Diversity & Inclusion

At nbn, we believe in creating an environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Our team is all about collaboration and innovation, so we're always looking for ways to bring more value to our customers, partners, and communities. 

We encourage our employees to share their unique perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences with us so we can tap into a wider range of ideas and insights. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion employee networks provide support and connection for our team members. These networks, including First Nations, Gender Equity, Culture, LGBTQ+ Pride, and Accessibility, strive to inspire and engage our employees while promoting inclusion throughout our company. 

We believe in welcoming everyone and striving for excellence. That's why we're thrilled to be members of the Diversity Council of Australia, the Australian Network on Disability (AND), and Pride in Diversity. We continuously aim to improve by benchmarking ourselves against industry standards. Our hard work paid off when we were awarded Gold Employer status in both the 2021 and 2022 Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI).

First Nations

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People as the custodians of the lands and waters throughout Australia and their continuing connection to Country. 

Our partnership with First Nations communities is crucial to delivering our purpose, to lift the digital capability of Australia, and exploring how a fast, reliable broadband network can bring about social and economic benefits. 

Partnering with Reconciliation Australia, we developed the nbn Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2023-2026, which showcases our commitment to closing the gap and recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their customs in everything we do. Our team, Liakukana (“lee-ah-kooh-kâh-nah”), is made up of our First Nations colleagues and a diverse group of people who work together to put our Plan into action. We’re focused on improving community involvement and coming up with innovative solutions.

We’re here to support our First Nations’ employees with Reconciliation Awareness training, mentorship, and access to an employee assistance line. We’re also committed to promoting culturally-led cyber safety awareness and improving digital skills for First Nations communities.

Gender Equity

We believe in equal and equitable opportunities for all employees, regardless of gender. We promote a culture of inclusion to support everyone’s success.

We’re thrilled to share that nbn has been recognised as the first Government Business Enterprise to be included in the Australian Academy of Science’s Women in STEM Decadal Plan Champions. This initiative is all about promoting gender equality by encouraging leadership and teamwork, evaluating workplace culture, boosting visibility, providing education, and supporting industry action. 

We’re also proud to be partnering with WORK180, an international jobs network that helps connect talented women with smart businesses. They have updated pre-screening criteria and diversity initiatives that focus on age, ability, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, which aligns perfectly with our commitment to creating a fair and equal workplace for everyone.

At nbn, we’re striving for a more gender-balanced team and are committed to lifting the representation of women across nbn, particularly in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) roles, and management. To deliver on our commitment, we have established organisation-wide targets and initiatives, including:

• 40 per cent female representation in senior management positions by 2025
• dedicated career development, mentoring and sponsorship programs to support emerging female leaders
• opportunities for our people to get involved, learn and discuss via nbn Equals, our employee-led gender equity network
• strong focus on achieving and maintaining Gender Pay Equity
• providing flexible working options for all employees
• unconscious bias and inclusion training for all of our people; and
• gender-balanced recruitment shortlists and interview panels when hiring new employees.

Cultural Diversity 

At nbn, we believe in the power of diversity and celebrate the unique cultural backgrounds and identities of our employees. We want everyone to feel comfortable and welcome to be themselves, and we encourage learning about each other's cultures through our Culture at nbn employee-led network. 

We're also proud to participate in the Dr John Yu Fellowship, a program that brings together business, government, and not-for-profit organizations to promote diversity and inclusion. The program is designed to help develop multicultural leaders and organizations that value diversity and inclusion. We're excited to be a part of such an amazing initiative!

LGBTQ+ Pride

We have an employee network just for our LGBTQ+ employees and allies. It's called nbn Pride and provides support and connection for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/gender diverse, and queer. We're proud to celebrate and support all of our employees at nbn!

Supporting our LGBTQ+ community in recruitment

We welcome LGBTQ+ community members to join nbn, including transgender and gender-diverse individuals. If you need support or have questions, our Talent Acquisition team can help at recruitment@nbnco.com.au

Accessibility at nbn

We're all about making sure everyone at nbn feels supported. That's why we're constantly working with our team and experts to create an inclusive environment for all, no matter their needs. Our Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2023-2026 is one of the many ways we're committed to making sure everyone feels welcome and valued.

Our plan is all about ensuring everyone can access our products and services, no matter their needs. We also care about respecting our employees and creating a workplace that upholds human rights. This is really important to us, and it starts from our recruitment process and continues with ongoing support for anyone who needs it. We're committed to positively impacting our customers, community, and partners by working together to offer accessible products and services.

Accessibility support during recruitment

At nbn, we believe in making job opportunities accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities. We understand that everyone has specific needs and adjustments that can make a big difference in their comfort and performance. That's why our recruitment process is designed to work with you and find solutions for your workplace or workstation. We want to make sure you feel comfortable and confident so that you can be your best self.

If you require any accessibility support during the recruitment process, please feel free to let us know by contacting our Talent Acquisition team at recruitment@nbnco.com.au