New research from Diversity Council Australia (DCA) shows that many Australian workers are feeling less connected, respected and included at work, with exclusion and non-inclusive behaviours continuing to impact workplace experiences.
The latest ‘Inclusion@Work Index’ found that LGBTIQ+ people are significantly more likely to experience discrimination or harassment and less likely to feel safe being themselves at work.
For WISE, the findings reinforce why inclusive employment must be grounded in connection, opportunity and support. Not just intention. WISE works alongside people and employers every day to help create workplaces where individuals feel respected, supported and able to contribute fully.
WISE Group CEO Matt Lambelle, who this year marks 30 years with the organisation, said the research is a reminder of both progress and unfinished work.
“For more than three decades, the conversation around inclusion in workplaces has shifted significantly, but this DCA research is a reminder that progress has not been even, and there is still work to do,” Matt said.
“At WISE, inclusion has always been about more than intent. It is about building the capability, tools and partnerships that support real change. That means working with employers to strengthen inclusive practice, supporting teams with practical training and guidance, and making sure people from all backgrounds are supported not just to get a job, but to stay, grow and thrive at work.”
One employer putting this approach into practice is LF Facilities, a Melbourne based commercial cleaning business founded by Mark Keating. Mark’s own experiences of exclusion shaped the kind of workplace he set out to build.
“I didn’t grow up feeling safe or seen,” Mark said.
“I was bullied, left school early and quickly learned that being queer was something you hid. Seeing this research, none of it surprises me. When people don’t feel safe at work, it affects their confidence, wellbeing and sense of self.”
Today, LF Facilities employs more than 15 people across Melbourne. Almost half of the team has been supported into roles through WISE.
“We call our team sparklers,” Mark said.
“When people feel safe and respected, they show up differently. They take pride in their work and grow into their potential. It is brilliant to watch our sparklers grow alongside the business.”
WISE partners closely with employers like LF Facilities to understand both business needs and real experiences of people entering work. This includes matching individuals to suitable roles and providing ongoing support as they settle into work, building confidence over time.
Santiago Ruiz, Industry Employment Partner at WISE, said the DCA research highlights why this work matters.
“The Inclusion at Work Index confirms what many people already know from lived experience. It certainly has for me, particularly prior to joining WISE,” Santiago said.
“When team members don’t feel valued or respected, it becomes harder to stay in work and to thrive. Our role at WISE is to help bridge that gap by supporting employers to build cultures where people can shine.”
WISE provides practical support that helps reduce barriers to employment, including assistance during key transitions, on site coaching and access to wellbeing supports.
“When people don’t have to spend energy protecting themselves, they can focus on learning, contributing and building a future.”
Mark is deliberate about the environments his team works in. LF Facilities assesses client’s sites carefully and chooses not to work in settings that lack respect or inclusivity.
“WISE understands what it takes to build a team the right way,” Mark said.
“They support us to place people into environments where they can do their best work, and they stay involved when things need to be adjusted. That kind of partnerships has been critical to our growth.”
Alongside its partnership with WISE, Mark is also helping to lift standards across the cleaning industry through ‘Cleaning with Kindness’, a growing movement focused on professionalism, pride and respect in the cleaning sector.
“The most meaningful progress comes through partnerships like this, and the work we are doing with business like LF Facilities,” Matt Lambelle said.
“When entrepreneurs like Mark, and WISE team members like Santi, work closely together, inclusion stops being an abstract idea and becomes part of how work actually happens.”
“These relationships create the space to listen, learn and respond to real experiences. That’s how workplaces become safer, stronger and more inclusive and how people from all backgrounds are supported to earn, learn and live well.”
Learn more about LF Facilities and the impact of their partnership with WISE here: Cleaning with kindness: How LF Facilities is enhancing more than offices