Asylum Seeker Resource Centre named Diversity Council Australia’s 2025-2026 Inclusive Employer

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is proud to have been named on Diversity Council Australia (DCA)’s annual list of Inclusive Employers for 2025-2026.

The announcement follows ASRC’s participation in the DCA and Diversity Atlas run Inclusive Employer Index, an in-depth workplace survey that measures employee diversity and inclusion experiences against the Australian workforce and DCA member benchmarks. To be recognised by DCA as an Inclusive Employer, organisations must exceed the National Index Benchmark across several key diversity and inclusion areas. 

DCA CEO Catherine Hunter congratulated this year’s Inclusive Employers for showing their commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces where employees in all their diversity can thrive. “DCA’s Inclusive Employer Index shines a spotlight on employers who are creating meaningful change and inspiring others to follow their lead,” Catherine said.

Kashif Hayat, Head of Governance, Risk and Corporate Services at ASRC, said:

“For ASRC to be recognised by the Diversity Council Australia as a 2025–2026 Inclusive Employer is a significant and meaningful acknowledgement of the values we embody every day—and have upheld for many years.

Inclusivity is in our DNA. Our very purpose is to protect and advocate for human rights, and we see inclusion as a principle that not only strengthens our culture but also supports staff wellbeing and enables us to deliver better outcomes for the communities we serve.

Over the past decade, ASRC has made a deliberate and sustained effort to embed diversity holistically—across gender, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and lived experience—at every level of the organisation, from frontline staff to managers, senior leadership, and the board.

As a person of colour and migrant, I feel proud to work in an environment that fosters open dialogue, values diverse perspectives, and ensures that no voice is diminished by prejudice.”

The ASRC promotes diversity and inclusion holistically. We strongly encourage people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people with lived experience of seeking asylum, First Nations people, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with disability or with lived experience of disability to apply for a career at the ASRC. At present, 47% of our workforce has lived experience of seeking asylum.

As we celebrate #InclusionAtWork Week (17 to 21 November), we are honoured to stand alongside organisations across Australia championing truly inclusive employment, in firm and ongoing commitment to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to thrive. This recognition empowers us to reflect on our achievements and identify ways to do even better. 

For information on how to take part in the Inclusive Employer Index, visit www.dca.org.au