Each year, the Gender Equity Awards shine a powerful spotlight on the organisations and individuals who are actively dismantling systemic barriers and rewriting the rules for workplace inclusion. These awards aren’t just about recognition, they’re about uncovering, sharing, and scaling the best ideas that move the needle on equity for everyone.
From policy overhauls and bold leadership to culturally inclusive practices and progressive benefits, the Awards celebrate practical, real-world solutions that others can adopt. Because when one workplace leads with intention, many others follow and that’s how real change happens.
In this feature, we’re highlighting some of the most inspiring initiatives from recent nominees and winners—proof that small changes, sustained with purpose, can lead to transformational outcomes.
Best Practices for Gender Equity in the Workplace
1. Capgemini – Inclusive Parental Leave
Capgemini has overhauled its parental leave policies, moving from separate maternity, paternity, adoption, surrogacy, and shared leave offerings to two inclusive parental leave programs covering all situations. Employees can now access up to 24 weeks of fully paid leave, along with flexible compassionate and bereavement leave options. Source.
2. Coulter Legal – Choose Your Public Holidays
Coulter Legal champions cultural inclusion by allowing employees to choose which public holidays they observe, based on personal, cultural, or religious significance (Source). This gives staff real autonomy over their holiday schedules and supports diversity without compromising business needs.
3. TelstraSuper – Full Super Contributions Return from Parental Leave
TelstraSuper offers full-time Super Guarantee contributions for two years to employees who return part-time after parental leave. This policy ensures returning parents—especially women—secure their long-term retirement savings despite hours reduction ( Source)
4. Dentons – Expanded Family Leave
Dentons now supports a wide range of family structures, including aunties, grandparents, adopters, IVF parents, and traditional parents. While global top-ups and leave duration are evolving, the firm has extended benefits up to 26 weeks with a salary top-up, demonstrating comprehensive family support.
5. Zero Gender Pay Gap Alignment
Dentons has officially become the first large law firm in Australia to report a 0 % median gender pay gap for 2025, according to its Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) report (Source)
Highlights include:
- Pay gap progression: 15 % (2022) → 7.1 % (2023) → 4.1 % (2024) → 0 % (2025)
- Driven by their “Gender 360 – Equity from Every Angle” strategy:
- Annual remuneration audits
- Inclusive recruitment and promotion pathways
6. The Ascott – Menstrual & Menopause Leave
The Ascott Australia introduced six days of paid menstrual and menopause leave per year, along with education programs on reproductive health. This policy, launched in 2023, is part of their drive toward gender equality and has earned industry awards. (Source)
7. Coulter Legal — Parental Leave Extended
Coulter Legal’s comprehensive parental leave program (introduced March 2022) offers 18 weeks of paid leave, available regardless of gender or caregiving role, including:
- Paid leave for fertility treatment
- Paid leave for pregnancy loss
- Super contributions on unpaid parental leave for up to 12 months
- Paid postnatal appointment leave in the first year after return
Your Turn to Inspire
The ideas shared here are more than just best practices—they’re proof points that inclusive, equitable workplaces are not only possible, but powerful. Whether it’s offering flexible public holidays, introducing menopause leave, or closing the gender pay gap, these initiatives show what’s achievable when leadership is aligned with values.
If your organisation is driving change—big or small—we encourage you to step into the spotlight. Share your story, celebrate your team, and inspire others by entering the Gender Equity Awards.
Because the future of work is shaped by those who dare to lead it.
👉 Entries are now open—nominate your organisation or an equity champion today. https://genderequityawards.com/