Your fortnightly newsletter from DCA. Together towards inclusion.

Inclusion@Work Index shows strong support for D&I action in Australia

DCA is excited to release the 2025-2026 Inclusion@Work Index, our biennial survey mapping and tracking the state of inclusion in Australian workplaces. This research is accompanied by member-only "From Insights to Action" resources designed to translate findings into practical, evidence-based steps for organisations. The Index surveys a nationally representative sample of 3000 workers in Australia, and investigates how inclusive the Australian workforce is for a diversity of employees.

Key findings:

76% of workers support their organisation taking action on D&I, and only 5% of workers oppose it.
The number of people who report working in inclusive teams and organisations is growing, yet those who report having an inclusive manager remains low, at 35%.
Discrimination and harassment are still common in Australian workplaces, especially for marginalised workers.
D&I action benefits all employees, not only marginalised groups.
Workers in D&I-active organisation are two times less likely to experience discrimination and harassment.

Out of the workers surveyed, 10% reported their team was non-inclusive, 34% somewhat inclusive and 56% inclusive. Out of the workers surveyed, 15% said their organisational climate was non-inclusive, 26% somewhat inclusive and 59% said it was inclusive. Out of the workers surveyed, 17% said their manager was non-inclusive, 48% said somewhat inclusive and 35% said their manager was inclusive.

Explore the resources now to make the case for D&I action at your workplace.

Explore the 2025-2026 Inclusion@Work Index

Not yet a DCA member organisation? Discover the benefits of membership!

News

Book now: Inclusive leadership training

DCA’s new Knowledge Program, Inclusive Leadership Fundamentals, aims to increase leaders’ capabilities to build more inclusive teams and organisations. Leaders are critical to the success of D&I initiatives but sometimes lack the opportunities to develop inclusive leadership capabilities. Suitable for executive leaders, C-suite, managers, people leaders, HR professionals, D&I practitioners and employees on a leadership pathway, this program provides practical guidance and insights that are evidence based and business focused.

Learn more and make an enquiry

Person presenting to table of people looking at notepad

Understanding Australia’s new gender equality targets

Real progress on gender equality requires a deliberate, organisation-wide approach and setting measurable targets is a crucial part of that work. From April 2026, target setting will not only be best practice – it’ll also be a regulatory requirement for many Australian employers.  

Learn what’s changing for Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) reporting, what it means for your organisation, and how to respond in a practical, meaningful way.

Learn about the coming WGEA changes

WGEA to publish employer gender pay gaps on 3 March

Mark your calendars: on 3 March 2026, WGEA will publish employer gender pay gaps for both the private and Commonwealth public sectors, at the same time for the first time. To understand exactly what will be published, read more on the WGEA website.

New member event format: Chief People Officer Roundtable

Group of people in business attire standing in front of a large window and DCA banner.

Last week we were thrilled to host our first Chief People Officer (CPO) Roundtable in 2026. The event gathered CPOs from DCA member organisations to discuss the opportunities and challenges for D&I in Australian workplaces. We also held a Key Contact Forum which featured insights from our research team on key topics, networking and a live 'Ask DCA' session.

We sincerely thank all attendees for their insights and engagement, as well as our hosts, Atlassian and Ashurst, for supporting these important discussions.

Have you explored our resources lately?

At DCA, we are continuously updating our vast library of resources to align with current leading practice and the latest research in workplace D&I, including:

leading-practice information and guidelines
practical tools
checklists
inclusive language guides by diversity dimension
example D&I policies by diversity dimension and organisation type.

Our recently updated ‘Resources’ tab allows you to browse by specific diversity focus areas, search for a particular tool or policy question, or use our step-by-step guide on Getting started on D&I.

Explore DCA’s resource library

Last chance to take part in our Inclusion Matters survey

Please take part in our short Inclusion Matters readership survey. Your insights will help us continue to deliver an impactful newsletter.

Coming events

Targeting the “moveable middle” for more successful D&I change

Online | In-person (Melbourne)
Date: Tuesday 3 March 2026
Time: 2:00 to 3:30 PM AEDT

Research launch: Neurodiversity Data at Work guide

Online | In-person (Melbourne)
Date: Monday 16 March 2026
Time: 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM AEDT

DCA Fireside chat with Race Discrimination Commissioner , Giridharan Sivaraman (he/him)

Date: Thursday 26 March 2026
Time: 1:00 to 2:00 PM AEDT

View past events

See all coming events

DCA network activities

DCA Member discount code for the National HR Summit Australia

We’re excited to share that DCA members receive a 35% discount to the 2-day National HR Summit Australia (Sydney, 31 March – 1 April 2026), hosted by HRD. Visitors can expect an event focused on AI, workforce transformation, and rapid regulatory change. Log on to DCA’s website now to access the discount code.

Hoodie Up at Work 2026

Hoodie Up is Amaze’s annual awareness and fundraising campaign in which people across Australia wear hoodies to show their support for Autistic people and to celebrate neurodiversity. Taking place on 19 March this year, participation is simple and flexible and open to both individuals or groups. Funds raised support Amaze’s work with Autistic people, families, and carers. Read about how you can get involved.

A black background with a progress pride flag and the words queer career expo.

Queer Careers Expo 2026 – Exhibitor Expression of Interest

The Queer Career Expo (12-13 June, 2026 in Ashfield, NSW) is an inclusive employment and networking event designed for LGBTQIA+ people. In an accessible and friendly setting, the expo connects job seekers with employers who actively support diversity, equity and safe workplaces. Learn more about being an exhibitor.

Career Pathways Pilot. Funded by the Australian Government, Department of Social Services.

Explore the outcomes of the Career Pathways Pilot

An innovative 18-month program designed to address the workplace barriers facing people with disability, the Career Pathways Pilot was a partnership between Australian Disability Network, the Australian Government Department of Social Services and the Business Council of Australia. You can now explore the program's key outcomes, impact stories and resources.

Nominations open for Supply Nation’s Supplier Diversity Awards

Nominations are open now until 22 March for Supply Nation's annual Supplier Diversity Awards. The Awards honour and recognise businesses, government agencies, not-for-profit organisations and individuals who have promoted supplier diversity and contributed to the growth of the Indigenous business sector. Read more about the categories, criteria and how to nominate.