Alternative Resolutions and Equity

Training - Index

Mandatory Equity and Diversity Awareness Training
• Face to Face Equity and Diversity Awareness Presentations
• Defence Online Campus Equity and Diversity Awareness Training
• Equity and Diversity Awareness Training on CD-ROM
  
  Other Training Information
• Equity and Diversity Courses available on Defence Online Campus
• Recording Annual Equity and Diversity Awareness Training on PMKeyS
• Equity and Diversity Workshop for Commanders, Managers and Supervisors
• Suicide Intervention Training
• Cultural Diversity Awareness Package
• Application for Funding of Cultural Diversity Awareness Training
• Sexual Orientation Awareness
• Equity Adviser Training
• Training Calendar

All Defence personnel are required to attend annual Equity and Diversity Awareness sessions.

Equity and diversity training is mandatory because it helps make people aware of their rights and responsibilities in the workplace, and the options available to resolve any unacceptable behaviour (harassment, discrimination, bullying etc). This education, and appropriate leadership, will increase productivity and create safe, fair and healthy workplaces. Reducing incidents of unacceptable behaviour also reduces the time taken to manage such cases, which means there is more time available for personnel to conduct their core business.

Defence policy (Defence Instruction (General) Personnel 35-3) Managing and Reporting Unacceptable Behaviour states that commanders and managers can be held personally liable if they are found to have contributed to, ignored, assisted or personally encouraged unacceptable behaviour. Ensuring that all personnel attend the mandatory equity and diversity awareness training annually will contribute towards protecting commanders and managers, and Defence, from liability. This also makes any respondent solely responsible for their own unacceptable behaviour.

Equity and diversity awareness training may be undertaken by attendance at a unit or branch presentation, or through completion of online training or, for those without access to the Defence Restricted Network, by CD-ROM.

DED has developed an awareness training presentation (338 KB PPT) to standardise equity and diversity training across Defence. Presenters should download and save the presentation to access the presentation notes.

It is recommended that, where available, personnel registered with their regional Defence Equity Coordinator as an approved presenter conduct the annual equity and diversity awareness session. In the event there is no registered presenter available, commanders and managers may use personnel who they deem to be competent presenters to deliver the awareness package.

Please note: Presenters should not delete any of the existing slides from the presentation but may add slides to include local issues.

A CD-ROM version of the annual equity and diversity awareness training is available for personnel unable to access the Defence Restricted Network. Please contact Learning and Communication, Alternative Resolution and Equity on 6127 3009 or your regional Defence Equity Coordinator.

Face To Face
To assist commanders, managers and supervisors in recording attendance of their personnel at an annual Equity and Diversity Awareness presentation, the Defence Service Centre (Cooma) can enter the names of attendees on PMKeyS using webform AD425-1, Record of Mandatory Annual Equity and Diversity Awareness Training. Commanders, managers and supervisors are to ensure that all fields of the webform are completed (except the Transaction number and DSC only fields), sign and fax to the Defence Service Centre on (02) 6455 1200.

Online Training
Training conducted through CAMPUS will be automatically recorded on PMKeyS through a regular batch transfer. The records of personnel who completed the online training from 1 January 2004 have been transferred to PMKeyS.


CD-ROM
The CD-ROM contains a printable course completion certificate. In order to have your PMKeyS record updated you need to print the certificate and forward a copy by mail or fax to the Defence Service Centre Cooma at:

Mail:
Defence Service Centre
Locked Bag 2003
COOMA NSW 2630
Facsimile:
(02) 6455 1200

The aim of this training is to provide managers and supervisors of Defence personnel with the required knowledge and skills to carry out their responsibilities for equity and diversity. They will also be aware of the procedures to manage complaints and the support mechanisms available to assist them.

The workshop addresses manager and supervisors responsibilities with regard to equity and diversity knowledge, complaint management and incident reporting.

The workshop takes approximately 4 hours. The target audience is ADF Colonel (Equivalent) to Sergeant (Equivalent) and EL2 to APS 4. Maximum number of participants for the workshop is limited to 12.

To apply for the course, contact your  Defence Equity Coordinator (DEC).

The Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two day workshop. It prepares people of all backgrounds with the practical knowledge, skills and resources to provide life-assisting interventions to persons at risk of suicide.

The workshop will teach you to:

• recognise opportunities for help
• reach out and offer support
• estimate the level of suicide risk
• apply a model for suicide intervention
• link people with community resources

For more information and workshop dates, please see the Defence Health Services Division website.

In consultation with Centrelink, Defence Equity and Diversity has created an awareness training package on cultural diversity for use by Defence personnel.

The training package contains a broad picture of multiculturalism in Australia and the benefits it can offer Defence. The session covers five modules and takes less than one hour to complete. It is enjoyable, easy to navigate, interactive and educational. It includes non-assessed tests on Australia's diversity, the benefits of diversity to Defence, valuable information on intercultural communication, and how to access extra resources.

Please take a look at the Cultural Diversity Awareness Package (HTML 13MB) . It is also available in PowerPoint (12.9MB) format.

Defence Equity and Diversity has established funding for the provision of Cultural Awareness training through the creation of the Cultural Awareness Training Fund. The proposed training or activity must be necessary for operational reasons, integration of the unit or for building an understanding of the unit's local environment. Please contact the Staff Officer Diversity on (02) 6127 2966 or email sandra.sibree@defence.gov.au for more information regarding application.

In 1992, the ADF lifted the ban on the recruitment and retention of homosexual people. An on-line awareness session, titled Understanding Homosexuality, is now available for the education of Defence personnel.

The Understanding Homosexuality session seeks to educate, not to change religious beliefs or personal values. It starts by defining the terms gay, lesbian, homosexual and bisexual, then differentiates between sexual identity, orientation and behaviour, and gender identity and characteristics. Discussion then focuses on attitudes towards homosexuality, estimates on homosexual representation in the community, the invisible barriers of homophobia and heterosexism, the impact of hiding sexual orientation, the fear of disclosure, and the implications on the Defence mission. This session is only available on the Defence Intranet.

Access the Understanding Homosexuality Awareness training HTML 1.73MB (Defweb only).

A 27-slide PowerPoint presentation accompanied by separate 36-page Speaker's Notes is available below for downloading and delivery to Defence audiences. To help prepare for this briefing, presenters should contact their regional  Defence Equity Coordinators (DECs).   It is recommended to right mouse click (left hand if configured for left-handed users) the below link and "Save Target As" the file to your local hard disk or group network drive.

Access the Understanding Homosexuality presentation in PowerPoint (359k) format. Also access the Understanding Homosexuality PowerPoint Speakers Notes (2.68MB, Word file).

Defence fosters good equity and diversity outcomes within workplaces through the training of Equity Advisers and the establishment of the Equity Adviser Network.

In 2003 Defence completed a comprehensive review of Equity Adviser training. The review has led to the development of a new Defence Equity Adviser Workshop, which requires satisfactory completion of two phases of training. Phase 1 involves locating information and answering questions related to the relevant instructions. This allows participants to initially become familiar with the content, although this will be reviewed in Phase 2.

When participants have successfully completed the Phase 1 questions, they will be panelled on Phase 2, which is a two day workshop that focuses on enacting the Equity Adviser role. The Defence Equity Adviser Workshop intends, through supported and guided practice, to enhance Equity Adviser confidence and competence. There are numerous opportunities throughout the workshop to practice skills and for discussion. The workshop is competency based, and on day 2 participants will be required to conduct a formal discussion with a client in the training context, which will be assessed by the facilitator.

Refresher Training
Equity Advisers must undertake refresher training every three years in order to remain current and active. They do this by successfully completing both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the new competency based Defence Equity Adviser Workshop.

Nominations

Details of available courses are listed by region on the Training Calendar (below) which is regularly updated.