CourseFinder logo – Australia’s leading course comparison site

How to Become a Diversity and Inclusion Manager: Australian Careers in Human Resources

2 Courses

On this page

What is a Diversity and Inclusion Manager?

What will I do?

What skills do I need?

Resources

What is a Diversity and Inclusion Manager?

A Diversity and Inclusion Manager leads programs that build a fair, respectful workplace. They develop strategies that help all employees feel valued, regardless of their background.

Day to day, a Diversity and Inclusion Manager creates and runs training programs. They work with HR and senior leaders to set diversity goals. They track workforce data to measure progress. They also support employee resource groups and champion inclusive hiring practices.

This role sits within human resources and organisational development. You may work in large corporate firms, government agencies, or not-for-profit organisations. Most roles are full-time and permanent.

Demand for Diversity and Inclusion Managers is growing across Australia. More organisations now see inclusive workplaces as a key driver of staff retention and performance. This career suits people who are passionate about equity and want to drive real change at work.

Icon

Career snapshots For Diversity and Inclusion Managers

Diversity and Inclusion Managers work across a wide range of industries in Australia. You will find them in large corporations, government departments, universities, and not-for-profit organisations. Most roles are full-time, with typical hours of 38 to 40 per week.

The average annual salary is around $97,000 (Indeed, 2025). Pay ranges from about $70,000 for entry-level positions to $145,000 for experienced managers in large organisations. Senior roles with director-level responsibilities can pay more.

Demand for this role is growing. More Australian organisations are building dedicated DEI functions. The Diversity Council Australia’s Inclusion@Work Index (2024) shows inclusion is a rising priority across Australian workplaces.

What will I do?

A Diversity and Inclusion Manager shapes how organisations attract, develop, and retain diverse talent. They build programs that help all employees thrive. This role spans strategy, training, and data analysis.

  • Develop diversity strategies: create programs that align with the organisation’s goals.
  • Run training sessions: facilitate workshops on unconscious bias and inclusive practices.
  • Track diversity metrics: analyse workforce data to measure progress and spot gaps.
  • Work with leadership: advise senior managers to embed inclusion in key decisions.
  • Support employee resource groups: help groups that represent diverse staff communities.
  • Address workplace issues: respond to discrimination or bias concerns promptly and fairly.
  • Stay current on best practice: follow DEI research and update organisational approaches.
  • Improve recruitment: partner with HR to attract candidates from a broader talent pool.

What skills do I need?

A Diversity and Inclusion Manager needs a mix of people skills and analytical ability. Strong communication is at the core of this role. You need to talk with confidence to staff at all levels. Facilitating sensitive conversations about bias and equity is a key part of the job.

Cultural awareness and empathy are also vital. So is the ability to read data and turn it into action. Leadership skills help you drive change and bring others along. A working knowledge of Australian anti-discrimination law rounds out the skill set.

Skills/attributes

  • Strong knowledge of diversity and inclusion principles
  • Clear written and verbal communication
  • Active listening and empathy
  • Ability to design and run training programs
  • Analytical skills to interpret workforce data
  • Cultural awareness and sensitivity
  • Conflict resolution and negotiation
  • Project management and planning
  • Knowledge of Australian anti-discrimination law
  • Ability to influence and lead change
  • Relationship-building across diverse teams
  • Commitment to continuous learning and improvement

CourseFinder makes every effort to ensure the information we provide is correct at the time of publication. We welcome your input to help keep our career profiles as accurate and up to date as possible. All queries and feedback will be taken into consideration as we conduct periodic reviews of our content. Add your voice to the conversation!

Related Careers

About the author

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson is an Account Management and SEM specialist at Course Finder Group with six years' experience in the Australian education sector. She works day to day with universities, TAFEs and independent training providers, which gives her a close view of how courses map to real career outcomes. She writes practical guidance on career pathways, choosing the right qualification and what to expect when moving into a new field.