Tech standards seek balance
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New standards are being created to drive diversity in Australia’s tech sector.
The Tech Council of Australia (TCA), in collaboration with Project F, has introduced a certification framework to drive equity, diversity, and inclusion in tech, supporting the national aim of 1.2 million tech jobs by 2030.
Known as the T-EDI standards, the framework offers companies structured assessment and improvement plans across 10 diversity standards, from hiring practices to pay transparency.
The platform, developed over six years by Project F CEO Emma Jones, enables companies to evaluate and improve their diversity practices.
Jones says leadership engagement and accessible processes are vital.
“The T-EDI standards offer clear guidance and accountability, empowering companies to implement practical solutions to create and reap the benefits of a diverse and inclusive work environment,” she said.
Australia’s tech workforce is currently only 28 per cent female.
With an interactive app, the T-EDI standards allow businesses to self-assess, set goals, and receive certification across four levels, from foundational to leading. The platform is designed for ease of adoption and progress tracking.
TCA CEO Damian Kassabgi has described the standards as an “important milestone” in addressing workplace diversity.
“Improving diversity and inclusion in tech will better position Australia to address social challenges, and support more women and other underrepresented groups to accelerate their careers in our growing tech sector,” he said.
Endorsed by TCA members like Atlassian, Telstra, and CyberCX, the standards appear ot be receiving strong industry support.
PEXA Group CTO and TCA Director Eglantine Etiemble has praised the framework as a clear pathway for progress, saying PEXA has been able to raise female workforce participation from 21 per cent to 37 per cent.
“The T-EDI standards give companies a clear and actionable framework to define what good looks like, embed equity, and drive real progress,” Etiemble said.
CyberCX CEO John Paitaridis says the standards were key to his firm’s creation of an “All-Women” cyber security cohort.
Alongside the standards, the TCA has released its new report, From Research to Reality: Scaling Tech Investment in Australia, which recommends boosting tech-related R&D to address lagging productivity growth.
