Why The Everyone Project?

We’re all different.

We have different ages, ethnicities, faiths, sexual orientations, gender identities, socio-economic backgrounds, or disability. And we come from different places.

Our differences can sometimes be confusing and confronting. Sometimes we’re not sure how to make sense of each other. Sometimes we’re sceptical about each other’s motivations.

But we’re happiest, and most productive, when we understand each other and get along together.  Our diversity becomes a great asset.

This isn’t just a challenge at home, in the community or at work.

All around us the world seems to continue to grow and increase in complexity – providing extraordinary experiences and opportunities but also intensifying competition for resources and power. This can feel like it is exacerbating collective challenges and escalating tensions.

Being diverse and inclusive as an organisation and community is a proven part of the solution to this challenge.

Evidence shows diversity and inclusion is a good thing overall and in most individual cases. It improves our social well-being and our economic well-being. Organisations achieve more, businesses perform better. It does this at home, in the community and where we work.

For companies, government and member organisations being diverse and inclusive means the people that make up that organisation broadly reflects the makeup of the community at large.

But how best to go about this? (And not just say we’re going about this).

Well, measurement matters. The diversity of an organisation’s workforce or membership can be measured. Comprehensively and with an understanding of its complexity. Tracking this over time enables organisations to benchmark themselves and measure and improve the impact of their diversity and inclusion initiatives.

We created The Everyone Project to support industry associations, businesses, the public and education sectors, and community groups in their efforts to improve their own diversity and inclusion. 

Every work space and team is different and there’s no one size fits all. We believe working together, and using evidence to improve, is how we can best deliver diversity and inclusion. 

The Everyone Project is about everyone and for everyone. We hope everyone will have the opportunity to contribute.

Diversity and inclusion are crucial. Measurement helps us to get things right. Please join us in supporting this project. Tim Soutphommasane, Professor & Director, Culture Strategy, University of Sydney. Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner, 2013-18.

The Everyone Project Team

January 2020