Our continued commitment and gender equality
As the leading consumer advocacy group in Australia, CHOICE is committed to building a diverse, equal and inclusive organisational culture. We recognise and respect the diversity of our workforce and ensure our staff feel valued and respected, and have equal access to resources and opportunities to contribute to our organisation's growth.
We are an organisation founded by a woman, a trailblazing consumer advocate 66 years ago, and we are proud of the progress we are making in gender equality.
Why does CHOICE undertake an annual WGEA audit?
As an employer of more than 100 employees, CHOICE is required to report to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) annually to help understand where CHOICE sits on a national scale, to identify where we can continue to improve, and to support our work on gender equality at CHOICE.
Gender pay gap
WGEA annual gender equality reporting highlights the existing gender inequities in today's workplace. In 2024, WGEA reported that Australia's Gender Equality Scorecard total remuneration gender pay gap to be 21.8%.
By comparison, at CHOICE, our total remuneration gender pay gap result for the 2024–25 reporting period is 12.2%, with a median of 2.4%. CHOICE's average gender pay gap has slightly increased due to variances at different parts of the pay distribution, and is likely related to more male employees in the CEO/Executive level roles. However, CHOICE's median gender pay gap has decreased, indicating the middle point of earnings for female and male employees is getting closer and are earning more similar amounts.
WGEA calculates the national gender pay gap using data from the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Average Weekly Earnings. This data comes from a sample of employers selected from the Australian Business Register, with a slightly different sample taken each time.
Our overall workforce gender composition for the 2024–25 reporting period shows a breakdown of 52% female and 48% male, whereas previously, our workforce gender composition showed a breakdown of 50% female and 50% male.
Gender pay gap drivers
Our workforce composition in the 2024–25 reporting period shows females are slightly underrepresented in management level roles, but with higher representation in non-management roles, with 53% females and 42% male. Comparatively to last year's WGEA reporting, females had lower representation in both management and non-management roles.
Gender composition of governing body
The CHOICE Board comprises:
- Female – 63%
- Male – 38%
These results show CHOICE continues to make progress in improving our gender pay gap across the organisation. CHOICE aims to ensure our strategies based around recruitment and retention continue to highlight our commitment to provide equal opportunities to all genders during the hiring process and throughout the employee lifecycle.
At CHOICE, we also continue to promote policies and strategies that provide equal opportunities and access to a wide range of benefits to both genders including flexible working practices, leave entitlements, training and career and performance development.
Our strategies and initiatives
CHOICE continues to meet the majority of WGEA's recommendations with regards to having formal policies, strategies and consultation in place that supports gender equality, flexible working and parental leave. We also have strategies and policies in place to support staff impacted by domestic and family violence, sex-based harassment and/or discrimination, along with providing support for their managers.
At CHOICE, we are pleased with our results and are committed to continue to implement initiatives; review and improve our policies and strategies to ensure we maintain truly impactful results; and progress towards closing the gender pay gap. We are currently in the process of pursuing opportunities to improve gender equality further through our ongoing review of internal policies and strategies, recruitment, remuneration framework strategy and the ongoing review of gender pay gaps across our organisation.
We're on your side
For more than 60 years, we've been making a difference for Australian consumers. In that time, we've never taken ads or sponsorship.
Instead we're funded by members who value expert reviews and independent product testing.
With no self-interest behind our advice, you don't just buy smarter, you get the answers that you need.
You know without hesitation what's safe for you and your family.
And you'll never be alone when something goes wrong or a business treats you unfairly.
Learn more about CHOICE membership today
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
