An inclusive workplace

At SBS, we are incredibly diverse. But diversity unharnessed is just a collection of people who are different. Diversity harnessed delivers inclusion, and when we are all included, we all benefit.

In this article

SBS Inclusion, Equity & Diversity Strategy

SBS launched its current three-year Inclusion, Equity & Diversity Strategy in October 2025 to work towards our goal of being a best-in-class inclusive employer. Our focus is on creating a culture of growth and learning, providing employment pathway programs, and ensuring employee-led best-in-class policies and practices that drive greater inclusion in the workplace.

The SBS Inclusion, Equity & Diversity Strategy spans a three-year period from October 2025 to June 2028. It outlines our vision for a diverse and inclusive workplace, our key focus areas and goals, and the initiatives and actions we will take in the next three years to achieve our vision.

This strategy builds upon the work delivered under the SBS Inclusion, Equity & Diversity Strategy 2022-2025 and has been developed with input from our employees and external specialist partners.

SBS is committed to transparency around its activities and performance as well as being accountable for delivering on its commitments. Progress against actions and plans is shared with all SBS employees, and SBS also publishes regular updates on this website, in addition to its annual report.

 

Employee Advisory Groups

At the core of the SBS Inclusion, Equity & Diversity Strategy are our Employee Advisory Groups (EAG), empowering our people to take an active role in fostering an inclusive culture for all.

Current groups include:

Ngarra, focused on the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.

SBS Multi, focused on multicultural and multifaith inclusion.

SBS Access, focused on the experiences of employees with disabilities.

The Network, focused on gender equity.

SBS Pride & Allies, focused on LGBTIQ+ inclusion.

Each group works with external experts to inform their strategies and approach, and come together each quarter, in a meeting chaired by the SBS Managing Director, known as the SBS Inclusion Council. Each group shares updates on activities, contributes proposals for the development and delivery of the Inclusion, Equity & Diversity Strategy. The outcomes from this meeting are shared with all SBS employees.

Fundamental to the EAG model; and our commitment to inclusion at SBS, are principles which ensure that intersectional perspectives are included in internal events, initiatives and activities; that the groups themselves are diverse; and that any employee, regardless of background or identity, may participate fully.

Indigenous Employment and the SBS Reconciliation Action Plan

SBS launched its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2008, demonstrating our commitment to supporting national efforts to close the gap and increase understanding between our nation’s First Peoples and the wider Australian community. Our current Elevate RAP provides a clear plan setting measurable goals and targets including strengthening recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.

Guided by our RAP, SBS is committed to supporting greater representation and inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across our workforce through a range of actions and initiatives. These include:

  • Launching its Elder-in-Residence program in 2021, recognising the intrinsic value of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and perspectives, designed through an Indigenous-led process and informed by internal and external consultation. Our inaugural SBS Elder-in-Residence is eminent community and industry leader, Rhoda Roberts AO, a proud Widjabul Wiabul woman from the Bundjalung nation.
  • Partnering with Indigenous-owned and operated organisation, BlackCard, to deliver cultural capability training for all SBS employees.
  • Partnering with CareerTrackers, an organisation that places Indigenous university students in paid summer internships over the course of their study. In 2020 SBS has committed to seven paid Indigenous intern placements across our organisation.
  • Committing to at least one identified position for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander journalists in the SBS News and Current Affairs Cadetship Program each year.

During National Reconciliation Week 2022 SBS launched its Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan 2022-2026 outlining its commitment to increasing the prominence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories and perspectives, including delivering more First Nations content in more than 60 languages across the network. Read more here.