Foreword from our Chief Executive

From our Chief Executive, Dr Larry Marshall

Today, more than 4.4 million Australians, or roughly one in five, live with some form of disability.¹ At CSIRO, we know that diversity is our compass to navigate innovation, and that our future success will rely on leadership and talent that represents each and every part of our community.

That's why I'm honoured to present our first Disability Inclusion and Access Action Plan (the Plan) for 2023-2026. Part of our broader Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, the four-year plan (January 2023 to December 2026) aims to support greater representation of people with disability at CSIRO, and ensure that we are supportive of all our people who have, or may be caring for someone with disability.

In keeping with diversity as our compass to innovate, our people's voices have been integral to the formation of the Plan. Through a series of focus groups, they have helped to identify the challenges and opportunities that have laid its foundations. Through listening to our people and acting to create change, our goal is to nurture an equitable and inclusive environment to the benefit of both CSIRO and the broader disability community. 

To achieve this, we will make sure all our systems and workplaces are accessible, we will establish a network of disability champions to provide training and advice, and we will become a disability confident recruiter with the Australian Network of Disability to provide better support when hiring a person with disability.

Moreover, we will lift the visibility of our people with disability, because we want the face of CSIRO to represent every single one of our people, and we want every single one of our people to feel part of who we are.

Our approach responds to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth), but the aim is to go above and beyond our legislative requirements. Through this detailed and considered Plan, we will ensure that our people with disability and carers of people with disability face no barriers to reaching their full potential at CSIRO.

Our people are our greatest asset and that will never change. I am proud of the way we are listening to and reflecting their experiences, creating a better CSIRO and representing the diverse Australian community for whom we exist to serve.