Diversity and Inclusion
Learning and resources to develop cultural capability, accessibility, equality and inclusive practices.
A diverse workforce brings diversity of perspective, skills, experience and background. Diversity drives innovation, promotes understanding, and leads to better decisions and business outcomes.
To effectively serve a modern Australia and deliver outcomes for all Australians, the Australia Public Service needs to reflect the diversity of our nation, so it is best positioned to deliver policies and services that serve the community.
We promote inclusive workplace culture and practices, deep-rooted in respect for all people, including their rights, gender, age, heritage, cultural background, skills, experience, perspectives and beliefs.
Resources to support and grow cultural capability, disability awareness, age and gender equality, and guidance on accessible and inclusive workplace practices can be found below.
If your agency has resources to share on the Diversity and Inclusion page, please contact the APS Academy via the Contact Us webform.
Resources
Frameworks
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability Framework provides a basis for building the cultural capability of the Commonwealth public sector.
This Strategy talks about what the Australian Public Service (APS) and the Commonwealth public sector will do to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in APS workplaces. It includes actions for effective implementation in Commonwealth agencies.
This Strategy provides a foundation for building an inclusive and diverse Australian Public Service (APS). It includes detailed actions for effective implementation in Commonwealth agencies.
This Strategy presents a pathway to realise gender equality in our Australian Public Service (APS). It includes action areas for effective implementation in Commonwealth agencies.
Tools and templates
Six different posters on the dos and don’ts of designing for accessibility in the areas of: low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, dyslexia, motor disabilities, users on the autistic spectrum and users of screen readers.
The Vision Australia Accessibility Toolkit provides information to help you understand accessibility requirements and provides a range of resources to support you to create accessible and inclusive information, particularly for blindness and low vision.
The APS Learning Design Manual pulls together some practical principles, examples, useful links, and tools & templates to support designers throughout the learning design process.
The Learning Quality Framework is a principle-based model for assessing, building, procuring and delivering high quality, effective and innovative learning experiences.
Information on the four principles of WCAG, including tips on how to design web content to ensure that it is perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.
The APS Learning Quality Framework GovTEAMS site is for sharing case studies, examples, tools, templates and research to support inclusive design.
Accessibility is a mandatory standard for government agencies. Understand agency responsibilities and commitments and access guidance on designing accessible and inclusive content that is respectful of our diverse nation.
The colour contrast checker is a tool to test the contrast suitability of background colour and foreground text, to ensure your design colours meet the WCAG contrast ratio formula test.
The accessible colour palette builder is a tool to help you design accessible digital content in colour combinations that are suitable for people with visual impairments or colour vision deficiencies.
This APS Academy factsheet presents some helpful tips on improving the accessibility of your publications, for both print and reading online.
Find information on why accessibility is in the Digital Service Standard and how you can meet the Standard through applying accessibility principles in the Discovery, Alpha and Beta stages of design.
The guide provides practical guidance for people who run activities that target people with disability to design, plan, and deliver more inclusive processes, products, services and policies.
The FLOE Inclusive Learning Design Handbook is designed to assist in creating adaptable and personalised resources that can accommodate a diversity of learning preferences and individual needs. It offers guidance whether you are creating simple text-based resources, animations, applets, simulations or full production videos.
This draft guide developed by members of the Australian Public Service and community members provides tips on how to run inclusive and welcoming online workshops and meetings.
An award-winning Online Accessibility Toolkit developed by the South Australian Government. It provides best-practice guidelines, policies, resources and tools to support users in various job roles to ensure accessibility is considered in design.
A short video developed by the Government of South Australia on how (and why) the Online Accessibility Toolkit was created.
Step-by-step instructions and best practices for making your PowerPoint presentations accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
A checklist for designing, producing and procuring content that supports accessible quality learning and development in the APS. Included are links to information and free online tools that allow you to check content is compliant with the WCAG standards.
Courses
APS Academy Courses
During the course we will discuss what diversity and inclusion means in the APS, identify the legislation and policies you need to be aware of and consider how the APS demonstrates its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Core Cultural Learning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia is a foundational e-learning course on respecting and understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures for the Australian Public Service (APS).
This post-graduate microcredential course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to engage in gender analysis across various public policy fields.
The Cultural Capability Hub is a central repository of practical guidance and suggested resources to support staff to uplift their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural capability.
The Multicultural Organisation – Staff Awareness, Innovation and Capability (MOSAIC) digital learning magazine aims to enhance multicultural awareness in the APS.
This four-part workshop series, consisting of two themes, offers SES leaders a deep dive into unconscious bias for organisational change. Supported by follow-up workshops, SES leaders can share personal reflections and action plans.
If your agency has relevant resources that you wish to share on the APS Diversity and Inclusion page, please contact the APS Academy via the Contact Us webform.
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