Welcome

Diversity and Inclusion

Areas of focus

Through a range of programs, policies, and events, we strive to build a faculty that reflects the diversity of our society and celebrates the unique contributions of each individual

large unimelb sign on campus grounds

Disability inclusion

We're committed to making our university accessible for everyone, with support services, adaptive technologies, and inclusive design to ensure all staff and students can fully participate in university life.

Explore accessibility resources
group of diverse female students on campus

Ethnic inclusion and anti-racism

Australia is one of the world's most successful multicultural societies. Diversity is our national strength. At FoE we embrace our cultural and linguistic diversity.

Explore ethnic inclusion and anti-racism resources
University of Melbourne Arts Hall Building

Fostering safety and respect

We are committed to cultivating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment where every member of our community—students and staff alike—feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Here, you’ll find resources, programs, and support channels available to help prevent, respond to, and recover from inappropriate or unsafe behaviours.

Explore safety and respect resources

Gender equity

We're working hard to level the playing field for all genders, from equal opportunities in hiring and promotions to tackling unconscious bias in the classroom.

Explore gender equity resources
positive messages pinned to a cork noticeboard

Inclusive practice

Explore the Faculty of Education's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, all designed to foster a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive community for staff and students.

Explore the Faculty's initiatives
unimelb and indigenous flags in a bush setting

Indigenous

We acknowledge and celebrate Indigenous cultures, working to increase Indigenous representation, integrate Indigenous knowledge into our curriculum, and create a supportive environment for Indigenous students and staff.

Explore Indigenous resources
Pride flag

LGBTIQA+

We celebrate LGBTQIA+ diversity, offering support services, inclusive policies, and events that foster a welcoming environment for all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Explore LGBTIQA+ resources

Diversity and Inclusion Podcast

Launched in December 2024 and hosted by Research Fellow Dr Alys Mendus the Diversity and Inclusion Podcast aims to give space for the many different voices within the faculty, including staff and students, sharing their thoughts and experiences on different aspects of Diversity and Inclusion.

Listen now

News and events

Associate Professor Lisa McKay-Brown
Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion

Welcome

Diversity and inclusion are a core values at the Faculty of Education (FoE). We are committed to fostering a culture where all people are valued, respected, and recognised for their unique talents and perspectives and where staff, students, visitors, research partners and the children/youth we teach, feel safe and included. The FoE is dedicated to leading and supporting behaviours and practices that celebrate diversity and enable inclusion across all domains of our work. We seek to live our values and model best practice approaches to inclusion to our university and wider community, promoting equality and social justice in education.

As an educational institution and an education faculty we must actively address structural inequalities and oppressions that have produced exclusionary practices and cultures, and embrace inclusive education which is considered a universal human right enshrined in Sustainable Development Goal 4.

This website celebrates our diverse backgrounds and perspectives as we share activities and stories that illustrate our lived experiences of diversity and inclusion.

In my role as Associate Dean Diversity and Inclusion I am privileged to work with the Diversity and Inclusion Committee who represent academic and professional staff as well as graduate research and coursework students. Together these voices have created our faculty action plan which demonstrates our commitment to equity and non-discrimination for all.

Faculty of Education Diversity and Inclusion Committee

The Faculty of Education Diversity and Inclusion Committee is made up of individuals across the Faculty of Education and has representation from professional and academic staff, postgraduate students, early career researchers and senior leadership.

The committee formed to enable an open, fair and inclusive work place that reflects our diverse community and where people feel they belong, are valued, and can fulfil their potential. We do this through focused work to develop diversity and inclusion initiatives for faculty alongside strategic plans, informed by research, benchmarking and consultation.

We are guided by the University’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2030, our commitment to the Athena Swan Charter, and the Joint Vision and Strategic Framework for Enhanced Gender Balance and Gender Equity Amongst Academics.