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Moving beyond box-ticking: Abbey Wright on genuine reconciliation
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In 2025, reconciliation and truth-telling remain urgent priorities for businesses committed to fostering a just and inclusive Australia. In this blog, Abbey Wright, a proud Kamilaroi woman and member of DCA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander External Advisory Panel, offers a compelling perspective on how organisations can contribute meaningfully to this journey.
Abbey stresses that reconciliation is not about ticking boxes or crafting well-meaning statements. It requires listening to First Nations voices, building respectful relationships, and taking bold actions that support First Nations-led solutions.
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Abbey Wright
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"Our people have carried wisdom, knowledge, and resilience for over 60,000 years”, she says. “Businesses need to step back, truly listen, and back those solutions with meaningful action.”
Organisations must stand as allies by amplifying First Nations voices, challenging misinformation, and fostering understanding. This isn’t about saving or helping—it’s about walking alongside First Nations people toward a better future for all Australians.
Discover Abbey’s insights and explore practical steps your organisation can take to make a lasting impact.
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Unlock inclusion with DCA’s D&I 101 eLearning program
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The new year is a great time to refresh your commitment to inclusion, and we’re excited to share that DCA’s D&I 101 eLearning program is back! This four-module, evidence-based program introduces key diversity and inclusion concepts, designed to help your organisation take its first steps—or reinforce its commitment—on its D&I journey.
With each module taking just 10 minutes, D&I 101 eLearning is perfect for:
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- new starters, providing a seamless introduction to your organisation’s D&I priorities
- current employees, reinforcing D&I fundamentals at all levels of your workplace.
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Grounded in DCA’s extensive research, the program can be easily integrated into standard Learning Management Systems, or can be delivered through our partner platform, Coassemble. Flexible, self-paced learning ensures employees can engage at a time that suits them.
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Why choose D&I 101 eLearning?
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- Cost-effective D&I learning, with pricing ranging from $3 to $30 per user (depending on number of users).
- Tailored discounts for DCA members and NFP organisations.
- Proven to increase D&I literacy, fostering inclusive, innovative workplaces.
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Start building an inclusive workplace today. Explore our updated eLearning brochure or book a free one-week trial for up to two users.
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Explore the program and book your trial
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Welcoming Chris Lamb as Interim CEO
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We’re thrilled to announce that Chris Lamb has joined DCA as Interim Chief Executive Officer. As the DCA Board actively progresses the appointment of a permanent CEO, we are excited to have Chris provide exceptional leadership and continuity during this transition period.
Chris brings valuable experience to this role, having served as DCA's Deputy Chair since 2021 and as a Board member from 2010 to 2019. His career spans senior HR leadership positions across Asia Pacific, the UK, and Europe, where he has led groundbreaking inclusion initiatives.
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Chris Lamb
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DCA's Workplace Gender Equality Amendment Submission
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We regularly provide submissions to government about important workplace reforms and policy issues as part of DCA’s advocacy work. DCA has provided a submission on the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment Bill 2024. The purpose of this Bill is to introduce a ‘world-first’ targets scheme to accelerate action on gender equality in the workplace. Organisations with 500 or more employees will be required to commit to achieve, or improve on, measurable targets to progress gender equality in their workplaces.
Tomorrow, 22 January, a public hearing will provide an opportunity for the Senate Committee to hear directly from organisations and individuals who made written submissions on the Bill. DCA’s interim CEO, Chris Lamb, will be presenting evidence at this hearing.
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Read DCA’s Submission on Workplace Gender Equality
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Release of the first National Autism Strategy
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Last week, the government launched Australia’s first National Autism Strategy and associated Action Plan. DCA provided a submission to the government on this strategy in May last year. We commented on the importance of the government’s commitments relating to both social and economic inclusion of Autistic people in Australia, and reducing the stigma of autism in the workplace.
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Read DCA’s submission on the National Autism Strategy
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Confronting the backlash against diversity and Inclusion
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Diversity and inclusion efforts are facing growing resistance, often dismissed as “woke culture”, and according to DCA’s latest Inclusion@Work Index, opposition has doubled since 2017, with 7% of workers now opposing D&I action.
In case you missed it over the break, a recent op-ed was published in The Australian, in which DCA’s former CEO Lisa Annese takes a deeper look into what is driving this resistance. The article signals deeper issues of economic inequality and cultural dislocation as potential causes. Rising living costs, job insecurity, and the erosion of traditional gender roles have left many feeling excluded and disempowered.
For some, diversity initiatives are perceived as benefiting others at their expense, further fuelling discontent.
The piece explores the complexities of this rising resistance and offers guidance on how businesses can respond with empathy and action.
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Support programs to address the unique needs of intersex people
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InterAction for Health and Human Rights is currently welcoming enquiries and offers of support for a newly launched initiative, Creating Belonging for People with Innate Variations of Sex Characteristics. The initiative aims to provide consultation, training and policy support for the provision of diversity, equity and inclusion programs that include the unique needs of people with innate variations of sex characteristics.
For more information download the full prospectus or email enquiries to margie.mccumstie@ihra.org.au.
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A warm welcome to the following organisations who recently became members of Diversity Council Australia!
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Diversity Council Australia is proudly supported by
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Diversity Council Australia Limited
Hub Customs House Level 4, 31 Alfred St
Sydney NSW 2000
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Unsubscribe
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