Inclusive and Equitable Workplaces

Valuing diversity

Visibly valuing diversity fosters an inclusive workplace and ensures staff know they are valued and supported.

Days of significance

There are many events and celebrations that showcase peoples’ cultures, identities and communities. Leaders are encouraged to work with staff and students to develop a yearly ‘Inclusion calendar’. The calendar shows what days of significance the school will recognise over the year. Schools can choose the days most relevant to the school community.

School staff can:

• go to the United Nations List of International Days and Weeks(opens in a new window)
• learn more about United Nations Observances(opens in a new window)
• go to the Diversity Council of Australia’s Inclusion Calendar(opens in a new window)
• download the Multifaith calendar iCal calendar downloads(opens in a new window)
• start a staff meeting or assembly with a short reflection about a relevant significant event, what it means to you, and the work of the team or school.

Positive story sharing

Marginalised employees do not have their good work acknowledged as often as others. Staff and leaders can make sure to recognise the work of diverse colleagues:

• nominate diverse staff for local or department awards
• recognise good work or achievement in a team meeting, school newsletter, or assembly
• send an email or message to the team recognising good results or effort.

Marginalised staff are often discussed with ‘deficit language’. This can affect their mental health and entrench prejudice. To combat this, in team or staff meetings, include a positive story about inclusion, achievement or excellence. This small action is an evidence-based way to change attitudes and behaviour.

Demonstrations of inclusion in the workplace

Visibly demonstrate support by:

• wearing visible symbols of support for LGBTIQA+ communities, such as a rainbow lanyard, pronoun pin or rainbow stickers (fill out this form(opens in a new window) to request these items)
• updating your signature block to display your values
• sharing your pronouns:
  • including pronouns in an email signature block. If sharing pronouns is a safety concern, staff can create multiple signatures in Outlook(opens in a new window), and use different signatures for different audiences
  • displaying pronouns in Webex. Staff can select pronouns from a dropdown list and switch pronoun visibility on or off. Read Adding your pronoun to your Webex App (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
• displaying pronouns on Webex or Teams by using the DE pronoun backgrounds (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
• flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags. Please read the Flags and Patriotic Ceremonies policy for guidance
• promoting respectful behaviours among school community members, using resources such as:
  • Safety at work for school staff posters
  • LGBTIQA+ safety, respect and inclusion in schools toolkit (DOCX)(opens in a new window)
• WorkWell LGBTIQA+: Resources(opens in a new window) – WorkSafe Victoria.

Another important demonstration of inclusion is to take the time to learn to pronounce your colleagues’ names correctly. This shows respect for your colleagues’ languages, cultures and identities.