Diversity - Index
- Diversity
- Multiculturalism
- Multicultural Policy
- Increasing Capability
- Creating an Inclusive Environment
- Harassment and Discrimination
- Cultural Diversity Report
Defence is committed to equity and diversity in the workplace and to creating an inclusive environment that enables all personnel to contribute to achieving Defence’s goals. The Department aims to provide an inclusive working environment that respects, values and utilises the contributions of people of different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
News
Membership with Diversity Council Australia (DCA)
In March 2011, in support of its commitment to diversity in the workplace, Defence obtained membership with Diversity Council Australia (DCA), leading diversity advisor to business in Australia.
Diversity Council Australia is an internationally recognised non-profit, public company founded by subscriber members and consulting services.
In partnership with member organisations, DCA’s mission is to:
- develop leading diversity research, thinking and practice;
- enable diversity management in a dynamic environment;
- drive business improvement through successful diversity programs; and
- lead public debate.
DCA provides services and advice to member organisations covering all aspects of diversity in employment, reflecting changes in practice to embrace all areas of the diversity of human resources.
Defence has access to the latest up-to-date information on diversity issues and topics including age, bullying, disability, religion, women in the workplace.
In addition, DCA members are offered a range of free or discounted services that support and enhance their internal diversity, inclusion capabilities and external profile.
For more information, latest news and events on diversity visit Diversity Council Australia website:
http://www.dca.org.au/
Defence is committed to Australian Multiculturalism and requires that all personnel demonstrate a respect for other cultures. Defence acknowledges the significance of cultural requirements, the impact of culture on a person's attitudes and behaviours, and the requirement to create an inclusive workplace free from racial discrimination and racist behaviour. Defence Multicultural Policy (36k, PDF)
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 operates in a multicultural work environment and remains committed to its multicultural workforce because cultural diversity is a source of strength that makes Defence more effective in carrying out its mission.
Defence values the principle of inclusiveness and views a multicultural workforce as a unifying factor in an organisation. Defence will strive to become an employer of choice by being seen as an open, inclusive organisation that is able to harness the attributes brought by more diversified skill sets, particularly in knowledge-based capabilities such as language proficiency and cross-cultural understanding (relevant in operational environments), to enhance its performance and productivity.
Defence believes in the notion of good corporate citizenship within a multicultural society. It is vital that the Australian community has confidence in its Defence Force and that this organisation is seen to represent the community it serves. Defence will promote the organisation to people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds as an employer of choice.
Defence is mindful of the benefits it will derive from the development of close cooperation with defence forces drawn from a variety of cultures in its international operations. Defence believes that the recruitment of multicultural personnel into its workforce will enhance the Organisation's international image and lead to a better understanding of how other cultures operate.
Defence acknowledges the fact that a multicultural workforce has diverse needs that must be met in order to promote job satisfaction in the workplace. Defence will facilitate the creation of structural acceptance through such means as employment agreements, provision of prayer rooms, access to appropriate social and cultural services, elimination of obstacles to the full participation in all pertinent activities and processes expected of and available to its workforce.
All Defence personnel are to be given fair and equitable opportunities to enable them to contribute to the organisation. Harassment or discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, colour, culture, religion, sexual preference, language or place of birth is unacceptable behaviour and is to be managed in accordance with the relevant Defence policy instruction (DIG Pers 35-3).
Defence has been working on a number of projects related to the Commonwealth Government's new multicultural agenda including the development of a (business) case for cultural diversity within the organisation. "The Case for Cultural Diversity in Defence" report is an argument with convincing military and community examples to promote the operational imperatives of equity and diversity. The report is the cornerstone of the Defence's cultural diversity projects. View the Report (2.06MB, PDF).
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