The Tech Council of Australia (TCA), in partnership with Project F, has unveiled a new set of standards aimed at enhancing diversity within the tech sector. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to secure 600,000 new tech workers over the next five years and reach 1.2 million tech jobs by 2030.

The T-EDI standards, an evidence-based certification framework, enable companies to evaluate their performance against ten equity, diversity, and inclusion standards. These standards are designed to address the fact that only 28% of the tech workforce identifies as women, compared to 51% of the overall workforce.

Companies can achieve varying levels of certification through compliance with the framework across ten markers, including hiring practices, parental leave policies, pay transparency, and flexible work. The standards are supported by an interactive platform designed to streamline the process of compliance and adoption. Progress through the standards is recognised with a certification and ranking.

Emma Jones, CEO and Founder of Project F, said, “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 added, “There is a monumental gap between the number of tech jobs and the number of qualified candidates available to fill them, so there is a national imperative to address the structural issues that have become ingrained in the culture of tech workplaces over decades and get more women into tech jobs, which are some of the most flexible on offer.”

TCA CEO Damian Kassabgi echoed these sentiments, stating, “The T-EDI standards promote systemic change and take the guesswork out of creating an inclusive workplace.” He added, “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.”

Eglantine Etiemble, PEXA Group Chief Technology Officer and TCA Non-Executive Director, praised the standards, saying, “The T-EDI standards give companies a clear and actionable framework to define what good looks like, embed equity and drive real progress. It provides, as well, great transparency to prospective employees and has the potential to create a differentiating value proposition as an employer.” She also highlighted PEXA's commitment to diversity and inclusion, stating, “PEXA has been focusing on lifting our diversity and inclusion over the past years with great success, moving from 21% to 37% female participation in our workforce in the past two years alone. The adoption of the T-EDI standards will help us continue raising the bar and ensuring that it is embedded in our practices.”