Emma Griggs

Our People 2018 - Emma Griggs - 1000pxl.jpg

Acting Aboriginal Workforce Development Coordinator 

South East Sydney Local Health District 

“I’m a Wiradjuri woman, descended from the Sofala region of NSW.  My role is to recruit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees into our Local Health District and looking after our existing Aboriginal employees.  There are so many things I love about my job. I love being on interview panels and representing the district as an Aboriginal workforce delegate.  I love seeing new employees on their first day and helping them settle in.  I love helping our staff by providing career advice and support, interpreting a policy with them, or pointing out education opportunities that will help them grow and progress in their careers. It’s not just doing it for my workplace, but I love doing it for my people as well.

The theme for this year’s NAIDOC Week is ‘Because of Her We Can’. A significant number of our Aboriginal staff are women. We’re mothers, sisters, aunties, girlfriends, wives, grandmothers and nieces. Not only do we play an important role in the workplace but we also have these roles at home. I’m a mother of two boys and in my bloodline I’m the only woman left. I know how much my family relies on my input. I am so proud of my boys and the respect they show towards all the other women in their lives.”