9 examples of diversity and inclusion strategies from Australian organisations

This week, the Diversity Practitioners Association is set to host Dr Katie Spearritt (CEO at Diversity Partners) and Josh Griffin (Head of Inclusion and Talent Development at SBS) for a virtual event on Contemporary Diversity & Inclusion Strategies. If you haven’t already, click here to read more and secure your spot - registration closes Wednesday 27 April.

Diversity and inclusion strategies are as varied as the organisations they come from, and so the question for practitioners tasked with developing a strategy is often not just “what’s the best approach?” but “what’s the best approach for this organisation?”.

As we ready ourselves for a great discussion with two experts this week, think of this article as a companion guide of examples to explore and consider. Below we’ve collated 9 (very!) different diversity and inclusion strategies from Australian organisations. In gathering these examples, our goal isn’t to dissect what’s effective and what isn’t, but to give you as a practitioner the opportunity to consider a range of approaches and further your thinking about what might effectively drive change in the organisation/s you work with.

Example diversity and inclusion strategies from Australian organisations

Note: the title of each strategy is a clickable link.

1. SBS’s 2022-2024 Inclusion, Equity and Diversity Strategy
   We said we wouldn’t play favourites - but we love SBS’s strategy for it’s whole-of-business focus, blend of strategic vision with clear deliverables/actions, and transparent measurement. After DPA’s President, Emma, read this strategy she reached out to Josh to participant in our event.

2. Queensland public sector Inclusion and diversity strategy 2021-2025
   This strategy explores progress to date (with a variety of data points) and emerging trends before summarising the three strategic areas of focus in 2 pages. Measurement and governance round out this document.
   

3. Australian Tax Office’s 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
   Clear and easy to navigate, this strategy blends strategic vision with clear behaviours for employees at all levels alongside commitments on support to deliver. Top marks for readability.
   

4. DMTC’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2024
   Defence technology solutions business DMTC summarise their strategy in one page! A rarity well worth including.
   

5. Sydney Opera House’s Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Strategy 2021-2023
   This strategy features the work of three seperate artists and is the most visual of the strategies we’ve collected here. Three goals are summarised alongside case studies, the strategy includes alignment to UN Global Goals, and also includes an interesting timeline of how the strategy was developed over the course of a year and a range of quotes and contributions from employees. Some unique features, well worth a look.
   

6. Victorian State Government’s Department of Premier and Cabinet Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021
   This strategy expands on the usual descriptions of goals by articulating guiding principles, organisational enablers, as well as self-directed actions. It also includes a maturity model and some discussion of long-term nature of this type of change.
   

7. Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2026
   While this document follows a more traditional layout, it’s easy to navigate, includes direct quotes from contributors, and detailed commitments, measures and targets under each of it’s five vision areas.
   

8. BHP’s Inclusion and Diversity Position Statement
   So this isn’t technically BHP’s strategy, but this 4-page document outlines BHPs commitments in a clear and concise way that may be useful for a variety of audiences.
   

9. University of New South Wales’s Equity Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025
   Highly detailed, UNSW’s strategy differs from most in that it includes strategic focus areas that include sustainable development and global development. It’s clear an enormous amount of thought has gone into forming this approach. As someone external to UNSW, the acronyms are tricky to navigate - a consideration on readability for all authors.

Join us this week as we dig into the thinking and approach that sits behind these documents in our special event on Contemporary D&I Strategies.