This report presents a synthesis of insights drawn from research literature on gender equality in the workplace that can inform the development of a menu of targets by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) for organisations to adopt and implement as part of Australia’s progressive journey towards gender equality.

The breadth of research presented in this report expands to insights that can help inform WGEA on the most effective ways to communicate the target menu to organisations and elevate organisations’ positive receptiveness to the new target-setting initiatives.

Research insights have been synthesised around four broad themes:

1. Harnessing data-driven approaches;
2. Expanding beyond headcounts;
3. Curating an enabling environment; and
4. Optimising for success.

For each theme, the report offers a summary of the practical implications gleaned from the research that can be applied to WGEA’s formulation of the target menu. The collation of insights range from specific prescriptions on the design of targets that have been clearly identified in the literature, to broader inferences about engagement with organisations that apply more generally across the target-setting exercise.

This review also identifies examples of accompanying actions that organisations can be encouraged to take that will support their pursuit of targets, including actions that can elevate the likelihood of achieving genuine and sustained progress.

The content presented in this report may also prove helpful as input into the creation of informational guidance and resources to support organisations in their target-setting initiatives and to enlighten broader audiences through public dissemination.