EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Black Comedy, Photo: ABC TV AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17 Contents PLANNING AND REPORTING 2 INDIGENOUS 15 PERFORMANCE MONITORING 3 NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING BACKGROUND 17 PERFORMANCE 4 DISABILITY 18 DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION HIGHLIGHTS 8 CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS 21 GENDER 13 Contents 1 Planning and reporting The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) About the Equity and is Australia’s national broadcaster and was established as a statutory corporation under Diversity Program the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act This program has been designed to eliminate 1983 (the ABC Act). The ABC Act, which includes discrimination and promote equal opportunity the ABC Charter, sets out the functions and for women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander duties of the Corporation. people, people from a non-English speaking As a Commonwealth authority employer, background and people with disabilities. the ABC is bound by the provisions of the: The ABC is a member of a number of key national • Equal Employment Opportunity diversity organisations, including the Diversity (Commonwealth Authorities) Act 1987 Council of Australia. • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 ABC Managing Director, Michelle Guthrie, • Sex Discrimination Act 1984 is a member of the Leadership Council on • Australian Human Rights Commission Cultural Diversity which is chaired by the Act 1986 Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tim Soutphommasane. The Council is committed to • Disability Discrimination Act 1992 improving the cultural diversity of senior people • Age Discrimination Act 2004 within Australian organisations. • Fair Work Act 2009 The Equal Employment Opportunity ABC Equity and Diversity (Commonwealth Authorities) Act 1987 Plan 2016 – 18 (the EEO Act) requires the ABC to promote equal employment opportunity for designated groups: This covers the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018 and is available at • Gender about.abc.net.au/reports-publications/equity- • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and-diversity-plan-2016-18. • people from a non-English speaking The ABC monitors and reports performances background (NESB) to the ABC Leadership Team each year. Some of • people with disabilities the activities undertaken are reported in the This report is made under the provisions of ABC Equity and Diversity Annual Report. section 9 (2) of the EEO Act. The reporting period covers 1 September 2016 to 31 August 2017. ABC Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2016 – 18 This covers the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018 and is available at about.abc.net.au/reports-publications/abc- reconciliation-action-plan-rap-2016-18. Results are reported to Reconciliation Australia and twice a year to the ABC Leadership Team and Board. An annual report is available on the ABC’s website. 2 AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17 Performance monitoring All new employees are asked to complete ABC KIDS and ABC ME an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) questionnaire related to gender, disability, In 2016, an independent analysis of external language and culture. Answers are provided television productions broadcast on ABC KIDS on a voluntary basis. and ABC ME was conducted over a month. • At the end of the reporting period 78.4 % It focused on the diversity of characters, of all employees had provided EEO data.1 cast and content makers. Diversity data was collected for every production and discussions • Data was requested from applicants for all were held with writers and producers to vacant positions and work experience. increase the diversity of the content. • Monthly Indigenous employment statistics and quarterly diversity employment Regional statistics were reported to the ABC Leadership Team. The Regional team has completed a baseline survey of content. A survey brief, including a Content teams methodology, was finalised in March 2017 and endorsed by Australia’s Race Discrimination ABC Content teams collect and analyse content Commissioner, Dr Tim Soutphommasane. to measure how diverse groups are represented. Seven ABC Regional locations were selected This analysis helps them to implement measures to undertake the survey based on an analysis to address under-representation. of the 2011 Census, which had revealed a high Indigenous population or cultural diversity. ABC News The results of the survey will be used by content teams to devise and implement Data from eight days in October 2016 was measures to address under representation collected from News and Current Affairs output of relevant groups. across radio, television and online platforms with a focus on the interviewees and guests who appeared in stories, studios and panel Commercial discussions. Coverage was assessed for gender Over the past four years, ABC Commercial teams and cultural diversity, as well as for people (Music, Books, Audio and Video Entertainment from Indigenous backgrounds. and Distribution) have audited their current products based on Indigenous content and ABC Television cultural and linguistic diversity. The team surveyed first-run Australian content from all genres broadcast in 2016. The analysis focused on the lead and supporting roles in scripted content, presenters and other roles in non-scripted content. The review covered gender, cultural diversity, Indigenous, disability, sexual orientation and regional diversity. For content broadcast in 2016 and 2017, the ABC has also been capturing off-screen crew diversity statistics across key roles. This information is currently provided on a voluntary basis by crew members. Performance monitoring 3 Performance GENDER Equity and Diversity Plan 2016–18 Targets for representation of women in the workforce: 50% of senior executives 20% of technologists The percentage of women employed at The total number of WOMEN a senior executive level SIGNIFICANTLY in senior executive roles is INCREASED from 45.8% in 2015–16 to 50.5% in 2016–17 162 Gender distribution by job group, Representation of gender by age, August 2017 August 2017 52.1% <20 2 52.5% in 2015–16 1 Total 64 47.5% 20–24 25 25–29 215 16.5% 153 16.5% in 2015–16 Technologist 352 83.5% 30–34 270 331 35–39 248 53.3% 52.6% in 2015–16 300 Content Maker 40–44 47.7% 265 299 45–49 265 70.8% 263 Administrative/ 50–54 265 Professional* 29.2% 175 55–59 261 50.5% 45.8% 84 in 2015–16 60–64 119 Senior Executive 49.5% 35 65+ 49 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0 100 200 300 400 Female Male Female Male * The Administrative/Professional group employed a higher proportion of women than men and this was (71.0%). The complete data is available on page 13. 4 AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17 INDIGENOUS ABC Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan 2016–18 Targets for representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees to at least: 2.7% of the workforce by the end of December 2017 3% of the workforce by the end of December 2018 The number of INDIGENOUS Indigenous PROCUREMENT spend SENIOR EXECUTIVES has was 6.4%, more than doubled double to 1.2% in the past year the target of 3% 12% 9% 4% 2.6% 4% of ABC’s workforce is Indigenous, with the highest numbers in NSW 59% and the Northern Territory. 5% 5% 1% 1% The complete data is available on page 15. Performance 5 NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING BACKGROUND Equity and Diversity Plan 2016–18 Targets for representation of employees from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds (NESB): 15% of senior executives 12% of content makers % SENIOR EXECUTIVES from 12.8 a non-English speaking background represent of ABC employees reported being from NON-ENGLISH 11.2 % SPEAKING backgrounds in of employees 2016–17 compared with 12.3% in 2015–16. 8% Spanish 9% 23% Arabic Italian Italian and Chinese are the two most common 12% Non-English languages German spoken at home 21% Chinese (incl Mandarin 13% and Cantonese) Greek 13% French The complete data is available on page 17. 6 AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17 DISABILITY Equity and Diversity Plan 2016–18 Target for representation of people with a disability 5% of the workforce 40% OVER TARGET At the end of August 2017, EMPLOYEES WITH ABC199 EMPLOYEES identified as having A DISABILITY make a DISABILITY or 7% of those who % up 7% of all staff, provided EEO data. 7 exceeding the target 5% of 5% The complete data is available on page 18. Performance 7 Diversity and inclusion highlights ABC employees L-R Lisa Keelan, James O’Brien, Manda Hatter, Warren Brown, Chrissie Tucker, Alison Hamill and Anita Quinn at the launch of ABC Pride. Photo Phillipa McDermott. LGBTI The ABC is a member of Pride in Diversity, Activities include: Australia’s first and only not-for-profit employer • training programs to increase support program for the LGBTI community. LGBTI awareness. The organisation works with employers • reviewing policies and plans. and employees to improve the health and • helping to improve our LGBTI wellbeing of LGBTI people and to reduce employee network. exclusion, invisibility, homophobia and stigma • external forums and networks. in the workplace. An ABC Pride committee has been created to develop initiatives and engagement across the corporation. 8 AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016–17 Harmony Day awards. L-R Jeremy Fernandez, Louise Higgins, Samantha Liston, David Hua. Photo Phillipa McDermott. Harmony Day R U OK? DAY On 21 March 2017, Harmony Day was celebrated The ABC celebrated its first R U OK? Day on with forums and activities. At Ultimo, 7 September 2016 and hosted a panel discussion celebrations included a meal with a Middle focusing on mental health awareness and Eastern influence prepared and served by ABC resilience for carers. Kumi Taguchi chaired Radio Sydney’s Simon Marnie to 150 employees. the panel with special guests, Consulting Psychologist Dr Geoff Orme, ABC presenter The event included a cultural competition, Craig Hamilton and ABC technologist John Price.