Australia implements mandatory workplace gender equality targets

Australia is implementing new mandatory gender equality targets for large employers. As of 1 April 2026, organizations with 500 or more direct employees must select three gender equality targets as part of their Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) reporting. At least one of these targets must be numeric, and companies have a three-year period to meet or demonstrate improvement against them.

To achieve these goals, experts emphasize the importance of establishing reliable baselines. While an organization-wide gender pay gap provides a starting point, it is an aggregate measure that may not explain underlying causes such as the underrepresentation of women in senior roles, concentration in lower-paid functions, or disparities in hiring and promotion.

Complementing these regulatory shifts, CEOs for Gender Equity (CGE) has launched a national television campaign aimed at dismantling gender bias in the workplace. The campaign focuses on behavioral change, addressing the rigid gender roles and prehistoric attitudes that affect both men and women. By highlighting how gendered expectations impact all employees, the initiative seeks to foster cultural change within professional environments.