Research
DCA works in partnership with members to conduct research, which generates evidence-based information and guidance on workplace diversity. DCA’s research features the following innovative projects completed or planned:
Working for the Future: A National Survey of Employees
DCA is conducting a comprehensive national survey of employees to measure the current and future Australian workforce, employment conditions, diversity demographics, employee engagement and well-being, productivity, business effectiveness and workforce planning capacity. Sponsored by Credit Suisse, IBM Australia, McDonald’s and Tabcorp, it will provide Australian employers with better access to systematic and reliable information on employment- and diversity-related workplace trends and benchmarking data. Click here for more detail about this project.
Diversity in an economic downturn survey
Sponsored by McDonald’s, DCA’s Diversity in an Economic Downturn Survey provides members with benchmarking data on the extent to which the global financial crisis has impacted on Australian organisations’ diversity agenda.
Pay equity
DCA has commissioned KPMG to commence cutting edge research into pay equity. Called 'Gender Pay Equity and Productivity in Australia: Finally, A Dollar Figure', DCA and KPMG expect to release the findings to members in 2009 and 2010.
Being diversity competent
This research investigates the critical role line managers have in ‘doing’ diversity – that is, turning organisational policy into practice. Based on the PhD research of Jane O’Leary, DCA’s Research Director, findings were released to DCA members in February 2009. They are invaluable in assisting managers understand their own level of competence, with a view to further developing this.
Engaging Aboriginal Australians in our workplace
Sponsored by National Australia Bank, this landmark research project revealed the motivations and aspirations of Aboriginal Australians to provide valuable information to help build sustainable employment strategies for the future. As far as we are aware, this is the first research of this type ever.
Pride in Diversity: LGBT Corporate Equality Index
Pride in Diversity, in partnership with ACON, DCA and Stonewall UK was launched in Sydney in February 2010 by the Hon. Michael Kirby. This program is the first Australian non-for-profit employer support program to focus exclusively on supporting Australian Employers with every aspect of LGBT inclusion. The Pride in Diversity Program will also launch Australia’s first Workplace Equality Index later this year, based on the model adapted by Stonewall UK. Founding partners for the Pride in Diversity program are: KPMG, IBM, ING Australia, Lead lease, Goldman Sachs JBWere, Department of Defence and Australian Federal Police and Telstra. For more information, please contact Dawn Hough, Program Director, Pride in Diversity on (02) 9206 2136.
Keep a look out here for more exciting projects. For more information or to partner with DCA on research, contact Lisa Annese, DCA's Acting Research Director.