- The Welcoming Workplaces Standard, a new national framework focused on inclusion and belonging, was launched at the Welcoming Australia Symposium in Adelaide, providing Australian employers with a practical, peer-reviewed benchmark to strengthen inclusive workplace practices.
- The framework shifts focus from whether employees are ready for the workplace to whether employers are prepared to welcome, retain and support a diverse workforce, addressing issues such as workforce shortages, skills gaps and barriers faced by migrant, refugee and Pacific workers.
- Developed by Welcoming Australia, the standard aims to make the Social element of ESG as measurable and rigorous as Environmental and Governance standards, positioning inclusion as both a social responsibility and a smart business strategy.
- The launch highlighted opportunities to strengthen employer-community partnerships, drawing on existing initiatives such as the Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific, which supports collaboration around Australia's Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM).
- Organisations joining the Welcoming Workplaces network will gain access to knowledge sharing, peer learning, community partnerships and accreditation processes designed to support continuous improvement and measurable impact, with further information available at welcomingworkplaces.org.au.
A new national framework aimed at transforming Australian workplaces was launched yesterday at the Welcoming Australia Symposium in Adelaide.
Positioning a strong focus on belonging and inclusion as critical drivers of economic and social success, the Welcoming Workplaces Standard is a living framework and benchmark for every workplace.
Bridging the gap between policy and practice, Welcoming Workplaces provides the tools to turn intention into practical action – and now every Australian workplace has the opportunity to benefit.
Imagine an Australia where every workplace—from a regional small business to a multi-city corporation—is an "Employer of Choice”; a nation where the "Social" in ESG is as measurable and rigorous as Environmental or Governance standards.
”For too long, we’ve only asked if workers are ready for our workplaces. It’s time to ask if our employers are ready for a diverse workforce. The Welcoming Workplaces Standard is the roadmap to bridge that gap by helping workplaces to address employer readiness in order to become employers of choice," said Aleem Ali, CEO of Welcoming Australia.
Developed by Welcoming Australia, the Welcoming Workplaces Standard provides Australian employers with a practical, peer-reviewed framework to benchmark and strengthen inclusive workplace practices.
The initiative comes at a time when employers across Australia are grappling with workforce shortages, skills gaps and retention challenges, while many migrant, refugee and Pacific workers continue to face barriers to meaningful participation and belonging in the workplace.
While Australia and Australian workplaces often focus on attraction and whether employees are "ready" for work, they ignore whether the employer is ready to harness the benefits of a diverse workforce. To achieve their goals, Australian employers themselves must also be equipped to welcome, retain and support diverse talent.
In launching the standard, Ken Dachi, Welcoming Workplaces Coordinator, said “Welcoming Workplaces provides the tools to turn intention into practical action. We broker the partnerships, share the knowledge, and celebrate the successes that allow workplaces to catalyse their own and broader community cohesion. We aren't just changing policies; we are building the foundations of belonging.”
The launch also highlighted opportunities to strengthen partnerships between employers and communities – something Welcoming Australia has significant experience in through initiatives such as the Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific, which coordinates collaboration between local government, employers and Pacific communities connected to Australia’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) and broader Pacific engagement to deliver better outcomes for communities, employers, and workers.
Zeb Riddell, Managing Director of Adcorp Holdings Australia, a Welcoming Workplaces member and a long-standing partner in Welcoming Australia’s work on the PALM scheme said “The future workforce is diverse, mobile and values-driven. Employers who invest in belonging, ethical and inclusive workplace culture will be the organisations that attract, retain, and who build the kind of sustainable workforce that delivers for communities on both sides of the labour mobility relationship.”
Australia’s strength is our diversity—a workforce where more than a quarter were born overseas and First Nations have thrived for millennia. When people feel they belong, productivity rises, well-being improves, and businesses thrive. A "fair go" in the workplace isn't just about compliance; it’s a competitive advantage.
“Creating welcoming workplaces is not simply a social responsibility; it’s smart business strategy. When workplaces reflect and value the communities they serve, everyone benefits: workers, employers and the broader community,” Carmen Garcia AM, CEO Community Corporate and member of the Welcoming Workplaces Advisory Committee shared when launching the Standard yesterday.
Organisations joining the Welcoming Workplaces network gain access to knowledge sharing, peer learning opportunities, community partnerships and accreditation processes designed to support continuous improvement and measurable impact.
To learn more or join the network, visit welcomingworkplaces.org.au
About us:
Welcoming Australia is a non-partisan movement and organisation committed to cultivating a culture of welcome and advancing an Australia where people of all backgrounds have equal opportunity to belong, contribute and thrive.
Welcoming Workplaces, an initiative of Welcoming Australia, inspires and supports Australian workplaces to develop a culture and practice of welcome, inclusion and belonging within their organisation and the community.
Contact details:
Kate Leaney
Community Partnerships and Communications Manager
0411 712 930
