EQUS has worked to improve equity, diversity and inclusion within the Centre, across its partner institutions, and throughout the broader quantum research community.

We recognise that people from marginalised groups continue to face barriers to entry and progression in STEM fields, including quantum, resulting in underrepresentation of these groups. We also acknowledge the long-standing and systemic inequities and injustices people from such groups face daily.

EQUS’ Inclusion Program took a data-driven approach to better understand the landscape and to define the challenges. Throughout the course of the Centre, the Program team continued to assess and evaluate the impact of different initiatives. As a result, EQUS was well-positioned to provide effective evidence-based recommendations and guidance for use by others.

Several of EQUS’ novel approaches and activities have since been adopted or adapted by other academic institutions and centres.

EQUS exceeded hiring goals for women and non-binary researchers by a notable margin, helped by the Deborah Jin Fellowship, a prestigious three-year postdoctoral fellowship for women and non-binary people pioneered at another Centre of Excellence, FLEET.

Building on that success, EQUS’ Deborah Jin Fellowship became the subject of a model business case by the University of Queensland.

Addressing equity challenges means not only creating jobs, but also improving retention. EQUS focused on creating a safe and supportive culture through targeted training, leadership development, and community-building.

One of the most visible outcomes was the national InSTEM conference, which brought together members of multiple Centres of Excellence to provide safe, skills-based networking for researchers from underrepresented backgrounds. The conference’s impact will continue, now under the leadership of other Centres after EQUS’s funding ends.

EQUS’ long-term investment in equity created a more diverse and inclusive quantum research environment – and helped set new standards for how Australian science can support a wider range of talent.