Gender Equity

Taking action towards Gender Equity

Gender Equity benefits the wellbeing and careers of people from all genders. That’s why Telstra is continuing to work towards positive change for our people and community.

At Telstra, we offer a broad range of policies and initiatives aimed at recruiting and championing female talent. They cement our commitment to gender diversity and equity within our business and help create gender equality in the wider job market.

Meet a few of the talented women doing incredible work at Telstra

Women from Telstra talk about the great work they do and how Telstra supports them.

[Music]

[FOOTAGE] We open with a Telstra logo before being introduced to Aaliah who is seated in a communal Telstra office space.

[AALIAH] The highlight for me working for Telstra is that I can come to work and just be myself and just come with a degree of authenticity.

[FOOTAGE] Aaliah is seen in various locations of the office, collaborating with teammates and catching up in communal spaces.

[AALIAH] And what that creates is an environment where I can take risks, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, which is what is required when you're embarking on an innovation journey like Telstra is.

[FOOTAGE] Sakshi talks to us while seated in a similar area to Aaliah.

[SAKSHI] Over the last couple of years, it's been such a highlight to see so many different women come through in lots of different roles in our teams.

[FOOTAGE] Sakshi is seen in a communal space talking to Aaliah.

[SAKSHI] Whether they're tester, they're coders, they are product managers and product owners or whether they are in our legal and marketing team. Particularly when you work in a cross-functional, agile team.

[FOOTAGE] Maddie is seated while talking to us in an open office space.

[MADDIE] As a transgender woman in Telstra, the support I receive from colleagues and around the business is one of the many reasons why I just cannot imagine working anywhere else.

[FOOTAGE] Maddie collaborates with other women in a meeting room.

[MADDIE] I'm very lucky to have started my career in Telstra, working with so many amazing people, where we're all treated as equals and our voices are heard and valued.

[FOOTAGE] We return to Maddie who is seated in an open office space.

[MADDIE] Importantly too, I've been able to meet a lot of women in senior roles and leadership positions in Telstra who I can see as a role model and aspire to be just as successful one day.

[FOOTAGE] Bettina talks to us while seated in a pathway of an office area.

[BETTINA] Starting my career I had a mentor, and she was a fantastic mentor. And now I've been able to take that experience and help other women who are starting their careers for the first time.

[FOOTAGE] Bettina laughs and chats at a table with Maddie.

[BETTINA] In Technology, in the digital sphere, they want to try new things, they want to see where their passion lies. And I've been able to help them achieve their goals through mentoring them.

[FOOTAGE] We return to Aaliah, seated in a communal space.

[AALIAH] I have had lots of different jobs at Telstra. And so I think the best thing about Telstra as a technology company is the freedom of flexibility to move around, try lots of different things

[FOOTAGE] Sakshi walks down a hallway in slow motion before being seen in a meeting with a fellow staff member.

[AALIAH] It's just how Telstra develops its people and supports them to learn and try new things.

[FOOTAGE] Bettina is seen again, seated and talking to us.

[BETTINA] I think a lot of women in tech still have a lot of fear in speaking up and sharing their ideas, and it can be daunting. I know personally it can be daunting putting your hand up and saying this is an idea I have, I want to try it, I think it's going to be fantastic.

[FOOTAGE] We see Maddie, Aaliah and Bettina all seated at a table having a discussion.

[BETTINA] So don't be afraid. I would just say find your voice, find you courage and go with it.

[FOOTAGE] Sakshi sits before us on a chair as she talks.

[SAKSHI] There's two pieces of advice I'll give for women in tech. Number one, back yourself, because so many of us listen to that negative voice in our head. It's not actually helpful. Just back yourself and jump into it. You actually know a lot more than what you give yourself credit for.

[FOOTAGE] Bettina, Aaliah and Maddie all walk down a hallway while chatting.

[SAKSHI] Number two, don't ever lose your curiosity. Constantly read, learn, ask the question why. Once you build that into a habit of everyday, it will not only help you with work but your whole life.

[FOOTAGE] Aaliah talks to us again from a communal space.

[AALIAH] Be ambitious, be creative, be confident, and don't be afraid to make mistakes.

[FOOTAGE] A graphic of the Telstra logo appears with a link to the Telstra careers site: careers.telstra.com

[Music End]

Rise- Gender Equity Employee Representative Group

The Rise Gender Equity Employee Representative Group is a community of people from all genders, advocating for positive change within Telstra. Their purpose is to:

Create mentoring and networking opportunities.

Foster inclusion by raising awareness across various issues impacting gender equity such as women’s health, Domestic and Family Violence, intersectionality and more.

Represent and amplify the employee voice within Telstra’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy.

We’re taking action with:

Our public commitment

Telstra is a signatory of HESTA’s 40:40 Vision working towards gender balanced executive teams by 2030. This means we are committed to meeting and maintaining at least 40% representation of women, 40% of men and 20% of any gender amongst our Chief Executive leadership team.

Active engagement with Champions of Change

Telstra is a Founding Group member of the Champions of Change Coalition, an organisation that engages influential leaders to achieve gender equality. The Coalition aims to advance more diverse women into leadership and build respectful and inclusive workplaces.

Providing gender-neutral parental leave

We offer 16 weeks paid parental leave, regardless of gender. We also guarantee Superannuation on unpaid leave and the flexibility to take parental leave how and when it works for you, so that women can re-enter the workforce sooner (or remain in it for longer) and increase their chance of career growth.

Women in Tech Program

Designed by women in tech for women in tech, this program aims to empower women, at all stages of their careers to ‘hack the world in which they advance’. There are two distinct offerings which combine the purpose of inspiring, connecting and enabling amazing women.

Gender pay equity

To ensuring all our recruitment interview shortlists are at least 50% female (or 25% in cases where female representation in the field is low).

An ‘all roles flex’ working arrangement

Which acknowledges that flexible working conditions mean different things to different people.

The Telstra Accelerating Woman Awards

Telstra recognises and awards businesses actively challenging exclusion to create lasting equity for women in its annual Business Awards.
Click her to read more about the Accelerating Women Awards.

Reporting to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency

We submit the Workplace Gender Equality Agency annual compliance report to ensure we are operating in accordance with requirements and share how we are working to reduce the gender pay gap. See our statement on the gender pay gap.