The anonymous poll, overseen by the Diversity Council of Australia (DCA), aims to establish a baseline that will allow businesses to improve over time and for inclusivity to be measured.
Completing the survey takes between 10 to 15 minutes but closes on 30 September. To find out more and participate, click here.
The initiative is a joint effort between peak organisations and business leaders across a variety of sectors, with the aerospace survey backed by the Australian Space Diversity Alliance (ASDA), Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) and Aviation/Aerospace Australia.
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Last year, a record 82 organisations were recognised nationally for their commitment to diversity and inclusion via the survey.
“We know that inclusion has significant benefits for both employers and employees,” said DCA’s chief executive, Lisa Annese.
“DCA’s Inclusive Employers Index is a rigorous process that reveals the state of inclusion and diversity across participating organisations.
“It’s an opportunity for workplaces to show their commitment to inclusion, reflect on their achievements and identify ways to do even better.
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“Recognition as an inclusive employer means your organisation is doing the necessary work to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.”
It comes after Space Connect reported on the launch of ASDA earlier this year, which aims to support senior leaders and minimise the barriers that marginalised groups face.
The group was founded by eight industry figures, including Defence Council of Victoria’s Anntonette Dailey, ANU’s Dr Cassandra Steer, and Raytheon’s Linda Spurr.
Space Connect is one of the group’s industry partners, alongside five state governments, the iLAuNCH Trailblazer initiative, and communications agency The Write Space.
“Statistics on diverse groups across a range of backgrounds are not necessarily measured in the space industry,” ASDA said earlier.
“If we take women as a minority representative group as an example, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) identifies that women represent, on average, only 20 per cent of the international space industry.
“This figure has remained stagnant over the last 30 years. In Australia, women make up only 28 per cent of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and math.
“The participation of women in the space sector in Australia is likely closer to 20 per cent, with other minority groups even lower, at less than 5 per cent.
“There is obvious room for improvement across all diversity groups.”
ASDA will partner with Aviation Aerospace Australia for the first two years and has launched a website here.
Adam Thorn
Adam is a journalist who has worked for more than 40 prestigious media brands in the UK and Australia. Since 2005, his varied career has included stints as a reporter, copy editor, feature writer and editor for publications as diverse as Fleet Street newspaper The Sunday Times, fashion bible Jones, media and marketing website Mumbrella as well as lifestyle magazines such as GQ, Woman’s Weekly, Men’s Health and Loaded. He joined Momentum Media in early 2020 and currently writes for Australian Aviation and World of Aviation.
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