Diversity and inclusion at MCRI

We are proud of our diversity and believe it drives our innovation.

At Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), we are committed to creating a culture of inclusivity, equity and respect that celebrates the many genders, ages, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, abilities, religions and sexual orientations within our organisation.

We encourage and celebrate the diverse voices of our staff and students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is for everyone to feel welcome within MCRI.

Our commitment

Our people make us who we are. A focus on diversity and inclusion is vital to attract, retain, and develop our exceptional workforce of brilliant minds. We encourage each other to draw upon our unique experiences, skills and knowledge in ways that enhance our purpose; to give all children the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilled life.

We strive towards a diverse and inclusive workplace, not just within MCRI, but in all our work including participant research and patient groups.

We have clear, written policies on Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity to prohibit harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

We strive towards a diverse and inclusive workplace, not just within MCRI, but in all our work including participant research and patient groups.

We have clear, written policies on Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity to prohibit harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

Cultural safety and reconciliation

We want MCRI to be culturally safe for everyone who works, studies and takes part in research with us. We are building that foundation by focusing first on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, participants and communities, as the First Peoples of the lands on which we work.

In 2026, 180 of our leaders took part in Cultural Safety Training delivered by the Koorie Heritage Trust, in preparation for our reconciliation journey. From 2027, we will develop a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan with Reconciliation Australia, the first step in a long-term commitment.

This work sits within our broader commitment to cultural safety across the many backgrounds of our workforce. 67 per cent of our people report a cultural background other than Australian and 20 per cent speak English as a second language. We are committed to making sure our policies, practices and research reflect and respect that diversity.

LGBTIQA+ inclusion

We want LGBTIQA+ staff, students, participants and families to feel safe, seen and supported at MCRI.

We are part of the Melbourne Children’s Campus LGBTIQA+ Collective, a cross-institutional initiative spanning The Royal Children’s Hospital, MCRI and the University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics, which works to elevate LGBTIQA+ inclusion in care, research and the workplace.

Together with the Collective, MCRI has introduced all-gender bathrooms, pronoun guidelines and support for staff and students affirming their gender.

Accessibility

We want MCRI to be accessible and inclusive for everyone, including staff, students, research participants, patients and visitors with disability or managing mental health conditions.

Our Accessibility Committee brings together people with lived experience to raise awareness of accessibility across MCRI. The Committee works to remove barriers in our workplace and to make our spaces welcoming for research participants, patients and visitors.

Accessibility is built into our broader equity work: every action in our SAGE Athena Swan Action Plan includes an accessibility and mental health focus, rather than sitting as separate work. We are also a member of the Australian Disability Network.

Gender equity

We want everyone at MCRI to have equal opportunity to thrive, whatever their gender.

We are accredited under SAGE Athena Swan, and we publish our Action Plan, representation targets, gender pay gap and annual progress on our dedicated gender equity page.

Gender equity at MCRI