Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Framework 2022 - 2030
Professor Sharon Pickering, Vice-Chancellor and President
“Monash University seeks to create change by working with communities and as a community. Our new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Framework 2022 - 2030 will enable us to further advance a genuinely equitable, diverse and inclusive University.”
In 2022, Monash launched a new ambitious Framework to guide equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) practice at the University, aimed at advancing and celebrating the ‘Inclusive’ goal of Monash’s strategic plan, Impact 2030.
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Framework 2022 - 2030 builds on the successes of the inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Framework 2018 - 2021 and directly addresses its shortcomings. It is also truly reflective of the diversity of lived experiences in the Monash community.
The Framework is grounded in an intersectional lens. Monash seeks to address the transformative effects of compounding discrimination by examining the diverse realities of the Monash community. It also reflects a whole-of-institution approach to EDI where every member of the Monash community has a role to play in creating a safe, supportive and welcoming University.
We acknowledge that individuals have many facets that make up their identity and that if we focus on ending disadvantage through only one lens, we will miss the transformative nature of compounding discrimination. Accordingly, in our EDI practice, we seek to consistently apply an intersectional lens.
Our focus is on caring for and supporting members of our community through understanding the diversity of individuals’ lived experiences. It means not taking a one-size-fits-all approach, and instead ensuring we work meaningfully with many different people to capture the diverse realities of our communities' experiences.
Every member of the Monash community, whether they be staff, students or other partners and collaborators, values their role in progressing EDI, no matter where in the world they are.
We do not have all the answers, nor do we know with certainty that each initiative or action will be effective. We create extensive and evolving standards for monitoring and evaluating our new Framework and practices to ensure we remain dynamic and contemporary.
What we are working towards
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Strong collaborative partnerships across the UniversityView
Staff and students work in partnership on EDI across all Monash locations. There is also an online and physical one-stop shop for EDI practice at the University. The space would provide the community with support and advice, and ensure they are listened to and heard.
“I would like to see Monash provide more spaces where we can come together and learn from each other and learn about the different people that make up the Monash community.” - Student Vox Pop at EDI Week Hub, September 2022
Monash is known as a place of work and study that is equitable, diverse and inclusive because every member of the community feels respected, and supported and has a sense of belonging. Members of the Monash community also access educational opportunities to further EDI and feel confident calling out harmful behaviours and reporting negative experiences to Monash because the University responds swiftly and with care.
“We want all students and staff to be educated on EDI and do tangible things that demonstrate that they have that education. Not just writing a paper or going to a seminar, but doing things that show they're actively changing and contributing to our society.” - Design Workshops, March 2022
A diverse community at all levels of the organisationView
Our campus communities are representatives of broader society through active steps taken by Monash. Each individual feels represented and that their voice is valued. Their lived experiences are amplified, celebrated and used to teach and lead the community. Other members of our community seek to understand the lived realities of privilege and disadvantage from their colleagues, peers and the wider community.
“As a queer woman, it's hard to break into spaces of leadership. Seeing myself reflected in that leadership and in the community is really important.” - Anonymous Feedback at EDI Week Hub, September 2022
An ongoing process exists to identify and dismantle barriers through structural change. Monash attracts staff and students who share the inclusive goals of the University. As an institution, we are honest and transparent with our limitations, particularly since our organisation is based on white patriarchal history. Monash is committed to using our institutional power to advocate for change alongside marginalised identities. Our policies, procedures and spaces are reviewed with an intersectional lens to address barriers to access and inclusion.
“We don’t want to just take a temporary Band-Aid approach, as we truly want to fix and heal these broken systems.” - Design Workshops, March 2022
Enhanced intersectional data, reporting and evaluationView
Monash has a comprehensive understanding of the diversity of staff and student profiles. A university climate survey is run regularly to capture meaningful data and track our progress, and we are responsive to this data by targeting our future actions accordingly. Monash is committed to a cycle of ever-evolving practice that is underpinned by life experience and storytelling. The University reports annually to the community and beyond on our actions and progress.
“We want to instead look at kindness, happiness and belonging as indicators of success. When we are hitting these indicators and at the point of embodying this every day, this is like going from the heart to the head to the hand.” - Design Workshops, March 2022
How we will actualise the Framework
Our ambitious Framework will be actualised through tangible and pragmatic actions. This will involve generating a plan of action and accountabilities that will enable, monitor and evaluate our progress. This plan will be refreshed every three years to ensure we remain dynamic and iterative.
This will be supported by local or specific plans which uphold the principles and further the goals of the EDI Framework 2022 - 2030, including campus-specific action plans at Monash University Malaysia and Monash University Indonesia, and Internal Faculty and Portfolio-led action plans.
“We're looking at ways to measure and build a shared vision [so] we have to make sure that this is embedded in every element of our core business in some way.” - Design Workshops, March 2022
Our visual identity for EDI
Our Framework has come alive through a new visual identity for EDI, developed by three Monash students. Together, they developed the central fingerprint motif, for its universal representation of humanity.
“Like people, fingerprints are unique, illustrating varying backgrounds, cultures and languages. Using the principles in the new Framework to inform our design work, we also ensured it was people-centred, abstract and iterative. We reached this resolution through collaborative research, exploring materials and concept discussions (plus a lot of butchers paper)."
"The new identity combines hand-painted watercolours with digital illustrations, creating contrast between the smooth gradients and the rough paper textures. Utilising a colour palette sourced from the lands of First Nations Peoples, we wanted the new identity to be derivative of the Australian environment. Our new visual identity celebrates diversity and the differences that make us unique, whether that’s our cultural background, sexuality or our fingerprints.”
Created by our student designers: Hilary, Jacob and Ruby.
