The ARA Diversity Webinar Series is an initiative designed to help rail industry professionals foster inclusive workplaces, address unconscious bias, and improve diversity in the workforce. The webinars provide practical tools and strategies to create a more equitable industry.

Key Benefits of the ARA Diversity Webinar Series: 

• Gain practical tools to foster workplace inclusivity
• Understand and address unconscious bias
• Learn about inclusive language in the workplace
• Access industry-leading insights from Diversity Australia 

Exclusive Offer

As a thank you for participating, each attendee will also receive one free access code, to be redeemed on a selection of Diversity Australia’s leading online learning modules, including:

• Menopause in the Workplace
• Neurodiversity in the Workplace
• Psychological Safety in the Workplace
• Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness for Australian Workplaces
• These self-paced courses are designed to deepen your knowledge and support ongoing inclusive leadership practices.

Do not miss out on this opportunity to build your skills, grow your impact, and drive positive change across the rail industry.

Why is diversity important to the rail industry? 

The ARA is committed to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion in the rail workforce to support a more sustainable industry. Diverse teams drive performance, innovation and solutions that better meet the needs of the community.  

The ARA has engaged Diversity Australia, a leading national firm specialising in diversity and inclusion in the workplace, to deliver a series of diversity and inclusion online webinars. Diversity Australia delivered webinars to ARA members in 2024 with incredibly positive feedback. The webinars are designed to assist members in cultivating an inclusive and welcoming workplace culture, and offer tools to improve diversity in the rail workforce. The webinars will be offered to ARA members exclusively at a heavily discounted rate. 

The ARA, with the support of National Women in Transport, has published the research report Progressing gender equality in the Australasian rail industry: challenges and supportive practices, which highlights a variety of issues that must be addressed to ensure the rail industry can attract and retain more women in the workforce. One of the key recommendations was the importance of ongoing training and education, to raise awareness of appropriate workplace behaviour and unconscious biases.  

These biases can influence behaviours at work and perceptions of others, even if unintentional, resulting in significant barriers to women and minorities in the workplace. 

The rail industry is facing significant workforce and skills shortages and will need to continue to improve diversity and inclusiveness in workplaces to meet future demand. 

Break the Bias  

Unconscious gender bias remains a significant barrier to women’s career advancement in the workforce generally. It is also difficult to identify and prevent. Diversity Australia’s research and presentation provides a review of unconscious gender bias and its role in impeding women’s career advancement and discusses how to mitigate and overcome unconscious gender bias in the workplace. 

Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists is not enough, action is needed to level the playing field. 

Are you in? Will you actively call out gender bias, discrimination and stereotyping each time you see it? 

Inclusive Language 

Raising awareness and educating people in the workplace, including leaders, about inclusive language in an engaging and practical way is fundamental to preventing issues occurring in the workplace due to miscommunication and misunderstanding. 

What is Inclusive Language? 

Inclusive language is communication that respects and values all individuals, avoiding words or phrases that may demean, exclude or stereotype people based on gender, race, ability or background.  

Language is dynamic and fluid and the meaning and connotations of words can change rapidly. Inclusive language is not about impinging upon free speech or political correctness; it is about communicating in a way that is accessible and respectful and values, includes and empowers all members of your audience. 

Webinar Dates 

• Session 1 | Break the Bias – Interactive online session | Thursday 8 May (12-2pm AEST)
• Session 2 | Break the Bias – Interactive online session | Tuesday 13 May (12-2pm AEST)
• Inclusive Language – Webinar | Wednesday 21 May (12-1pm AEST) 

Pricing

The diversity webinar series is open to ARA members only.  

AUD$55 (inclusive of GST), will grant participants access to both an interactive session on the date of their choice and the Inclusive Language webinar on Wednesday 21 May.  

Thank you to our Sponsor.