Diversity and inclusion

Inclusion @ VBA

We understand the significant benefits diversity can bring to an organisation in terms of innovation, productivity and engagement. The VBA Corporate Strategy - Vision 27 - Strength Based Workplace - focusses on strengthening our approach to diversity, inclusion and gender equity.

We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive culture to ensure our people are treated with dignity and respect, have equitable access to employment opportunities and outcomes, and can participate in all aspects of work life. Our aim is to ensure our people can achieve their potential as their authentic selves no matter their race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability and health status, family or carer status, employment status, or age.

Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP)

Our inaugural Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) 2022-2025 is a significant program of work that showcases our commitment and support to achieving gender equality in our organisation and within the sector and industry in which we operate.

Our core gender pillars and aspirations lie in the following areas:

• Creating and maintaining a safe, accessible, equitable and inclusive working environment.
• Ensuring equitable access to employment opportunities and outcomes, with a focus on women in the building industry.
• Building knowledge capability in gender equity, including pay equity, and intersectionality principles to leverage diversity in key decision-making.
• Embedding and maintaining flexible and hybrid working practices.
• Providing an exemplary employee experience.
• Engage and reflect the communities we serve.

Learn more about the VBA’s Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP).

Progress Report Update (Feb 2025) Summary

VBA must submit a progress report against its GEAP to the Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner every two years, the first submitted in February 2024. Progress reports are required to demonstrate progress against the following:

• What policies, programs and services were subject to a gender impact assessment and the actions undertaken as a result of the gender impact assessment
• Detailed information and data for the measures and strategies as set out in our Gender Equality Action Plan
• Work undertaken to address activities against seven core workplace gender equality indicators as set by the Gender Equality Commission.

Key Highlights (progress made in 2022-2023)

The VBA is proud of the progress it has made to improve its workplace culture. This has resulted in several key achievements for the reporting period, including:

• Modifications to existing systems allowing intersectionality data to be collected and analysed
• Communications training rolled out across the VBA and subsequent development of the VBA Communications Charter to enhance psychological safety across the organisation
• Comprehensive pay equity analysis completed by job grade, excluding Executives, revealing the pay gap is less than 1% in favour of females
• Increased the percentage of women recruited to VBA in the 55-64 age group and increased the number of both women and men recruited to VBA over the age of 65
• Embedded sexual harassment training in the inductions of all new starters and new managers
• Enhanced the leave and flexibility options for VBA employees while increasing employee engagement.

Our next steps

• Determine and complete Gender Impact Assessments on significant public-facing programs
• Provide training to staff on sexual harassment, bullying and acceptable workplace behaviours that include Respect@Work duties
• Provide training to managers on all compliance requirements including sensitive training on Family Violence
• Continue to embed our equality principles as documented in our policies in our recruitment efforts across the VBA
• Develop relationships with organisations to promote gender equality in technical roles and more broadly in the construction industry
• Commit further resources in 2024/2025 to deliver the VBA Capability Suite which aims to provide the right development, at the right time, in the right way to empower employees to build their careers at VBA.

Full progress report

View the full progress report submitted to the Commission: