The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) today recognises 139 Australian employers who are demonstrating a deep commitment to positive action to achieve gender equality.
WGEA’s new Workplace Gender Equality Citation encourages and celebrates employers’ efforts towards achieving gender equality, with a focus on outcomes and the employee experience.
Successful employers are recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality or an Employer Committed to Gender Equality.
The new Citation Standards provide employers with an evidence-informed blueprint for taking effective action.
Employers recognised under the Citation are turning data into action, by committing to clear targets for accountability and tracking and using insights from employee surveys.
They are demonstrating and committing to deliver strong gender-equal outcomes at the moments that matter most to women and men at work. This includes gender-balance in leadership, progress to close gender pay gaps and meaningful improvements in participation in part-time work or men’s use of parental leave.
This work is strengthening safety, fairness and opportunity for everyone in their organisation.
This first cohort recognised under the new Citation are previous WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation holders who have made the transition to the new program.
Many already meet the outcomes required by the new Standards. However, as a transition provision, some are undertaking additional work to do so.
An employee experience survey, to understand how their workforce experiences the workplace culture, is a key requirement of Citation. Citation holder’s surveys returned the required strong outcomes that indicate they experience a fair, safe and equal workplace culture.
WGEA CEO Mary Wooldridge congratulated the employers for continuing to invest in action to improve gender equality as a core part of day-to-day business.
“Employers recognised by the Citation are an example of what can be achieved with a dedicated, long-term approach backed by clear policies and data-informed, continuous improvement strategies,” Ms Wooldridge said.
“They’re using this information to create workplaces where all people feel valued, are supported to have equal access to career opportunities and are fairly rewarded for their work.
“Research shows women and men in diverse, inclusive workplaces are more innovative, work more effectively together and stay longer in their workplace.
“And employers also benefit from other positive flow-on effects like boosted company profitability and productivity.”
The announcement follows a review of WGEA’s citation program. As a result, WGEA added an extra category of citation – the Employer Committed to Gender Equality.
The new category provides an option for employers who are building strong policies, systems and leadership frameworks and are making steady progress, but are not yet meeting the outcomes required by the Employer of Choice for Gender Equality recognition level.
“Employers who hold the Workplace Gender Equality Citation are doing the work to understand what’s important to their workforce and how gender affects women and men’s everyday experience at work,” Ms Wooldridge said.
Participants in the program receive support from the Agency to improve outcomes in their workplace and to further embed equality into their business processes.
Successful employers hold the Citation for 3 years.
New applicants will be able to apply for the citation later in 2026.
View the full list of employers that hold the Workplace Gender Equality Citation on WGEA’s website at www.wgea.gov.au