Managing Diversity in Schools

Schools are now seeking to become more effective by responding to the diversity within their community.

This is occurring through a better understanding of the diversity of the school's workforce, students, parents and the wider community.

School strategic plans articulate values, vision and activities for building inclusive educational and workplace environments and can also identify opportunities to improve school performance through a range of diversity initiatives. Diversity initiatives can be incorporated into workforce planning, recruitment and retention strategies, leadership mentoring and professional development. A number of Victorian schools are piloting diversity management strategies and processes.

Strategies for managing diversity give effect to the principle of Equal Employment Opportunity and aim to achieve a workforce that reflects the diversity of the broader community.

Diversity strategies within the Department and schools include actions that enable target groups who experience disadvantage to have increased access to opportunities in education, training and employment

Managing diversity to improve student learning outcomes

 

How is a managing diversity approach going to improve student learning outcomes?

By:

• maintaining a highly skilled, motivated and energetic workforce who are better able to meet the needs of a diverse school community
  
  
• attracting highly skilled and diverse staff making the school a preferred employer
  
  
• increasing the range of knowledge, skills and experiences available in the workforce
  
  
• enhancing the capacity for effective decision making due to the greater diversity of perspectives and inputs
  
  
• creating more effective work teams due to increased participation levels and an increased capacity to solve problems.

Diversity Models

These diversity models have been provided by schools and are intended to encourage the implementation of initiatives that underpin effective diversity and equity policy. A template is attached for your school to contribute a diversity model to this website.

Initiatives that value and maximise diversity in the workplace

• Utilising diversity and leadership principles for effective work Camp Hill Primary School (Word - 65Kb) (Word,65K)
  
  
• Using diversity to improve teamwork Mount Evelyn Special Developmental School (Word - 67Kb) (Word, 76K)
  
  
• Diverse leadership role models for students Kurunjang, Footscray City and Copperfield Secondary Colleges (Word - 72Kb) (Word, 72K)

Email your best practice models to the Diversity Manager. Use the attached template under "Procedures and Forms"

Procedures and Forms

• Template (Word - 49Kb) (Word, 49K)

 

Other Resources

• Diversity Australia  (http://www.diversityaustralia.gov.au/)

 

Related Topics

• Equal Opportunity
• Work/Life/Balance
• Disability
• Cultural & Linguistic Diversity

 

Contact Information

• Adriana Palamara
  Manager, Diversity
  email: palamara.adriana.a@edumail.vic.gov.au

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