Mr. Andy Pike:

If the job of an SNA was seen as a career with a pathway to promotion, as is the case with most if not every other job in the public service, that would help to increase diversity. If the Department and the NCSE could focus on role models who are women and men from different backgrounds, that would assist in promoting diversity. Having a gender mix in the SNA workforce is pretty important because it is also about role models as well, and if there are not role models within the SNA workforce, it is not reflective of society as a whole. We are working with the Department on trying to foster greater diversity but unless terms and conditions improve and there is somewhere to go after ten years as an SNA, which there is not at the moment, it is not going to be an attractive career option.