Purpose and Objectives
To promote and support an environment which values and affirms equal opportunity, diversity and inclusivity in accordance with universal principles of equity, fairness and social justice, whilst ensuring that Company complies with its legal responsibilities in accordance with relevant legislation.
Scope/Coverage
This policy applies to all staff of Company.
Policy Statement
Company is actively committed to promoting the principles of equal opportunity and strives to support Employees to achieve their full potential in an environment which is fair, inclusive, diverse and supports the health and well-being of its Employees.
Company will strive to enhance the workforce representation of under-represented diversity groups through supportive strategies and programs which recognise the needs of these individuals and provide proactive responses to enable Employees to integrate their personal responsibilities with the demands of the workplace.
Company is actively committed to the prevention of Discrimination, Bullying, Harassment, Victimisation and Vilification in the workplace, and will take all reasonable steps and actions to ensure that Employees are treated fairly and with dignity and respect whilst working at the organisation.
Principles
Company is committed to the promotion of equity and recognition of diversity in employment. It aims to provide a work environment that fosters fairness, equity, and respect for social and cultural diversity, and that is free from unlawful Discrimination, Bullying, Harassment, Vilification and Victimisation.
In support of this commitment, Company will endeavour to:
- foster a culture which values and responds to the rich diversity of its community
- provide an inclusive and flexible environment for Employees by identifying and removing any remaining systemic barriers to equitable access, participation and progression in employment so that all Employees have the opportunity to fully contribute
- ensure that Employees are aware of their rights and their responsibilities as ‘Company Name’ members
- use non-discriminatory, inclusive language and practices
- develop proactive plans and programs to increase access and promote success in employment for designated under-represented groups in order to overcome the disadvantage
- ensure that all Employees have fair access to benefits and services in an equitable manner, including assistance to reasonably accommodate a person’s Disability
- develop and promote processes that support the systematic implementation, monitoring, reporting and management of equal opportunity and eliminate unlawful direct and indirect Discrimination and harassment, and workplace Bullying provides effective mechanisms to resolve complaints of unlawful Discrimination, Bullying, harassment, Vilification and Victimisation.
- create a culture of support for Employees affected by Domestic and Family Violence.
All Employees are responsible for understanding and applying the principles of equal opportunity, equity and social justice. Supervisors are particularly responsible for taking reasonably practicable steps to ensure that the learning and working environment is safe, inclusive and free from Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment.
Company will ensure that Employees are trained in equal opportunity, equity, diversity and social justice matters and that targeted training is available to Employees with management and supervisory responsibilities.
Equity and Diversity Groups
Diversity involves recognising the value of individual differences in the workplace. Diversity in this context for Company includes age, cultural background, Disability, ethnicity, family responsibilities, gender, language, religious belief and sexual orientation. Diversity also refers to the other ways in which people are different, such as educational level, life experience, work experience, socio-economic background and personality. Failure to comply with this Policy may be considered as misconduct and the provisions of the relevant Policy or Procedure applied.
Equity relates to fair treatment. The Company equity objective is to ensure that people from all groups in society have the opportunity to participate successfully in employment and community facilities. Target groups include but are not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, women in areas where they are currently underrepresented, sex or gender identity (e.g. LGBTI), and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Discrimination
Equal opportunity is about ensuring that everyone has equal access to, and opportunity to take part in, areas of public life such as education, employment, accommodation and access to goods and services.
To support this goal, the organisation will develop and implement programs and initiatives which aim to support equality in all areas of employment, including but not limited to:
- recruitment
- retention
- resignation and turnover
- performance management
- promotion and career progression
- talent identification and management
- succession planning
- learning and development.
Equal opportunity, anti-discrimination and human rights laws set the standard for the way individuals treat each other in these areas and provides remedies for people who have been treated unfairly.
Company is committed to taking all reasonable steps to prevent and eradicate unlawful Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment against individuals in the work and learning environment.
To fulfil this commitment, Company will implement a range of proactive and preventative strategies and programs, including the provision of training and professional development opportunities for Employees and Supervisors to raise awareness of equal opportunity, Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment, and provide strategies to prevent this occurring in the workplace.