Everyone deserves to feel accepted and included within the community. A strong community is one that encourages, welcomes and embraces one another. It is about empowering people by respecting and appreciating individual differences.

The Building Inclusive Communities Program Day was an informative, yet challenging session which explored diversity and inclusion and how they can be embraced within society, the workplace and in the community.

Diversity and inclusion are complementary terms that depend on each other. Diversity is the characteristics, experiences, and other distinctions that make one person different from another. Whilst inclusion means creating an environment where people, regardless of surface or hidden level differences, feel welcome, supported and valued.

Teresa Lombardo, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant explored the concept of privilege and power with us, how it is used and how it is invisible to those who have it. This in many cases triggered feelings of emotion and guilt.

We took time to think and reflect on our own social identities and where we hold privilege and how privilege can be leveraged for positive change. As leaders how do we shift the conversation around privilege to make it productive and inclusive, allowing us to use our privilege as a superpower to make a difference?

Embracing diversity and inclusion requires more than including it as an item on the meeting agenda. The steps to integrate diversity and inclusion and achieve real results takes awareness, acceptance, strategy and continued action.

Some may think, I am only one person, who is going to listen to me and what can I do. So let’s flip the conversation – as leaders in the community, use your voice and make a difference, use your superpower of privilege to drive change.

Creating inclusion for all has the power to strengthen lives, change lives and sometimes even save lives.

A special thank you to our passionate presenters, for sharing their knowledge and experiences:

• • Bridie West, NDIS Services Manager, Southern Stay
  • Teresa Lombardo, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant
  • Lyn Eales, Manager School and Community Team, SAFE in the South West, LGBTIQA+, Support and Connection, Brophy Family and Youth Services
  • Joel Willoughby, Alcohol and Other Drug Clinician, Western Region Alcohol and Drug Service Inc.
  • Jennifer Thomas, LGSC 2022 Alumni, Strategic Liaison, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation
  • Maree Wyse, Executive Manager, Tasty Plate

Jane Hinds, 2023 LGSC Program Participant