Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to maintaining an inclusive culture and to driving diversity in our workplace. We want all our people to feel valued and respected, and to have equal access to opportunities. We want to empower them to contribute their diverse skills and perspectives, and we value the benefit this brings to our culture and business performance.

We recognise the importance of cultural background and ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language and education. We also recognise that each member of our workforce has a unique blend of characteristics, knowledge, skills, perspectives and life experiences. We respect and value their differences, and believe that this promotes equality, diversity and inclusion, and that it supports all employees reach their full potential. Our inclusive culture also facilitates customer connections and stimulates the creation of opportunities and innovation.

Our Equity and Diversity Policy sets out our formal commitment to a workplace culture that builds respect, fosters inclusiveness, promotes diversity and embraces the unique skills and qualities of all our employees.

Our goals and commitments for diversity and inclusion are outlined in our Diversity and Inclusion Management Approach.

We have always encouraged and welcomed female applications for all of our positions, and specifically into nontraditional roles. Although we have acknowledged and taken steps to reduce the likelihood of gender bias across our recruitment process, it has not resulted in a meaningful or sustained increase in female participation within technician, trade-based and engineering roles. In 2021, we therefore applied for and received a five-year exemption from Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW to conduct targeted female recruitment for trades based and technical roles. Our FY27 target is reflective of our ambitions in this area where we expect to have 50% of new NCIG employees being women.

NCIG also facilitates female participation in our wider industry by supporting local initiatives through our Community Partnership Program (CPP).  HunterWiSE, a Hunter Women in STEM Network, is a University of Newcastle based initiative that we have proudly supported for several years. The HunterWiSE Outreach program encourages and supports young women in high school to remain involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) through mentorship and practical insight into how STEM skills can be applied in a workplace, such as NCIG. We invite high school students onsite as part of the program and coordinate hands-on workshops for the participants. The primary aim of the HunterWiSE program is to encourage and support young women on their journey to a STEM based career.

In June 2024 Kate Schiffmann, Electrical Technician, was honoured with the prestigious ‘2024 Woman in a Non-traditional Trade Apprentice of the Year’ award at the NSW Training Services Awards. Kate’s professional journey with NCIG began in January 2020 when she joined as an Electrical Apprentice. In recognition of her outstanding performance, in November 2023 Kate was subsequently employed as an Electrical Technician and continues to develop professionally through hands-on experience and ongoing training and qualifications with a specific focus on electrotechnology and high voltage operation.

Kate’s journey at NCIG shows excellence, commitment, and a profound passion for her craft. She is confident that her achievements will inspire and empower future generations of women in non-traditional trades. Read more about Kate’s journey.