1. The APA will continue the work of its Diversity and Inclusion Working Group and its wider reference group 

The Working Group’s current focus is on the five segments that emerged from the APA’s 2022 Australian Publishing Industry Workforce Survey on Diversity and Inclusion, and the impact of intersectionality in these areas: 

  • the cultural diversity of the workforce, including First Nations people
  • gender and sexuality
  • non-traditional pathways into the industry 
  • disability and neurodiversity
  • inclusive publishing formats and accessible content

 

2. The APA will collect, assess and share industry data

  • Implement a diversity measure for new appointments in the industry.
  • Develop protocols for and support implementation of better metadata, particularly for First Nations contributors and content.
  • Support other relevant initiatives to collect industry data and insights, such as the 2019-20 APA Beatrice Davis Editorial Fellowship project, 'It’s hard to be what you can’t see: Diversity Within Australian Publishing' by Radhiah Chowdhury.
Continue research into the publishing workforce through projects such as the Australian Publishing Industry Workforce Survey on Diversity and Inclusion.

 

3. The APA will provide educational resources about diversity and inclusion to members and regular updates on best practice initiatives from member organisations

Resources include:

  • Contact information for networks of organisations, community groups and educational centres that publishers could consider when placing job advertisements to reach a broader pool of candidates.
  • A list of D&I training programs, including cultural awareness and cultural competency training.

 

4. The APA will continue to develop initiatives to support change in the industry

Current initiatives focus on the diversity of the workforce including First Nations representation, diversity of culture, gender and sexuality, disability and neurodiversity. 

  • Workforce initiatives in place for 2024-25 include:
    • Open Book, a paid internship program supported by the APA, Creative Australia, and participating publishers.
    • Scholarships for First Nations editors within the Residential Editorial Program.
    • The development of resources to support internship and mentoring programs.
    • Ensuring APA job ads reach a wider pool of potential applicants.