Inclusive and Equitable Workplaces

Resources

Department strategies

• Department of Education Strategic Plan 2025–2029(opens in a new window)
• Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2026–2030(opens in a new window)
• Dhelk Wukang Aboriginal Inclusion Plan 2022–2026(opens in a new window)
• Aboriginal Employment Plan 2025–2029(opens in a new window)

Professional learning

• Arc – Employee Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement(opens in a new window) – internal professional development training to support staff capability
• Community Understanding and Safety Training (CUST)(opens in a new window) – training that empowers school staff to foster culturally inclusive environments that enhance Koorie students’ wellbeing
• Respectful and inclusive workplaces is a mandatory module for all department staff:
  • Respectful and inclusive workplaces – all staff (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
  • Respectful and inclusive workplaces – leaders and managers (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
• The department also offers online learning on the following topics via LearnED:
  • Disability awareness: essentials (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
  • Disability awareness: workplace adjustment (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
  • Disability awareness: inclusive recruitment for people with disability (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
  • Human rights and responsibilities (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
  • Inclusive recruitment (staff login required)(opens in a new window)
  • Sexual harassment (staff login required)(opens in a new window)

Department resources

• LGBTIQA+ safety, respect and inclusion in schools toolkit (DOCX) (staff login required)(opens in a new window) – guidance and practical tools to help schools foster safe, respectful and inclusive environments for LGBTIQA+ students and staff

Student resources

• Go to the list of student resources and related policies on the Inclusion and diversity page(opens in a new window) on the School Policy Templates Portal

Wellbeing

• Employee Wellbeing Support Services – for information about support services, eligibility, and how to book an appointment, visit Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Management in Schools
• Workplace Contact Officers – contact officers who can provide information and support in relation to workplace behaviour concerns
• Switchboard Victoria(opens in a new window) – a community based not-for-profit organisation that provides a peer-based, volunteer-run support service for LGBTIQA+ people
• Rainbow Door(opens in a new window) – a free specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family
• GenSHED(opens in a new window) – a VPS-wide safe space for intersex and trans and gender diverse (I&TGD) folks. A ‘virtual roof’ for initiatives connecting trans, intersex, non-binary, gender diverse peers (Innovation Network login required)
• Black Rainbow(opens in a new window) – a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, trans, intersex, asexual, sistergirl and brotherboy (LGBQTIA+SB) through a variety of community projects and programs

Inclusive recruitment resources

• Accessible and inclusive recruitment: Australian Disability Network(opens in a new window) – guidance on making recruitment processes accessible and inclusive for people with disability
• Inclusive recruitment tools: Diversity Council Australia(opens in a new window) – tools and guidance to support fairer and more inclusive recruitment practices (staff login required – create a free account with a department email address to see the resources)
• Guide to hiring with special measures in the public sector: Victorian Public Sector Commission(opens in a new window) – guidance on using special measures in recruitment to improve equity and representation
• Workplace adjustment and arrangement passport: Victorian Public Sector Commission(opens in a new window) – a tool to support discussion and documentation of workplace adjustments and arrangements

Leading and managing diverse teams

• Mentoring and sponsorship: Diversity Council Australia(opens in a new window) – guidance on mentoring and sponsorship to support diverse talent and career progression (staff login required – create a free account with a department email address to see the resources)
• Mentoring and sponsorship resources: Workplace Gender Equality Agency(opens in a new window) – resources to support mentoring and sponsorship practices that advance gender equality

Valuing diversity and significant dates

• List of International Days and Weeks: United Nations(opens in a new window) – a calendar of internationally recognised days and weeks that may support inclusive planning and awareness activities
• United Nations Observances: United Nations(opens in a new window) – information about internationally recognised observances and their significance
• LGBTIQA+ safety, respect and inclusion in schools toolkit: Victorian Department of Education(opens in a new window) – guidance and practical tools to help schools foster safe, respectful and inclusive environments for LGBTIQA+ students and employees
• Safety at work for school staff posters: Victorian Department of Education – posters to support safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces for school staff
• Multifaith calendar iCal downloads: Victorian Government(opens in a new window) – calendar resources to support awareness of significant multifaith dates
• WorkWell LGBTIQA+ resources: WorkSafe Victoria(opens in a new window) – resources to help workplaces support the psychological health, safety and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ employees

Communications

• Communicating with colleagues who are deaf or hard of hearing: JobAccess(opens in a new window) – practical guidance on inclusive communication in the workplace
• Clear print guidelines: Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities(opens in a new window) – guidance for producing printed materials in formats that are easier to read
• Accessible communications: Victorian Government(opens in a new window) – guidance on creating communications that are accessible and inclusive
• Leading practice for neuroinclusive workplaces: Diversity Council Australia(opens in a new window)

Meeting and events

• Accessibility tools for Webex: Cisco Webex(opens in a new window) – information on accessibility features such as translation, captioning and transcription
• Accessibility tools for Microsoft Teams: Microsoft(opens in a new window) – information on accessibility features available in Microsoft Teams
• Using language interpretation in Microsoft Teams meetings: Microsoft(opens in a new window) – guidance on using language interpretation features in Teams meetings
• Welcome to Country and Acknowledgment Map: Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council/Victorian Government(opens in a new window) – information to support acknowledgement of Traditional Owners in the correct local context
• Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners and Welcome to Country in Schools: Victorian Department of Education – guidance on culturally respectful practices for school events and settings

Facilities

Carer rooms

• Breastfeeding-friendly workplace advice and guidance: Australian Breastfeeding Association(opens in a new window) – information to support breastfeeding-friendly workplaces

Accessible toilet facilities

• Advice about the design of accessible toilets: Australian Disability Network(opens in a new window) – guidance on accessibility considerations for toilet facilities
• All-gender toilet facilities in the workplace: WorkSafe(opens in a new window) – guidance on planning or supporting all-gender toilet facilities

Prayer rooms

• Multifaith guidelines: Diversity Council Australia(opens in a new window) – guidance on supporting multifaith inclusion in workplaces (staff login required – create a free account with a department email address to see the resources)