Diversity and inclusion efforts surge as discrimination drops
A record-high number of Australian organisations are taking action on diversity and inclusion at work, leading to a drop in instances of discrimination and exclusion in workplaces, according to the Diversity Council of Australia (DCA).
DCA's 2025-2026 Inclusion@Work Index found that 62% of workers are saying their organisations are taking action on diversity and inclusion.
This is an increase from the 56% recorded in 2023-2024, and is the highest level of organisational action recorded since the index began in 2017.
The record-high levels coincided with the drop in discrimination and everyday exclusion recorded in workplaces, according to the report.
Just 24% of employees reported experiencing discrimination or harassment in 2025, down from the 30% in 2024.
Instances of everyday exclusion have also declined. Just 28% of employees reported that they are ignored by people at work, down from the 33% in 2023.
Only 30% of employees also said others made incorrect assumptions about their abilities because of their identity, compared with 39% in 2023.
Just 26% of employees also said they had been left out of work social gatherings in 2025, lower than the 28% recorded in 2023.
More work still needed
But the drop in discrimination and everyday exclusion does not mean the work is over for employers, according to the DCA.
It found that employees from marginalised backgrounds are still reporting the highest levels of discrimination and harassment at work.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employees were two times more likely to report experiencing discrimination or harassment than non-Indigenous workers.
Employees with disability were also two times more likely to report discrimination and harassment, while LGBTQ+ employees were 1.5 times more likely to report similar instances.
"We know many Australian workplaces are doing important work to foster inclusion, but these findings tell us there is still a great deal of work to be done," said DCA CEO Catherine Hunter in a statement.
"Workplaces that take targeted, evidence-led action see better outcomes, including improved wellbeing, stronger performance and productivity, and importantly, significantly lower levels of discrimination and harassment."
Employee support still strong
Meanwhile, the same report also found that employee support for diversity and inclusion efforts in the workplace remains strong.
More than three in four (76%) employees said they support their organisation taking action to create a diverse and inclusive workplace, up from the 74% in the 2023-2024 index.
The findings are an indication that Australians will continue to back action that creates fairer and more inclusive workplaces, according to Hunter.
She said that the findings reinforce that employees recognise the benefits of inclusion, and workplaces shouldn't consider these efforts are "optional."
"When people feel safe, respected and included, they do their best work. That doesn't only benefit organisations, it contributes to a fairer, more unified society," Hunter said.
