Diversity, equity and inclusion

Welcome to another edition of ‘Tips from the Toolkit’, where we share valuable tips and insight from the Indigenous Governance Toolkit to support you and your group on your governance journey.??

In this newsletter, we explore why diversity, equity and inclusion matter for your organisation, community or nation. ?

Representation?

Representation is about how someone – or something – is described or portrayed. When thinking about First Nations organisations, communities and nations, representation is about who within the collective has a voice.?

Representation matters when considering ‘your people’, from your board, management and staff – through to your members and wider community.?

The principles of diversity, equity and inclusion are great tools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups. Together, they can make a powerful difference in:?

• addressing discrimination and bias?

• improving representation?

Equity, diversity and inclusion are – in part – about social justice and the idea that each person has value to contribute.[1]?

They also make smart business sense. This is because non-discriminatory, diverse and inclusive management, boards and groups perform better and solve problems more creatively than those that are less diverse.?

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Diversity?

Diversity is the practice of including people who represent difference. For example, difference in gender, physical and mental abilities, age, educational background, sexuality, history or identity.?

There is great diversity within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. For instance, LGBTQIA+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples represent a diverse group within this already rich tapestry of diversity.?

It is essential to have groups, leaders, and projects that reflect the diversity of your community.?It brings many benefits, including:?

• more effective decision-making?

• considering the needs and perspectives of all group members?

• amplifying the voices of less empowered individuals and providing them with role models through public representation?

A diverse board benefits from directors with different skills, experiences, and characteristics that complement each other. For example, if there are 2 directors who are business savvy, it is okay for another director to have less knowledge in that area. They bring a set of different strengths.?

A core aspect of diversity in governance is the cultural diversity of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. There are, for instance, two distinct cultural groups made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. There is great diversity within these two broad groups, in the form of hundreds of culturally diverse nations and communities and, today, over 250 different language groups.?

Equity?

Equity is about fairness and justice—ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and reasonably in ways that promote equal opportunities.?

Equity differs from equality in a crucial way:?

• Equity recognises that not everyone starts from the same place, and seeks to address these imbalances by making necessary adjustments.?

• Equality, on the other hand, is about providing the same resources or opportunities to everyone, regardless of their starting point.?

For example, equity might look like?encouraging and supporting more women on your board. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women make up half the First Nations population across the continent.[2]?It makes sense that women are represented as leaders, decision-makers and influencers within a group.?

Equity might also involve:?

• ensuring representation for youth or Elders?

• encouraging LGBTQIA+ representation?

• providing equal opportunities for people with disabilities to participate?

• ensuring that smaller or less visible family or clan groups have a voice, which might otherwise be overlooked in a ‘one person, one vote’ system?

Inclusion?

If diversity is a measure of difference in identity, inclusion is about respect for and appreciation of these differences. Inclusion is the deliberate act of welcoming and valuing diversity and equity.[3]?

Inclusion happens when a diverse range of people:?

• feel and?are?represented, valued and respected?

• have access to opportunities and resources?

• can bring their perspectives and talents and contribute to their organisation, community or nation.[4]?

Governing inclusively means creating an environment that supports participation and commitment from everyone in your group.[5]?

For more on this topic, visit the Indigenous Governance Toolkit.

1 “Why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Matter,” Independent Sector, October 6, 2016, [link]?

2 Australian Human Rights Commission,?Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices): Securing Our Rights, Securing Our Future Report?(Australian Human Rights Commission, 2020), 50.?

3 Donnebra McClendon, “How to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace,” Ceridian, June 21, 2022, [link]?

4 “Inclusion,” Diversity Council Australia, accessed May 2023, [link]?

5 “Equity, Diversity & Inclusion,” Center for Creative Leadership, accessed May 2023, [link]?