• The Australian Wine Sector Gender Equity Toolkit was based on Charles Sturt University research and created through extensive consultation with industry stakeholders
• At a time when Australia’s wine sector faces significant economic and structural challenges, improving diversity and inclusion remains essential
• Gender-diverse organisations typically perform better financially and retain staff more effectively

Charles Sturt University research has helped develop a new online toolkit to help individuals and grape and wine businesses take practical steps towards achieving gender equity.

The research was led by Associate Professor Larissa Bamberry, Associate Head of the Charles Sturt School of Business, and aided the development of the Australian Wine Industry Gender Equity Toolkit, released by Wine Australia.

Professor Bamberry said the Toolkit translates research into practical, actionable resources for advancing gender equity across all areas of the wine industry.

“Wine Australia, in collaboration with Australian Grape and Wine’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in Wine (DEIW) Committee, commissioned the Charles Sturt University research team to conduct a comprehensive study examining gender equity within the sector,” she said.

“At a time when Australia’s wine sector faces significant economic and structural challenges, improving diversity and inclusion remains essential to building a strong, sustainable workforce for the future.

“Gender-diverse organisations typically perform better financially and retain staff more effectively, so the Toolkit helps businesses understand their legal obligations and apply practical strategies to achieve genuine equity.”

The Gender Equity Toolkit was created through extensive consultation with industry stakeholders, including focus groups with women and gender diverse employees in the wine industry, advisory committee input and industry symposium feedback.

Professor Bamberry said the Toolkit responds to the specific challenges and opportunities identified within the Australian wine sector and the research shows that although there is strong support for improving gender equality in the sector, many organisations are not sure where to start.

“The Toolkit’s primary objective is to support businesses of all sizes ─ from small family-owned vineyards to large corporate entities ─ in implementing effective gender equity practices,” she said.

“It provides scalable solutions that address key areas including attraction and recruitment, and inclusive retention practices, including flexible work arrangements, managing parental leave, training and career advancement, mentoring, leadership development and equal pay.

“The Toolkit also addresses further work for cultural change and offers guidance for organisational assessment and reporting.”

Wine Australia has published the Toolkit online as a web-based resource. The Toolkit will be promoted via national and state industry bodies and organisations and will be accessible to all employers and employees within the sector.

More information is available at the Wine Australia Gender equity research and toolkit website.

The Charles Sturt research team with Associate Professor Larissa Bambery included Associate Professor Donna Bridges, Dr Helen Taylor and Dr Elizabeth Wulff, and from the University of NSW Associate Professor Sue Williamson.