Inclusion
Urbis is a community where people of diverse backgrounds are free to be themselves and share perspectives shaped by their identity and values. We foster an inclusive culture where differences – in gender identity and expression, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, lifestyle, and religious belief – are valued, respected, and celebrated.
We’re proud to be recognised among professional services firms as a champion of workplace diversity. Our Inclusion Committee, reporting to the Urbis Executive Group, drives our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, supported by regional working groups that focus on priorities unique to each location.
We encourage diversity not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because diversity is the key to creativity, innovation and quality of thought.
Gender Equity
We choose equity measures across the organisation to ensure fair representation, pay and opportunities for development. Our Gender Equity Strategy and key initiatives help us create and maintain an inclusive workplace where equality is paramount.
Our focus includes:
- WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality certification
- SOAR Program – supporting the advancement of senior women
- Champions of Change Program
- Gender balanced leadership (40:40:20)
- 18 weeks paid parental leave for primary carers.
We’re proud to be recognised by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality – a gold standard certification reflecting our measurable progress.
It’s testament to our commitment, from bespoke sponsorship programs and career advancement opportunities to competitive parental leave and building gender-balanced teams at every level.
First Nations
Our vision for reconciliation
Urbis’ vision for reconciliation is to be actively involved in embedding First Nations cultures and worldviews into the solutions we create for places and communities.
We believe we can play a leading role in amplifying the voices of First Nations peoples, communities and organisations and can demonstrate how learning from First Nations stories, histories and connections to land and place enhances outcomes. We aim to foster two-way learning, innovative education and career pathways, and sector-leading collaboration with First Nations peoples and organisations.
Our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) builds on our previous RAP and focuses on the areas we believe will make the biggest difference in supporting our shared journey towards reconciliation.
Our current focus includes:
Partnership with Aurora Education Foundation
The Aurora Education Foundation is an Indigenous organisation that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from the end of Year 7 through to mid-career, encouraging students to realise their full academic and career potential.
We commenced our partnership with Aurora in July 2025.
The partnership provides an exciting opportunity for us to support the genuine and lasting impact that Aurora has already created through its programs, to contribute to their strategic goals, and to deliver on a core commitment in our RAP to improve Indigenous employment outcomes, not just at Urbis, but across the urban consulting industry.
Aurora’s programs and frameworks include supporting Indigenous students and their families with access to mentorship, educational, wellbeing, and cultural support through their High School Programs (HSP); placing university students in internships at host organisations nationally to gain industry experience; and scholarship programs which remove financial barriers to domestic and overseas study.
Working alongside Aurora, we are exploring opportunities and pathways for Indigenous students, including those interested in pursuing a career in the urban consulting industry.
Urbis Pride
Everyone has the right to be themselves. We’re proud to support the LGBTQI+ community and work to build safe, inclusive and supportive spaces for our LGBTQI+ employees.
Our LGBTQI+ Strategy strengthens inclusive policies and expands diversity and inclusion education across Urbis. We recognise the diversity within the LGBTQI+ community and focus on reducing stigma and discrimination.
In 2024, we achieved Bronze Tier status in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), which recognises our LGBTQ workplace inclusion practices.
Supporting working parents
We believe that career success and family life should work together. That’s why we offer generous parental leave – 18 weeks of full pay for primary carers and four weeks for secondary carers, with continued superannuation contributions. If your caring role changes, extra paid leave is available.
Our Transitioning to and from Parenthood framework ensures parents feel supported through life’s big changes, and our commitment to gender equity includes tailored programs to help women advance their careers. We’re also proud to hold Family Friendly Workplace Accreditation, a recognised global benchmark for family-inclusive workplace culture, and a standard to which we hold ourselves.
Inclusive cultures
An inclusive workplace is one where differences are valued, respected and supported. We build this culture through:
- Inclusive leadership training
- Celebrating significant days
- Sharing cultures and experiences
- Unconscious bias training.
Our Partnerships
Our Commitments
