Mean Field Weighted Citation Impact of Monash Outputs: 1.31
Number of Monash Research Outputs: 275
The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law at Monash is a world-renowned academic centre using its human rights expertise to create a more just world where human rights are protected, allowing people to pursue their lives in freedom and with dignity. The Centre has spent over 20 years promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. Drawing upon extensive academic expertise and a committed local and international network, the Castan Centre has exemplified what it means to be a force for good at Monash.
The Monash Migration and Inclusion Centre (MMIC) takes an interdisciplinary, evidence based approach to understanding migration and social, economic and cultural inclusion. The 2021 Scanlon Social Cohesion Report, including the Scanlon-Monash Index (SMI) of social cohesion, revealed significant increases in Australians’ agreement with the proposition that ‘multiculturalism has been good for Australia’. Indeed 86% of the survey participants agreed with this statement. Yet this report also uncovered that a sizeable minority of those born overseas continue to experience ethno-racial discrimination.
In 2021, 210 units directly related to SDG10 were offered across Monash University, with a total enrolment of 9,785 students.
The units highlighted below are a small sample of the units at Monash relating to reduced inequalities:
Monash University is committed to supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds and tracks commencing rates, retention and success rates by equity group.

Monash is committed to the protection of human rights through the promotion of equal rights and opportunities. Human rights scholarship is included within a broad range of courses including: Human rights majors in Arts; Managing diversity and inclusion; Bachelor of Global Studies; Human rights, law and ethics contexts for social work practice; and the Master of Human Rights Law.
The William Cooper Institute and the Monash Business School jointly offer a new Master of Indigenous Business Leadership – a transformational leadership program for Indigenous Australians designed to strengthen Australia’s Indigenous workforce in public, private and community sectors. The program is Australia’s first Indigenous-led business master’s program, co-designed by Indigenous business leaders, Elders and business school academics to directly address the diversity gap in senior-level corporate Australia.
The Master of Indigenous Business Leadership is a cross-disciplinary program with leading units delivered through the Faculty of Business, complemented by a tailored offering in design thinking and mastery units from Law, Public Health and Public Policy. Senior Lecturer Katrina Mohamed and her team were awarded the Australian Business Deans Council Award for Innovation and Excellence in Learning and Teaching in 2022, recognising the excellence of this masters program.
Inclusive teaching helps all students succeed at university. Monash has developed a toolkit to guide our staff to teach inclusively in the Library, which may apply in broader learning and teaching contexts.
The widely-reported Scanlon-Monash Index of Social Cohesion (SMI) shows how Australia ranks according to five key indicators of social cohesion – belonging, worth, social justice, participation and acceptance – and tracks how they have been changing over time.
2021 saw the fourteenth iteration of the survey, with a new addition – providing for the first time in Australia a series of detailed surveys on social cohesion and population issues, generating the Australian Cohesion Index (ACI). As always, the report includes in-depth discussion of public opinion on social cohesion, trust, immigration, asylum seekers, and ethnic, cultural and religious diversity.
The William Cooper Institute (WCI) provides University-wide support to prospective and existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, coordinates key Indigenous programs, activities and initiatives, and engages in shaping policy and practices across Monash and beyond. WCI connects research, learning and engagement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities across and within the University through the establishment of a ‘hub-and-spoke’ model of Indigenous leadership and participation. It also oversees the development of targeted strategies to increase the participation of Indigenous students across the country, implements comprehensive engagement programs with secondary schools, and strengthens connections with Indigenous community-controlled organisations, to build greater awareness of the University’s educational offerings, pathways, entry schemes, scholarships and support programs.
To mark the 2021 National Close the Gap day on 18 March, WCI hosted a live Zoom discussion to reflect on how Monash and other organisations can effectively respond to Indigenous Communities voices in meaningful and culturally respectful ways. Monash hosted Indigenous students from other universities for events and activities during National Reconciliation week 2021. The Indigenous Traineeship Program continued in 2021 for new trainees commencing their graduate certificate-level qualification. The two-year program provides trainees with structured rotations across the University, with a view to secure ongoing positions for participants at the completion of the traineeship.
Monash is working with Inclusive Australia, a growing alliance of organisations and high profile ambassadors, to make exclusion and discrimination a thing of the past. In 2021, the Monash team released the fifth edition of the 2020-21 Social Inclusion Index Report, which measures social inclusion as a whole and captures numerous different groups and their experiences in one place. Inclusive Australia provides a collection of informational resources to support behaviour change towards inclusivity, and keeps readers abreast of news of inclusivity within Australia.
A digital grant clinic is the space you come to if you want tailored feedback from grant advisors about your funding applications for the Victorian Government’s Multicultural Communications Outreach Program (MCOP). This program is a joint initiative between Monash University's Action Lab and Monash Intercultural Lab. It is aimed at local organisations and individuals who want to support multicultural communities through digital and social media activities. An experienced team of digital innovation researchers work with applicants in short online sessions to strengthen grant proposals and make them more competitive. The grant clinics’ feedback focuses on different areas according to applicant needs.
The Monash Intercultural Lab (MIL) works to ensure students and staff have the intercultural skills to thrive in globalised workplaces and communities. Monash University is committed to ensuring that intercultural competence is a hallmark of a Monash education.
Monash Arts celebrated Social Sciences Week with free to the public panels and events. Topics covered included the impacts of COVID-19 on gender based violence and young people's lives, through to the challenges in sustainable business practices and how social scientists can help to change our world for the better. Each event was recorded and is available to watch back.
We're proud to be a leader in social justice and inclusion. As a progressive and socially responsible institution, we're continually working to better ourselves and ensure we provide an inclusive and safe environment for all students and staff. The Monash Diversity and Inclusion Framework draws together activities, programs and initiatives under one strategy.
In 2021, Monash University launched the new compulsory Indigenous Voices Program, comprising four modules designed to equip all students with an understanding of Indigenous knowledge, cultures and contemporary issues. The program fulfils the University’s commitment made in its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Framework to provide students with an opportunity to understand the rich and complex histories of the lands on which we study, work and live. It also acknowledges the First Nations peoples whose lands our campuses are on, and includes insights and experiences from First Nations students who study at Monash University, Indigenous academics and local Indigenous Elders.
The Indigenous Advisory Council was established in 2020 to provide advice on matters of state and national significance to Indigenous communities and higher education, and in relation to the priorities and achievements of Monash University’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Importantly, it will guide the work of the University’s William Cooper Institute through expertise and high-level strategic input.
In 2019, we launched the Monash Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Framework 2019–2030 which is helping to remove identified barriers to study and create clear pathway options for prospective Indigenous students. The Framework establishes our commitment to making a leading national and international contribution to Indigenous advancement over the next 12 years. Once realised in 2030, it will represent over 75 years of effort and achievements in Indigenous higher education in Australia.
The Ally Network at Monash promotes Monash as a safe and inclusive space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender-diverse, intersex, queer and questioning, asexual and aromantic, plus other related identities (LGBTIQA+) students and staff. In 2021, Respectful Communities launched a LGBTIQA+ Ally training program delivered in-house, including a specific program for students, facilitated by students. At the end of 2021, 1654 staff and students had completed training since the network began, with 1080 registered allies across our Australian campuses. A further 160 staff completed Queer Connect training specifically for supporting LGBTIQA+ students.
The Give Respect Art Competition gives all current student and staff an opportunity to contribute towards building a more respectful and equitable Monash community with their artwork. The Competition promotes these values at Monash. Submissions must be an original piece of art that could convince somebody to think more deeply about behaving respectfully. You can now view the 2021 exhibition catalogue.