Diversity and inclusion (D&I) policies and practices are key to creating workplaces where people feel they are treated equally, regardless of their perspectives, backgrounds, race, gender, age or ability.
While many organisations aspire to being prejudice-free, it requires a number of steps, including measuring the current experience for workers, then developing interventions to help move the organisation towards a more diversity and inclusion-friendly culture.
The LOTE Agency is a consultancy focussed on multicultural communications, research, strategy, translation and human-centred system design. They use the Inclusive Australia Diagnostic tool, developed by BehaviourWorks Australia, to help companies and organisations self-diagnose their D&I practices.
Inclusive Australia is an alliance of organisations advocating for a more coordinated approach to inclusivity.
The Diagnostic
The tool itself is a series of questions where participants score their workplace on a range of 10 different D&I initiatives and practices, including strategies, visibility, communication, modelling, training, etc. At the end, an overall score out of 5 is produced, with each domain result then presented for further information and explanation, along with some suggested (evidence-based) interventions that might help raise the score.
It’s an effective way of getting a glimpse of the D&I culture of the organisation, as well as having participants think about the unspoken behaviours and attitudes that may exist in their workplace.
A LOTE to think about
The LOTE Agency has been doing this positive behaviour change work for 30 years, helping multicultural communities break down cultural barriers, become empowered and engaged in the wider society and build authentic connections. While their initial focus was on external communications, they have grown to helping organisations build their internal inclusion strategies and deal with real-world challenges.
Healthcare, for instance; while mainstream Australia can access timely healthcare and medical help, it’s much harder for CALD communities (culturally and linguistically diverse). What are their attitudes, beliefs and behaviours when it comes to cancer, for instance? What can they talk about and what is taboo?
Or understanding the impact of toll roads on different communities. Some CALD communities have a higher rate of tolling debt, which presents a problem for the companies issuing the notices. LOTE sought to improve financial and debt literacy, helping communities better navigate toll road debt, reduce financial stress, and ultimately strengthen both mental wellbeing and community cohesion.
Thinking about these very human traits helps deliver much more nuanced and inclusive practices.
Tech works best when it’s run by humans
Tools such as these don’t replace human interaction – they help us focus our thoughts and knowledge and share insights. There is a difference between tolerating, accepting and celebrating differences between ourselves and others in the workplace, and how we show these behaviours. It makes a huge difference to those who may not have much power in the way they are treated or the decisions affecting them.
The work being done by LOTE and Inclusive Australia brings behavioural science together with industry and practitioners to bring about change for good.
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