Equitable Workplace Awards
Celebrating progress towards diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
About the awards
As a trusted authority for women in the workplace, our annual awards are a coveted accolade for WORK180 Endorsed Employers wishing to gain recognition for their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
With multiple categories and prizes for both small-to-medium and large enterprises, the Equitable Workplace Awards are FREE to enter for all WORK180 Endorsed Employers. The winners will be announced at our annual International Women’s Day Summit held and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Win recognition and a badge to promote your commitment to DEI
Categories and awards
Our annual Equitable Workplace Awards recognise exceptional WORK180 Endorsed Employers across 10 key drivers that are proven to drive equity in the workplace.
Each of the award categories has two awards: one for small businesses (fewer than 250 employees) and one for large businesses (250 employees or more). Additionally, we offer a number of special category awards, including industry-specific recognition awards, “Most improved” as well as the “Overall Best Performer”.
Meet the 2026 winners
Inclusive hiring
LAVAZZA
Representative leadership
hipages Group
Flexible working
Populous
Pay equity
Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission
Shared caring responsibilities
Populous
Strategic commitments
Port of Newcastle
Employee voice & ERGs
Fluent Commerce
Career development
hipages Group
Inclusive and anti-discriminatory culture
hipages Group
Employee support and safety services
Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission
Inclusive hiring
AECOM
Representative leadership
EY
Flexible working
Essential Energy
Pay equity
Northrop Grumman Australia
Shared caring responsibilities
Experian ANZ
Strategic commitments
AECOM
Employee voice & ERGs
Experian ANZ
Career development
EY
Inclusive and anti-discriminatory culture
SYSTRA ANZ
Employee support and safety services
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
Mining, resources & energy
Essential Energy
IT, digital & online media services
hipages Group
Engineering and construction
SYSTRA ANZ
Professional services and consulting
EY
Most progress made in the past year
Cummins
WORK180 Choice Award
Australia Post
Awards based on WORK180’s 10 key drivers of workplaces equity
Inclusive and anti-discriminatory culture
Awarded to workplaces making clear and continued efforts to establish an environment where all women feel welcome and able to thrive.
Flexible working arrangements
Awarded to workplaces that offer and promote flexible working — a powerful tool for removing barriers for women and marginalized groups.
Shared caring responsibilities
Awarded to workplaces with policies and procedures that support and promote the equitable division of caring duties (such as parenting and domestic work).
Employee support and saftey services
Awarded to workplaces supporting mental and physical wellbeing with offerings such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and Domestic and Family Violence policies.
Employee voice and ERGs
Awarded to workplaces actively raising, listening, and learning from under-represented voices, particularly through ERGs.
Career development
Awarded to workplaces nurturing women and marginalized groups through career development opportunities such as mentoring and succession programs.
Inclusive hiring processes
Awarded to workplaces with procedures that actively seek and support applications from women and marginalized groups (with proven impact)
Representative leadership
Awarded to workplaces making clear progress towards establishing diversity within decision-making levels of the organization
Pay equity
Awarded to workplaces making clear and continued progress towards the closing of their company’s gender pay gap.
Strategic commitments
Awarded to workplaces proving their dedication to progress with formalized DEI targets, quotas, and external commitments.
Special award categories
Most improved
Awarded to the workplace who has made the greatest progress towards DEI over the last year. * Available to previous 2026 award entrants only
Mining resources and energy
Awarded to the Mining, Resources or Energy company with the highest overall score across the 10 key drivers towards workplace equity.
I.T digital and online media services
Awarded to the I.T Digital and Online Media Services company with the highest overall score across the 10 key drivers towards workplace equity.
Professional services and consulting
Awarded to the Professional Services and Consulting company with the highest overall score across the 10 key drivers towards workplace equity.
Engineering and construction
Awarded to the Engineering or Construction company with the highest overall score across the 10 key drivers towards workplace equity.
Electricity, gas, water and waste services
Awarded to the Electricity, Gas, Water, and Waste Services company with the highest overall score across the 10 key drivers towards workplace equity.
WORK180 employer of choice
Awarded to the workplace that has partnered with WORK180 to create meaningful change, with commitment to workplace equity shown right across the organisation, from leadership to every team.
The awards ceremony
Winners will be invited to receive their awards at our popular International Women’s Day Summit, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Filled with inspiring talks and thought-provoking panel discussions, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet and learn from fellow changemakers and advocates who are actively paving the way for a gender-equal future.