Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2023 - 2025
Acknowledgement of Country
In the spirit of reconciliation Housing Choices WA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Noongar boodja (land) where we are based. We acknowledge their connections to land, sea and community and pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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Meet the Artist
Jay Downey is a Housing Choices WA tenant in our Independent Living Program for people experiencing severe and persistent mental health challenges. Art has been part of Jay's life since he was young and his passion has grown over the years, currently visiting disability art association DADAA four times a week.
Jay has struggled with his mental health in the past and sites his relationship with art being incredibly beneficial for his wellbeing. "My art helps calm me down mentally and engages the fullness of my mind while doing it. I really think that art is a big part of keeping me well and keeping me out of hospital", said Jay.
In 2022 Jay's artwork won the People's Choice Award at our Tenant Art Showcase and his work has also featured as a shop front installation in Perth.
About the Artwork
Picasso's Faces #2
Jay's artwork is inspired by Picasso's cubist style and invites us to discover hidden faces within faces, which Jay sees as a reflection of both our public image and our true selves. All of the portraits are interconnected but each one is also unique. This represents how diverse we all are while celebrating our shared human connection. Experimenting with art mediums is common for Jay and this work incorporates acrylic markers, spray paint, stencils, and airbrushing. Jay displayed this piece at our 2023 Tenant Art Showcase and the organisation purchased the original and the license as a celebration of diversity and inclusion.
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Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2023-2025
Introduction
Housing Choices WA is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive service that is respectful of cultural and other differences, ensuring equal opportunity in the provision of services to our tenants, families, and the community. We implemented a policy in 2022 to ensure that there is a shared understanding amongst all employees of this commitment and our zero tolerance of discrimination towards people accessing our services based on:
Disability
Sex or sexual orientation
Age
Gender identity
Religion or belief
Race or cultural background
Marriage or civil partnership
The policy included a commitment to developing a strategy to ensure the following key principles are embedded within the organisation:
everyone is welcome and treated with respect. we operate free from judgement and discrimination. we promote choice and support independence and dignity. we believe diversity of background brings richness. where there are barriers, we work to provide equality of opportunity.
In late 2022, we convened a Diversity and Inclusion Committee to develop a strategy that addresses our weaknesses and build on our strengths to ensure we have a structured, collaborative approach to living the principles that are in our policy.
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Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2023-2025
Preamble
We recognise that addressing diversity and inclusion is a complex, and often contested space. Our aim with this strategy is to take a considered and respectful approach to inclusion to acknowledge diversity without judgement but also address discrimination which may arise because of differences in belief, race, age, sex, sexuality, or disability. We also acknowledge the intersectionality of inclusion in the work we do. The Diversity and Inclusion Policy will sit alongside and compliment the work of our Reconciliation Action Plan, Disability Action Plan and other policies and strategies which address inclusion in our services across the organisation. Our commitment to inclusion and diversity includes raising awareness around contemporary inclusion issues that impact our tenants. However, we must acknowledge the importance of doing so in a way which does not exclude or vilify people receiving our services who have different beliefs or singles out diverse groups to the extent in which we decrease inclusivity.
The Strategy
This Strategy has key objectives to address the principles underpinning our approach to diversity and inclusion. Within each objective, there will be WA state-based actions as well as actions that will form part of a national approach to Diversity and Inclusion. This is in accordance with our ‘think national, act local’ approach. The Strategy will be implemented in WA first and monitored by the WA Diversity and Inclusion Committee with the General Manager WA as the key strategic interface between the progress of the Strategy and a national roll out across operations. The Strategy will be reviewed quarterly at the Housing Services Leadership Group (HSLG) to ensure implementation is on track and that the identified actions are contributing to the principles.
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Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2023-2025
The objectives of the Strategy are: Objectives
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We will include, value and celebrate people of all backgrounds, cultures, sex, sexuality and ability. In doing so, we will source experts to guide our practice.
We will provide a service that is free from judgement and discrimination and an environment that fosters fairness, equity and respect for diversity in all its forms.
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We will work to eliminate barriers to social and economic inclusion in housing, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from CALD backgrounds, people with mental health issues and people with disabilities.
We will continue to be reflective in our practice and implement key strategies to ensure our services are aligned with diversity and inclusion.
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The Strategy
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Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2023-2025
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Objective
Action
We will include, value, and celebrate people of all backgrounds, cultures, sex, sexuality, and ability. In doing so, we will source experts to guide our practice.
Explore opportunities to engage in diversity conversations formally and informally with staff, tenants and other organisations.
Incorporate the voices of diverse people into our staff engagement activities.
Develop an events calendar of inclusion days to promote and support diversity.
Develop a Charter of our commitment to inclusion.
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Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2023-2025
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Objective
Action
We will provide a service that is free from judgement and discrimination and an environment that fosters fairness, equity, and respect for diversity in all its forms.
Implement LGBTQIA+ inclusive service standards based on current best practice.
Improve data collection systems and practices to better record and respond to the diverse needs of our tenants.
Review accessibility of our communications including web based platforms.
Schedule annual diversity training sessions for staff including training on the operational impacts of this strategy and support managers to champion inclusion in their teams.
Imbed ways to encourage tenants to tell us information that would assist us in providing a better and more inclusive service.
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Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2023-2025
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Objective
Action
We will work to eliminate barriers to social and economic inclusion in housing, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from CALD backgrounds, people with
Form partnerships with organisations that provide services to our diverse tenant cohort.
Ensure we have an easily accessible translator service, and all staff are accessing it appropriately.
mental health issues and people with disabilities.
Ensure staff are aware of core services available in the community that can assist people from diverse backgrounds.
Explore ways we can make our services more flexible to eliminate barriers and accommodate differences where appropriate.
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Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2023-2025
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Objective
Action
We will continue to be reflective in our practice and implement key strategies to ensure our services are aligned with diversity and inclusion.
Review the strategy quarterly with internal and external stakeholders to ensure implementation is on track and the actions are addressing our objectives effectively.
Report on outcomes to our Board and through the Annual Report.
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Perth Metro Office Level 7, 25 Rowe Avenue Rivervale WA 6103 PO Box 105 Burswood WA 6100 P (08) 9430 0900
Peel Office 4 Stevenson Street PO Box 1200 Mandurah WA 6210 P (08) 9534 0400
South West Office 1st Floor, 25 Victoria Street PO Box 1539
Bunbury WA 6230 P (08) 9722 7200
info-wa@hcau.org.au housingchoices.org.au facebook.com/HChoicesWA
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