Advertising market size (US$): 19 billion 

Launch date: November 2021    

Strategic priority: To adopt an intersectional approach to the progressive portrayal of all people, and address the diverse representation of gender, race, ethnicity (particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), ability and age in Australian media and advertising content.

Champions: Coles, IPG, Mars Wrigley, Unilever Australia Limited, Westpac Group

Members: Accenture Pty Ltd, American Express ANZ, Arnott's Group, Diageo Australia, IKEA Pty Ltd, Ipsos, Mastercard Asia/Pacific (Australia) Pty Ltd., Omnicom Australia, Publicis Groupe, Salesforce Australia Pty Ltd, Seven West Media, Stockland, Suncorp Group, Woolworths Group Limited, WPP.

Allies: Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA), Bus Stop Films, Movember.

Milestones

Australia Chapter launches inaugural Australian research into stereotyping in the media, marketing and advertising industry

Sponsored by Australian Chapter Champions and Members, IPG, IPSOS, Unilever, Coles and Westpac, inaugural research was conducted in market revealing significant trends in respondents’ perceptions of their social equity and of stereotyping. Topline results found that the LGBTQI+ community and women with disabilities continue to face discrimination, with over half of the LGBTQI+ community believing they are not treated equally. Further, representation in media is lacking, with 20% of non-Australians and disabled individuals never seeing themselves depicted in media. The findings - and many others unearthed by the research - were launched at MFA EX by Anathea Ruys (CEO - UM Australia representing IPG) and Rose Herceg (President - WPP) to an audience of industry mainstays all gathered to be inspired by groundbreaking media thinking, best practice, and innovation, all aimed at driving the media industry forward. 

 

Australia National Chapter takes the stage at AdWeek APAC to host the ‘Uncomfortable Conversations’ panel 

The Australia National Chapter brought together a panel of industry movers at Advertising Week APAC to share their experience of unstereotyping in media. Anchored by a Unilever case study — the “Not Done Yet” campaign for Rexona featuring Australian Paralympian Dylan Alcott — the ‘Uncomfortable Conversations’ panel discussed how the industry can include diversity both in front of and behind the camera, what is working, and practical steps needed for improvements. Panelists included writer, disability and women's rights advocate Hannah Diviney, Tracey Corbin-Matchett OAM, CEO, Bus Stop Films, Anna Tracey, Senior Marketing Manager, Unilever and Lisa Cox, advertising professional, disability advocate, motivational speaker, and author. The conversation finished with a strong call to action for industry leaders to join Unstereotype Alliance Australia. 

Australia National Chapter celebrates first anniversary 

  • Members of Unstereotype Alliance Australia gathered to mark their first-year anniversary as a national chapter with an event at Meta Australia, in Sydney. The milestone event was organized by Coles' Alex Piercy (chapter champion) supported by Meta's Catherine Bowe as well as all members of the Inspiring Industry Change workstream. 
  • The occasion was marked by a guest appearance from Dylan Alcott, AO and 2022 Australian of the Year, in conversation with Suncorp's Mim Hayson from Suncorp. The discussion highlighted the social and business imperative of unstereotyping and the criticality of engaging under-represented communities. In her remarks and as convenors, UN Women board member Vy Pham, reinforced the achievements of the national chapter and the depth of what it has been able to achieve in one year.  She highlighted the growth of the global Alliance in the five years since its launch and drew on her personal story to reflect on the importance of the Alliance’s intersectional approach to combating all stereotypes. 

Launch: The Unstereotype Alliance Australia National Chapter launched in November 2021 with a founding group of 21 members and allies.

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