Diversity and inclusivity are important issues for any organisation. But what is the difference between them? Diversity defines the what, while inclusion determines the how. Diversity focuses on the makeup of your workforce and the nature of your student cohort. It includes such things as gender, race/ethnicity, age, sexual orientation and veteran status Inclusion, on the other hand, is a measure of organisational culture that enables diversity to thrive. You can recruit a diverse range of people, from all different backgrounds, but if the organisational culture doesn’t fully support and demonstrate this, then diversity isn’t properly inclusive.
There are many views on what “best practice” means in a business sense. In terms of inclusivity, however, it may mean:
- focusing on inclusive practices throughout the organisation, from recruitment to training delivery and assessment, which can include:
- providing a range of different activities that will appeal to the broadest possible audience
- providing support, both internal and (where necessary) external to the organisation
- offering multiple feedback channels where course participants can connect with each other and with RTO staff
2. providing a safe environment for all participants to work and study in.
All participants should be made to feel welcome and be encouraged to engage in and make contributions to the success of the program in an equal and inclusive way.