Changing the Story

PUBLISHING WITH IMPACT

At Hachette Australia, we value diversity, enrich creativity, reward success and honour our responsibilities. We are committed to being the publisher and employer of choice for all people.

We aim to improve our business practices across all areas, from partnering with our people to striving for environmental sustainability, engaging with community and establishing new partnerships and bold initiatives that unearth the best stories and drive stronger engagement with readers of all ages.

OUR FOOTPRINT

Hachette Australia aims to reduce our impact on the planet, care for the environment and improve our sustainability. We view this as good business practice.

As part of our sustainable publishing model we commit to:

• using papers that are natural, renewable, recyclable and made from wood grown in sustainable forests, where logging and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin
• preferencing post-consumer, recycled fibre and aiming to ensure any virgin fibre used is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)
• working with our suppliers to increase the availability of commercially viable and attractive papers that maximise post-consumer recycled content
• wherever practical, printing in Australia.

And we choose environmentally conscious partners:

• OPUS, our printing partner, continually evaluate their processes and practices. A copy of their Environmental Policy can be read here.
• ADS, our distribution centre, is committed to as much of their packaging as possible being made from recycled, recyclable or biodegradable materials.

OUR PEOPLE

Hachette Australia is dedicated to being the publisher and employer of choice for all people, regardless of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality or socio-economic background.

Our core partnership is first and foremost with our team of people, and to this end we’ve adopted Changing the Story – a unique global programme of policies and initiatives designed to foster greater diversity and inclusion – as the framework that informs everything we do.

As part of this endeavour we are proud of how our employee networks such as Thrive, Pride, Gender Balance and Wellbeing are driving positive change within the company, fostering a better workplace for all people and creating stronger engagement with all Australians to help discover new talent and new voices. Ultimately, we see this leading to publishing better books for all people.

Recent changes to Hachette employee policies include the introduction of:

• shared parental leave
• flexible working for all staff, including geographical location pending role
• two paid volunteer days each year.

Hachette Australia has also established a new career entry pathway with a paid summer internship program for anyone interested in a career in publishing. Discover more here. We invite anyone interested in a career in publishing to view and read our Guide to Publishing booklet and virtual event featuring our people.

SHARING OUR EXPERTISE

Hachette Australia is a member of the Australian Publishers Association (APA) and plays an integral role within the local book publishing industry. As a company, we believe in supporting our community of aligned organisations such as the Australian Booksellers Association, the Australian Society of Authors, the Copyright Agency and the Australian Library and Information Association, as well as the various writers centres and festivals around the country.

Many of our people are involved as mentors and company representatives with various publishing, bookselling, writing and cultural networks, programs and initiatives.

Our CEO, Louise Stark, is the Convenor of the Trade Publishing Committee and serves on the boards of both the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the APA, leading the Australia Reads campaign.

Our Group Publishing Director, Fiona Hazard, serves as a member of the Australian Inclusive Publishing Initiative (AIPI) working group, driving technological changes that ensure books are accessible to all.

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS

Hachette Australia is passionate about supporting not-for-profit organisations, literacy programs and creative writing opportunities that promote diversity and inclusion, such as the:

• Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), which helps raise literacy levels and improve the lives and opportunities of Indigenous children living in remote and isolated regions
• Sydney Story Factory, a not-for-profit creative writing centre primarily supporting marginalised young people of all abilities
• Emerging Writers’ Festival (EWF), a not-for-profit organisation that celebrates creativity and innovation, nurtures new talent and represents diverse voices from across Australia.
• The Footpath Library – Enriching lives by giving books helps people experiencing homelessness engage their mind and feel socially included which has a positive impact on their mental health.