The Advertising Council Australia (ACA) has announced its next Create Space Census for Wednesday, November 1.
Every advertising and marketing professional working in Australia is being asked to spend 15 minutes completing the anonymous industry-wide survey conducted by Kantar.
The findings will be used to benchmark the industry’s progress on DE&I, revealing strengths, pinpointing gaps and again highlighting priority areas for ongoing action.
Hannah Sturrock, ACA national head of engagement, said more than 2,600 people across Australian advertising responded to the first Create Space Census in 2021, providing the most extensive data on the makeup and experience of its people that the industry has ever seen.
“Two years on, after mobilising agencies and businesses to take action, we’re back and taking Create Space to the next level," Sturrock said.
"This year’s census will be pivotal in charting the industry’s progress in becoming a more representative and inclusive place to work.”
Key findings from 2021’s Create Space Census revealed women in advertising are six times more likely than men to experience gender discrimination, 58% of advertising professionals live with a physical or mental health condition, and one-fifth of employees are likely to leave the industry due to their experiences of discrimination and exclusion.
Close to 50% of respondents said they had experienced microaggressions in the workplace.
Rose Herceg, WPP Australia president and chair of ACA’s D&I Committee, said it’s critical that everyone makes their voice heard.
"As an industry, our longevity depends on us being inclusive of all people, not just the majority, a place where all people thrive, feel heard, supported, and safe to do their best work," Herceg said.
Following 2021’s census, ACA released the Create Space Action Plan detailing six actions organisations needed to address to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace. These included improving the experience and representation of female, LGBTQIA+ and ethnic talent as well as talent with disability and/or mental health challenges, and addressing industry-wide microaggressions.
ACA will release the second Create Space Report and Action Plan in 2024 based on results from this year’s census, which will inform the industry's next round of focus areas. The census will run again in 2025 in line with ACA’s commitment to benchmark progress every two years.
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