Championing and celebrating traditionally underrepresented demographics helps to create safe and inclusive environments. It builds a culture that supports students to maintain positive social relationships, and develop a sense of belonging within their peers, their university, and the community. Submissions in this category will be about education, support of inclusivity, and the celebration of diversity. Therefore, intervention programs will be considered part of the ‘Wellbeing and Support Program’ category rather than the EDI Category.
Underrepresented demographics include (but not limited to):
- Culturally & Linguistically Diverse / English as a Second Language
- LGBTQIA+
- Lower Socio-Economic Status
- Indigenous / First Nations
- People with Disabilities and Carers
- Other demographics (e.g. mature-age students/ non-school leavers)
An excellent EDI Initiative at its core will focus on uplifting others and celebrate inclusivity. It will raise awareness of the challenges experienced by those in our communities, foster allyship of related causes and build our cultural capacity to support and celebrate the differences of others. It will also foster enquiry, open communication, and safety, and may even provide a lifeline for those feeling excluded or struggling to understand their place in the world.
An initiative being submitted in this category can be a new initiative or a recurring one that has been held on or off-campus, or online. This award celebrates excellence in EDI initiatives and must have been actively run for students by a member campus during 2024/25.
Initiatives can include but are not limited to: social connection initiatives, advocacy programs, Disability Peer Support, resiliency education programs, diversity and inclusion plans, education and awareness training, mardi gras events, EDI specific cultural competency training for club execs, ally training, lower SES initiatives, events and inclusions, ESL support programs and events, Culture Festivals, International Night Markets, Indigenous Strategy initiatives, NAIDOC Week celebrations, etc