Community and Diversity

Australian businesses have an important role to play in fostering community wellbeing and promoting social and economic inclusion.

Our Community and Diversity agenda identifies, encourages and advocates for good practice and policy in a range of areas, including:

• Indigenous engagement

• Mentally healthy workplaces

• Disability inclusion

• Gender and workplace diversity

The BCA Secretariat contact for community and diversity policy issues is Josh Riley, Senior Manager, Citizenship.

Latest Media

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The True Value of Humanities
4 November 2016
Jennifer Westacott on how humanities can play a fundamental role in the prosperity agenda. More
Supply Nation's Connect 2016 Keynote Speech by Jennifer Westacott
2 May 2016
Jennifer Westacott speaks about innovation in the face of major technological disruption, and the implications for supplier relationships, entrepreneurship and enterprise creation. More
Statement on Constitutional Recognition Referendum Council
7 December 2015
We congratulate Michael Rose, Chair of our Indigenous Engagement Task Force, on his appointment to the Referendum Council. More
Boosting Employment Outcomes for People with Disability
29 October 2015
A report which looks at the role business can play in driving greater workforce participation and inclusion for people with disability. More
New Resource to Help Business Promote Jobs for Indigenous People
27 October 2015
The AHRC and BCA launch ‘Targeted recruitment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – A guideline for employers’. More
Governance is Stronger When Two Worlds Connect
21 October 2015
Independentdirectory is a joint initiative of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations and the BCA. More
Statement on Constitutional Recognition
26 June 2015
The substance of the committee’s position aligns with BCA principles of fairness and shared prosperity. More
The Purple House Fund Launch
16 April 2015
Business Council of Australia Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott will launch the fund at a celebration in Melbourne in support of the Purple House (Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation). More
Supporting and Celebrating Indigenous Initiative and Success
16 April 2015
The Purple House Fund is an initiative that enables patients suffering end-stage renal disease to receive treatment on their country. More
The Purple House Fund
15 April 2015
The Purple House, is an Alice Springs-based organisation, providing a unique and innovative community care and social support service for patients suffering end-stage renal disease. More
Why Mental Health Matters to Business: Presentation by Jennifer Westacott
15 April 2015
BCA Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott discusses the important role businesses play in tackling mental health. More
The Business Case for Addressing Mental Health
13 April 2015
BCA co-hosts workshop to discuss the practical steps businesses can take to reduce the $10.9 billion impact mental health has on the economy. More
BCA and Supply Nation Drive Supplier Diversity Discussion
26 March 2015
Supporting the development of the Indigenous business sector is important so that we can drive Indigenous economic development. More
Improved Gender Reporting: Article in Women's Agenda
13 March 2015
The new reporting regime takes us a step closer to advancing gender equality so that women and men can thrive equally in the workplaces of Australia. More
BCA Welcomes Gender Reporting Changes
25 February 2015
The streamlining of gender equity reporting requirements will help ensure that the data collected is meaningful and not unduly costly for businesses. More
Australia’s Largest Companies Supporting Indigenous Prosperity
18 December 2014
Almost all of Australia’s largest companies see Indigenous prosperity as something they have a part in actively supporting. More
International Day of People with Disability
3 December 2014
More
Forrest Review a Reminder We Have a Long Way to Go
1 August 2014
Business is making progress in reducing Indigenous employment disparity but Mr Forrest’s report is a timely reminder that we still have a long way to go. More
Alliance Proposes Partnerships to Secure Jobs for Disadvantaged Jobseekers
30 June 2014
The BCA, ACOSS and the ACTU have jointly proposed improvements to employment services to deliver better outcomes for disadvantaged jobseekers. More
Heads Up Helps Build Mentally Healthy Workplaces
20 May 2014
Heads Up has the potential to help us all by offering businesses practical advice and resources to help them build mentally healthy workplaces. More
Speech by Jennifer Westacott to the Odyssey House Business Luncheon 2014
9 May 2014
BCA Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott speaks to Odyssey House on the topic of ‘Shared Outcomes: The Role of Business in Community Wellbeing.’ More
BCA–FYA Partnership to Increase Opportunities for Young Australians
28 March 2014
The BCA and the FYA will work together on a range of measures to better prepare young people for the world of work, and reduce youth unemployment. More
BCA Welcomes Gender Diversity Reporting Streamlining
25 March 2014
Gender diversity and female workforce participation brings many benefits, but data collection should be streamlined, easily understood and beneficial. More
Workplace Gender Equality Reporting: Opinion Article in the AFR
19 March 2014
Streamlined gender reporting and business-specific diversity strategies can improve outcomes for women, business and the economy. More
Supply Nation and Business Council of Australia launch Memorandum of Understanding
10 February 2014
Supply Nation and the Business Council of Australia launch partnership giving Indigenous businesses opportunities to supply goods and services. More
BCA Indigenous Engagement Survey 2013
16 December 2013
An inspiring picture of people working together to create the social and economic conditions where Indigenous Australians can achieve their potential. More
Speech by Jennifer Westacott to the 2013 Inspire Foundation Breakfast
24 October 2013
Speech by BCA Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott to the 2013 Inspire Foundation Breakfast on the topic of employment and mental health. More
Indigenous Job Creation: Article by Tony Shepherd in the AFR
30 May 2013
Business, governments and communities must work with Indigenous Australians to create sustainable jobs and inclusive, respectful workplaces and communities. More
National Disability Insurance Scheme: Daily Telegraph Article
3 May 2013
The NDIS is groundbreaking, but it must be properly designed and budgeted for, writes Tony Shepherd in The Daily Telegraph. More
Statement on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Levy
1 May 2013
Statement by Business Council of Australia Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Levy. More
Indigenous Employment the Key, but Employer-Directed Training Critical
20 March 2013
Jobs are only part of the solution to ending Indigenous disadvantage, BCA President Tony Shepherd says at GenerationOne event in Canberra. More
Statement of Support for Act of Recognition
13 February 2013
Parliament’s adoption of the Act of Recognition is an important step towards a referendum to achieve constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians. More
Roundtable Begins Search for Ways to Improve Job Opportunities for Disadvantaged Groups
21 December 2012
A joint roundtable stemming from the collaboration between ACOSS, the BCA, and the ACTU found there are major barriers towards getting unemployed people into jobs. More
One Country, Many Voices: Update on the Indigenous Engagement Activities of the BCA and Its Members
23 November 2012
Address by BCA President Tony Shepherd to the Reconciliation Australia Government and Business Luncheon. More
Strong Showing in 2012 BCA Indigenous Engagement Survey
23 November 2012
Indigenous engagement is fast becoming an essential aspect of business practice among Australia’s large companies. More
Praise for Indigenous Core Values
15 October 2012
BCA member companies are experiencing the two-way benefits of working with Indigenous organisations and individuals. More
Disadvantaged Still Missing Fair Share of Rich Pickings
12 October 2012
Anti-Poverty Week gives the community the chance to reflect on what has been achieved in tackling poverty and disadvantage, and on continuing failures in breaking cycles of disadvantage. More
Constitutional Recognition a Goal Worth Getting Right
20 September 2012
An Act of Recognition would move our country toward a referendum for recognition of Indigenous Australians in our Constitution. More
Aboriginal Jobs Push Here to Stay
8 February 2012
Creative initiatives by Australia’s largest businesses are having an increasingly significant impact in supporting Indigenous employment and economic development. More
Cultural Recognition Promotes Economic Equality
19 January 2012
Constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians could play an important role in closing economic opportunity gaps between Indigenous and other Australians. More
Remove Racism of a Previous Era from the Heart of our Constitution
8 December 2011
Full and equal recognition of Indigenous Australians our Constitution is essential, argues Graham Bradley in The Australian. More
Business Trailblazing in Indigenous Economic Engagement
9 November 2011
Business Council of Australia members are reaching out in ever larger numbers to help improve outcomes for Indigenous Australians. More
Support for Workers with Disabilities Calls for Three-way Partnership
1 September 2011
Countries such as New Zealand could serve as a model, writes Graham Bradley in The Age. More
BCA Not Calling for Disability Support Pensions to be Cut
14 February 2011
The Disability Support Pension forms a vital function in Australia’s welfare system for those who do not have, or have limited capacity, to participate in the paid workforce. More
Big Business Shows Leadership in Closing the Gap
22 October 2010
BCA members are increasingly active in developing creative strategies to increase Indigenous engagement in the Australian economy. More
The Worm Has Turned: Women in Leadership 2010
18 August 2010
Speech by BCA Chief Executive Katie Lahey on the topic of women in leadership. More
Closing the Gap Delivers Community-Wide Benefits
1 July 2010
The Goulburn Valley stands to gain sizeable benefits from closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage. More
CEOs Step up to Take Direct Action on Women in Top Jobs
31 March 2010
New mentoring initiative to help high-achieving women rise to the top of the corporate ladder. More
Stronger Plans Are Needed to Ensure Gender Parity
16 November 2009
It defies belief that, in a sophisticated and modern country such as Australia, we are even talking about paying a woman the same amount as a man for a day’s work – it should already be long-established practice writes Katie Lahey. More
Indigenous Commitments Welcome but Economic Reform Lags
2 July 2009
The BCA welcomes the agreement by COAG today to step up efforts to close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage, but concerns remain that progress in the vital business deregulation agenda is slipping. More
Early Help for Unemployed Important to Lift Participation
24 February 2009
Business Council of Australia Chief Executive Katie Lahey welcomes the announcement by the federal government of immediate assistance for workers facing unemployment as a result of the global economic downturn. More
2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal
9 February 2009
The BCA encourages business and individuals to donate to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. More
Push Aside the Fog and Close the Gap
31 October 2008
The Business Council of Australia has a multifaceted social impact, writes Greig Gailey in The Age. More
The Mutual Benefits of Giving
14 June 2007
Geoff Allen of the Centre for Corporate Public Affairs discusses the release of the ACCPA–BCA report, ‘Corporate Community Investment in Australia’ in an op-ed in The Australian Financial Review. More
Understanding the CSR Landscape: A View from CorporateAustralia
5 February 2007
BCA Chief Executive Katie Lahey’s address to the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility ‘Turning Point’ conference. More
Principal for a Day Program Celebrates 5th Birthday
17 August 2005
Katie Lahey, Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia participated in this year’s Principal for Day program today at Preston Girls Secondary College, Victoria. More
Age Can Work: The Case for Supporting Older Workers
14 November 2003
Speech by Katie Lahey, Chief Executive, Business Council of Australia More
Business Takes Lead on Ageing Workers
26 August 2003
The Business Council of Australia has released guidelines aimed at encouraging big business to keep more older Australians in the workforce. More
Business, Unions Unite for Older Workers
23 April 2003
Australia’s corporate sector and trade unions are working together to boost the number of older people remaining in the workforce. More
Corporate Philanthropy: State of Play
17 March 2003
Speech by Katie Lahey, Chief Executive, Business Council of Australia to the Philanthropy Australia Conference More
Business–Indigenous Collaboration: First National Report Released
4 December 2001
Many Indigenous leaders are asking business to play a central role in ensuring real jobs in the real economy. More
Recognising Ability: Business and the Employment of People with Disability
28 October 2015
Launch of the Business Council of Australia's report Recognising Ability: Business and the Employment of People with Disability. More