31/01/2024

The Australian Publishers Association (APA) has launched a Diversity and Inclusion Plan to guide and support industry progress over the next two years.

The plan, developed with the APA’s Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, sets out:

• Eight recommendations for members to improve diversity and inclusion in the Australian publishing industry
• An action plan for the APA to support and track progress

View the Diversity and Inclusion Plan here.

Hardie Grant’s Astrid Browne, chair of the APA’s Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, says of the plan:

‘We are conscious that we can only effect meaningful change in the industry with the willing participation of all publishers. Hence our guidelines provide recommendations on actions they can take that will make a difference, as well as a plan for the APA to support their efforts.’

A key area of focus for the APA in the coming year will be to collate and share educational resources about diversity and inclusion from publishers and the broader creative sector. This will include resources to support the recruitment and retention of more diverse staff, as well as training to provide culturally safe workplaces. 

The APA will also seek to share examples of successful diversity and inclusion initiatives in the industry, such as a recent collaboration between Melbourne’s Affirm Press and Broome’s Magabala Books.

If your company is working on initiatives to improve diversity and inclusion that you can share with the industry, please get in touch with APA industry development manager Andrea Hanke.