Perth, March 17: A new report from Communication and Public Relations Australia’s (CPRA) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Special Interest Group has found only 21% of PR and communications professionals who raised concerns about inclusion or discrimination at their current or most recent workplace received a supportive response with clear action.
The report is based on a December 2025 survey of 103 PR and communications professionals across Australia.
The report, Creating and Sustaining Safe Spaces for All PR and Comms Professionals, found that while 81% of respondents said they felt comfortable raising DEI-related concerns or ideas, discriminatory behaviour remains widespread across the sector.
Some 62% said they had experienced discrimination at work, while 81% said they had witnessed it.
Microaggressions, stereotyping and being overlooked for opportunities such as promotions were among the most common forms of discriminatory behaviour reported.
The survey also found that while many workplaces had empathetic leaders, anti-discrimination policies, flexible work practices and mental health support in place, respondents said tangible action on DEI and workplace discrimination was still lacking.
The findings also showed that 24% of concerns raised led to supportive responses with no clear action, while 12% were ignored, downplayed or dismissed.
Respondents said the biggest barriers to creating and sustaining inclusive workplaces were fear of saying or doing the wrong thing, lack of leadership commitment and accountability, and time or resource constraints.
“Comms and PR professionals are the storytellers of Australia. If we are telling the nation’s stories, we must reflect the full diversity of the nation itself.
For CPRA, advancing DEI is about building a profession that is fair, forward-looking and fit for purpose. It’s about ensuring pathways into the industry are accessible, leadership reflects the breadth of our society, and our storytelling is grounded in respect, cultural capability and inclusion.”
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