Diversity vital to Australia’s aerospace future, new research says

Drawing on responses from employees working across aviation, aerospace, defence, education, consultancy, regulation and the space industry, the research found that workplace culture and leadership have a far greater influence on women’s long-term participation than policies alone.

While most organisations have introduced policies to address discrimination, harassment and inappropriate workplace behaviour, implementation remains inconsistent.

More than half of respondents identified ineffective implementation of existing policies as a major challenge, while only a third believed the absence of policies themselves was the primary issue.

The findings also revealed that male-dominated workplace norms, organisational priorities, limited leadership commitment and concerns about career progression continue to discourage women from entering or remaining in the industry.

Aviation/Aerospace Australia Chief Executive Officer Anntonette Dailey said the research highlighted the need to move beyond policy and embed inclusion into everyday workplace practice.

“The challenge facing the aviation, aerospace and space sectors is not the absence of policy, but translating policy into visible, trusted and consistently enforced workplace practice,” Ms Dailey said.

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The studies found that women who experienced more inclusive leadership were significantly more likely to remain in the industry, report stronger organisational commitment and believe genuine progress towards gender inclusion was being achieved.

The research also identified mentoring, sponsorship, transparent career pathways, leadership accountability and trusted reporting mechanisms as essential to improving long-term workforce outcomes, while noting that diversity initiatives are most effective when supported by meaningful organisational change.

Ms Dailey added, “While women remain committed to aviation careers, significant barriers persist and retention remains a challenge. The research found that inclusive leadership is strongly associated with women remaining and progressing in the sector, highlighting workplace culture as a critical workforce capability issue.”

The findings come at a pivotal time for Australia’s aviation and aerospace industries, which face growing demand for highly skilled workers driven by defence modernisation, commercial aviation recovery and rapid growth in the nation’s sovereign space sector.

As Australia invests in programs ranging from advanced aircraft manufacturing and defence aviation to space technologies and autonomous systems, expanding the available talent pool will be essential to sustaining long-term capability and industrial growth.

The research concludes that fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces is no longer simply a human resources objective, it is a strategic imperative.

A/AA’s research reinforces an inescapable reality, by attracting and retaining the broadest possible range of talent, Australia’s aviation, aerospace and space sectors will be better positioned to innovate, strengthen sovereign capability and remain globally competitive in an increasingly complex operating environment.