ASD’s workforce operates in the slim area between the difficult and the impossible. Solving the toughest problems in foreign signals intelligence, cyber security and offensive cyber operations requires teams of clever, curious people with diverse and complementary skills.

ASD staff of different ages, backgrounds, genders, cultures, neurodiversities, physical abilities, religions and sexualities form ASD’s strength, resilience and creativity. ASD is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive workplace, mirroring the communities we serve. We are committed to cultivating respect, equity, and positive recognition of intersectionality, so our people feel safe to bring their whole selves to work, without exception.

ASD has embedded Diversity and inclusion (D&I) into our corporate strategy, establishing a system of collaboration where employee networks, steering committees and senior executive champions work collaboratively with a central team of D&I practitioners to deliver a range of internal and external initiatives.

Driving stronger capabilities

The diversity of our workforce strengthens our capability in unique ways.

Cultural diversity informs our foreign engagement and intelligence capabilities with nuanced insight into our global operating environment.
Veterans’ experiences strengthen our ability to support Australia’s warfighting capabilities.
Neurodiversity gives us an asymmetric advantage in solving the most complex operating challenges in foreign signals intelligence, cyber security and offensive cyber operations.
Accessibility and workplace flexibility enables our people of all abilities to do their best work across all our functions.
Gender equality and LGBTQIA+ inclusion enriches our community and provides valuable insights and perspectives into our global operations.
Championing reconciliation and embracing First Nations cultures deepens our understanding of the land, water and sky we seek to secure.

Taking pride in our people’s differences strengthens our values and teamwork.

ASD delivers outreach and training activities that champion equitable representation of gender and other diversity dimensions in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). These initiatives aim to improve equity both in ASD and the broader job marketplace.

Our D&I Networks

ASD employee networks create inspiring spaces for people to come together and share their experiences in a supportive environment, thereby promoting ally-ship, educating for positive change, raising awareness, and providing advocacy and policy work in support of D&I.

First Nations
ASD+ (LGBTQIA+)
GenASD (Gender Equality)
ASD-X (Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (CALD))
Parents & Carers
Neurodiversity
Accessibility

Our Strategy

Vision

ASD is respectful, inclusive and psychologically safe, enabling everyone to fully participate in ASD’s mission and bring their whole selves to work.

Objectives

To achieve our vision, we will:

Grow our diverse workforce. The way we recruit, develop and retain our people as we grow will reflect the diversity of Australia. We will be guided by the Australian Public Service Commission’s D&I strategies.
Be inclusive by design. Inclusion is reflected in our policies and practices by default, and is supported by leadership at all levels.
Develop our D&I capability. ASD’s D&I capability will grow to reflect our commitment to diversity and inclusion.