The Drinks Association is proud to announce the release of the 2025 Diversity & Inclusion Report, developed by the Embrace Difference Council. Now in its seventh year, this report continues to track Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) metrics across Drinks Association member organisations, celebrating progress and highlighting the initiatives driving meaningful change across our industry.
Expanded and refreshed for 2025, the report provides deeper insights into the data, trends and stories shaping inclusion across the Australian drinks industry.
Broader data and new areas of focus
New this year, the report broadens its view of parental leave, now measuring how members pay superannuation during this period – a critical step toward long-term financial equity.
It also introduces new focus areas and practical resources to support member organisations in advancing inclusion across:
- Neurodiversity in the workplace
- Multigenerational inclusion in the workforce
- Gender equity in relation to shared parenting
- Women’s health in the workplace
Central to the report is the Drinks Association D&I Scorecard, which draws on data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) and additional industry metrics to track progress beyond gender alone.
Key achievements and continued progress
This year marks several milestones in the industry’s journey toward equity. For the first time, 100% of Drinks Association member companies have a Gender Policy in place, achieving full scorecard coverage since tracking began in 2018/19.
Carer’s leave policies also continue to gain momentum, with 96% of members offering a primary or equal carer’s leave policy and 87% offering secondary leave – both significant increases over recent years.
Representation continues to shift, too. Women now hold 38% of managerial roles across the drinks industry, up from 30% in 2018/19. Across the total workforce, women represent 34%, still below the national average of 50%. This reminds us that while progress is real, the journey to parity continues.
Stories shaping an inclusive future
The 2025 report also shines a light on member companies that are listening to their people, embedding inclusive practices and creating more equitable workplaces for the future.
Read the full 2025 Diversity & Inclusion Report.