Diversity and Inclusion Staff Experience Survey

The survey is now closed!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate by sharing your views and helping shape the future of diversity, inclusion and gender equity at Federation University.

From 4 September, People and Culture will be conducting focus groups to gather additional feedback in response to the staff experience survey: view session times and register for a focus group.

  • lucky recipients of the independent, random prize draw for a chance to win one of five $100 vouchers will be announced soon.

About the survey

Federation University's Diversity and Inclusion Staff Experience Survey will assist our organisation understand the progress we have made on the seven gender equality indicators, which underpin our Gender Equality Action Plan. This is required under section 19(3)(c) of the Gender Equality Act (2020).

The survey asked how Federation employees feel about:

  • organisational culture
  • gender equality
  • diversity
  • inclusion.

This information is important, because it helps us gain a better understanding of the problem of gender inequality in our workplace. It will complement data we already have about our employees, from our organisation’s workforce data. Together, this information gives a more complete picture of gender inequality at Federation.

Survey results

Once the survey results are collated, a high-level PowerPoint will be developed and shared with employees via FedNews and Fed Engage, as well as managers. Staff can expect this to be shared in late-October.

We will use the survey results to take meaningful action to address gender inequality at Federation. In response to feedback from the 2021 survey, we have launched:

We know there is still much to do, and we are committed to using these results to inform how we address gender inequality at Federation.

Survey incentive

A random prize draw competition is available for you to enter once you have completed the survey. You will be able to enter the draw for one of five, $100 vouchers.

Federation will conduct the prize draw independently of the survey via Microsoft Forms. The link to enter this random prize draw competition will be available at the completion of the survey.

Your privacy

The Diversity and Inclusion Staff Experience Survey will be run for us by Xref Engage (formerly known as Voice Project), a third-party consulting and research company based in Sydney, Australia.

They are assisting us in the data collection, analysis and reporting of the results from this survey. Your responses are anonymous. Results reported back to us do not contain personal data and are aggregated to ensure the anonymity of responses.

Federation is using Xref Engage, because some of the demographic information requested is considered sensitive information under the Privacy and Data Protection Act (2014) and Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), including cultural identity and sexual orientation, and most other information is considered personal information. Information about person’s disability is also considered health information under the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic), and therefore the Health Privacy Principles will apply to that information.

Xref Engage have demonstrated experience in hosting secure and confidential surveys, and are required to comply with the Privacy and Data Protection Act (2014).

Your wellbeing

Some of the questions being asked in the survey may cause distress to the employees responding. While it is desirable for employees to complete the survey, you can stop responding to the survey at any time.

Staff can seek counselling services for personal or work-related matters from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP is an independent support service engaged by the University to assist employees to maintain good health and wellbeing and is available to all staff members of the University as well as their immediate families.

Focus groups

Post-survey, People and Culture will also be conducting focus groups to gain further insights into staff experiences. View sessions and register for a focus group(s) here.

Focus groups will be conducted face-to-face and online. You should register for the focus group you feel most comfortable attending, at the time and date that best suits you.

Online 1:1 consultations are also available for those who do not feel comfortable speaking in a group setting. You can email our Senior Consultant, Diversity and Inclusion, to arrange this.

The results of the focus group will be collated with the survey results, and shared in late-October 2023.