Diversity and Inclusion

The APA and our members are committed to fostering and supporting a book industry and culture that serves the needs of all Australians, and increasing diversity and inclusion in the industry.

In 2022 the Board of the Australian Publishers Association prioritised work on diversity and inclusion,  announcing the creation of a working group to lead industry efforts in this space. 

The Diversity and Inclusion Working Group will advise and support the APA Board in the Association’s ambitions to:

• ensure reading is for all Australians
• support First nations’ writers, publishing and readers
• embrace and facilitate diversity in our own companies
• ensure our technologies and products are inclusive

Working group

The initial working group members are 

• Astrid Browne – Chair (Hardie Grant)
• Rachel Bin Salleh (Magabala)
• Rosina Di Marzo (NewSouth)
• Angela Glindemann (OUP)
• Rachael Pictor (Cengage)
• Haijira Shaheen (Learning Consultant & former APA Board observer)
• Yasmin Smith (UQP)
• Robert Watkins (Ultimo Press)

This year the Working Group will work through the implications of the workforce survey in order to develop a D&I plan for the APA. They will also provide expert input into some existing APA D&I projects, such as the development of guide to First Nations publishing resource and a joint project with IPEd to create a guide for editors working in accessible formats 

Reference group

The Working Group is encouraging input from publishing staff across the industry, through a wider reference group that all interested industry members are invited to join. 

Reference group members will be called upon from time to time for their expertise on specific diversity and inclusion issues, and to provide further opportunities to share solutions and ideas.  

For further information about joining the Reference Group please contact [email protected].

Current focus

The current priorities for the working group and reference group are: 

• the cultural diversity of the workforce including First Nations’ peoples
• gender and sexuality
• non-traditional pathways into the industry 
• disability and neurodiversity
• inclusive publishing formats and accessible content

For further information about joining the Reference Group please contact [email protected].

Recent and ongoing industry initiatives

• Australian Publishing Industry Workforce Survey on Diversity and Inclusion
• Residential Editorial Program:
  • 2022 – scholarship for First Nations editors
  • 2020 Online Seminar – First Nations Publishing focus
• Open Book - the Open Book Internship is a program designed to foster cultural diversity in the publishing industry. Supported by the APA, six organisations took part in the pilot year, with more organisations interested in joining.
• UQP’s commitment to Diversity and Inclusion and First Nations Publishing saw them named ABIA Small Publisher of the Year in 2021.
• Annual paid summer internships at Hachette
• black&write! program at the State Library of Queensland supporting First Nations writing and editing.
• The APA has commissioned a Guide to First Nations Publishing
• Continued support of the Accessible & Inclusive Publishing Initiative
• APA funded 2019-20 Beatrice Davis research project – 'It’s hard to be what you can’t see: Diversity Within Australian Publishing'