We
are very proud that it has been recognised at a national level.”
According to the EEO trust website, this year’s awards received a record number of entries, the quality of which was
described by EEO Trust Chair, Michael Barnett as a difficult job for the judges.
Equal employment opportunities (EEO) focuses on “eliminating barriers to ensure that all employees are considered for
the employment of their choice and have the chance to perform to their maximum potential. Through EEO and effective
diversity management, employers can make the most of New Zealand's increasingly diverse workforce.”
The awards are an annual event hosted by the EEO Trust.
For more information on the ANZ New Zealand & EEO Trust Work & Life Awards, go to www.eeotrust.org.nz
For more information on DIScover, and to download a copy of the resource, go to www.upperhuttcity.com/discover
About Upper Hutt City Council
Upper Hutt City Council is the steward and custodian of Upper Hutt City, providing governance, infrastructure, and
community services and resources, and promoting opportunity in the city for business, recreation, lifestyle, and
leisure. Upper Hutt City is located 30 km north-east of Wellington City (41°07'34" S, 175°04'06" E) and boasts 70% of
the region’s parks and reserves, along with state-of-the-art entertainment and leisure facilities.
Contact
For more information on Upper Hutt City and the City Council, go to www.upperhuttcity.com
ENDS