DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ANNUAL REPORT 2018 – 2019 Contents Planning and reporting context 4 About the ABC diversity and inclusion program 5 The year in review 8 Workforce diversity profile 8 Content Highlights 12 Performance 17 Gender 17 Disability 22 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Australians 25 Cultural and linguistic diversity 29 LGBTQI+ 32 2 AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 Contents 3 This page: Presenter Mark Coles Smith in front of mural art by Matt Adnate. Cover image: Waltzing the Dragon with Benjamin Law with Benjamin the Dragon Waltzing image: Cover Adnate. art Matt of mural by Smith in front Mark Coles This page: Presenter About the ABC diversity and inclusion program “Representing the perspectives of Australia’s many communities in our content and services, and in our workforce, are values we are passionate about.” DAVID ANDERSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR The ABC is required by its Charter to reflect the • to recruit, develop and retain a diverse cultural diversity of Australia in its many facets. workforce; In doing so, the Corporation seeks to encompass to foster a workplace culture that is inclusive, the rich and varied nature of Australian society • collaborative and accountable and leverages in both its workforce and its content, and to the talent and diversity of our people; increase awareness of the country’s broad range of communities and cultures. The ABC takes these • to reflect and represent the diversity of the Heywire competition winner Chanceline Kakule at ABC Melbourne responsibilities seriously and considers diversity a Australian community in our content and the strategic priority. services we provide. Planning and reporting context The ABC’s diversity and inclusion program is The Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2019-221 is available designed to eliminate discrimination and promote on the ABC's website. equality of opportunity for the diversity groups During the reporting period, the 2016-18 Plan The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is The EEO Act requires the ABC to promote equal identified in the EEO Act, and more broadly to reached its final year of implementation. The Year Australia’s national public broadcaster and was opportunity in employment across four designated achieve a diverse and inclusive ABC. Two key in Review and Performance sections contain an established as a statutory corporation under the groups: women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait elements of the program are the Diversity and overview of the ABC’s performance against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 (The Islander people, people from a non-English Inclusion Plan and the ABC Reconciliation goals and targets set out in the 2016-18 Plan. ABC Act). The ABC Act, which includes the ABC speaking background (NESB) and people with Action Plan. Charter, sets out the functions and duties of the disability. Corporation. The Charter requires the Corporation ABC Reconciliation Action Plan This report is made under the provisions of section ABC Diversity and Inclusion Plan to provide content that contributes to a sense of 9(2) of the EEO Act and provides an overview of the (RAP) national identity, reflects the cultural diversity In August 2019, a new Diversity and Inclusion Plan ABC’s diversity profile and performance against of the Australian community and takes account was approved by the Managing Director and the The Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan 2016–18 has the four designated groups in the EEO Act. The of the multicultural character of the Australian Leadership Team, covering the period 1 September been developed in accordance with Reconciliation report also features key content and initiatives community. 2019 to 31 August 2022. The new Plan provides a Australia’s RISE (Reflect, Innovate, Stretch, Elevate) relevant to the Corporation’s broader diversity and three-year strategic roadmap to guide the ABC in framework. It commits the ABC to objectives and As a Commonwealth authority employer, the ABC is inclusion commitments under the ABC Charter. The further developing its diverse and inclusive culture, actions that acknowledge and value Aboriginal bound by the provisions of the Equal Employment report covers the period from 1 September 2018 to with a workforce profile, content offering and and Torres Strait Islander people and Indigenous Opportunity (Commonwealth Authorities) Act 31 August 2019. services that reflect the diversity of the Australian heritage and culture. These objectives include 1987 (EEO Act), the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, community. increasing employment opportunities and the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, the Australian developing content that is about, created by, Human Rights Commission Act 1986, the Disability The Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2019-22 is built or features Indigenous Australians. All actions Discrimination Act 1992, the Age Discrimination Act around the ABC’s vision of “looking and sounding outlined in the Corporation’s Stretch RAP are 2004 and the Fair Work Act 2009. like Australia today” and sets out clear approaches monitored for progress by the Bonner Committee, to achieve the following strategic goals: the ABC’s primary advisory and representative body on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, content and communities. 1. http://about.abc.net.au/report-publications/diversity-and-inclusion-plan-2019-22/ 4 AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 About the ABC diversity and inclusion program 5 In 2018-19, the Bonner Committee developed a respect and inclusion at the ABC and to ensure new Elevate RAP which received endorsement equitable access for all. The team also facilitates from Reconciliation Australia. An Elevate RAP is the DISC and Bonner Committee activities and for organisations with a proven track record of is responsible for monitoring and reporting on embedding effective RAP initiatives, and who progress against the RAP and Diversity & Inclusion are ready to take on a leadership position to Plan, using the performance measures identified in advance national reconciliation. There are unique both Plans. requirements, expectations and processes to consider prior to commencement of an Elevate Monitoring performance RAP. To ensure these requirements were appropriately considered and incorporated, Workforce the Stretch RAP 2016-18 was extended until 31 All new employees are asked to complete an Equal August 2019. The new Elevate RAP 2019 – 22 will be Employment Opportunity (EEO) questionnaire launched in November 2019. related to gender, disability, language and culture, with answers provided on a voluntary basis. Each Governance and responsibility quarter a summary of EEO statistics is provided The ABC has established a governance structure to divisions for information and progress of their to guide and track its approach and ensure top- diversity representation. down accountability for diversity and inclusion outcomes across the Corporation. With the support of the ABC Board, the ABC’s Managing Director At the end of the 2018-19 reporting and Leadership Team hold overall responsibility period, 76.7% of all employees2 for the Diversity and Inclusion program, with had elected to complete the EEO appropriate targets and strategies included in questionnaire, an increase from 73.9% their performance objectives. Regular reporting to the Board will occur. in 2017-18. The Diversity & Inclusion Standing Committee During the reporting period, the Indigenous, (DISC) Diversity and Inclusion team conducted a review of the EEO data collection process to reflect the The DISC supports and makes recommendations A still from 'The Unlisted' on diversity and inclusion matters to the ABC objective of the new Diversity and Inclusion Plan Leadership Team. It is co-chaired by two directors and to improve the response rate which had been and is composed of senior representatives of the declining. The review focussed on the content of Working in partnership... largest public broadcaster, the ABC’s position and ABC divisions, the chairs of the ABC’s employee the EEO questionnaire, the method of collection actions on diversity are likely to have a significant The ABC continues to be a member of several network groups and a representative of the and the methodology to classify responses into the impact on the wider industry. The Corporation key national diversity organisations, including Bonner Committee. In 2018-19, members of the DISC EEO Act designated groups. regularly works in partnership with a broad range the Diversity Council of Australia, the Leadership oversaw the development of the new Diversity and of organisations on diversity initiatives, including Council on Cultural Diversity, the Australian Inclusion Plan 2019-22 and met regularly to review Content Screen Australia, the Victorian Multicultural Network on Disability, Pride in Diversity and the progress against the ABC’s diversity and inclusion The ABC regularly assesses its on-air content to Commission and Media Diversity Australia. The NSW Equal Employment Opportunity Practitioners’ commitments, share best practice and identify measure the representation of diverse groups. This Year in Review and Performance sections contain Association (NEEOPA). These memberships allow solutions where needed. includes looking at what is visible – presenters, further details on these partnership initiatives. actors and contributors and the stories and the Corporation to keep up to date and to have access to advice and expertise