Inclusive Communities

The ANU Strategic Plan 2021-2025 sets out the University's objective to become “a standard-bearer for equity and inclusion”. The Inclusive Communities team works as a part of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Portfolio and assists ANU in meeting this goal for the whole University community, including staff and students.

Inclusive Communities are responsible for coordinating the governance and strategies of the University’s inclusion and diversity activities through the following avenues:

Secretariat to the University’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Governance Framework, and its related groups, to ensure good governance and effective outputs.
Project management of ANU IDEA related strategic initiatives, identified by the Deputy-Vice Chancellor (Academic), to ensure timely and focused outputs.  
Background research and data analysis to enable evidence-based decision making.
Consultation and engagement activities in support of the development of University-wide plans relating to inclusion and diversity.
Coordination of University diversity and inclusion-related accreditations, such as: Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Athena SWAN and the Australian Breastfeeding Association Accreditation

Inclusive Communities champions a coordinated, strategic approach to pursuing the University’s equity and inclusion objectives by:

Collaborating closely with stakeholders across the University to help grow capacity for inclusion and diversity programs and initiatives.
Considering issues from intersectional perspectives – such as gender, disability, carer status, Indigenous, linguistic and cultural diversity, LGBTQIA+, and more – creating a holistic and multi-dimensional approach to matters of inclusion.
Promoting equity and inclusion topics and themes, and the important role they play within the university experience, throughout the university.
Promoting evidence-based decision making in relation to equity and diversity planning and development, and the adoption of best practice in wellbeing data collection and analysis.

At the ANU, we are deeply committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse environment where staff and students, regardless of their background, feel welcomed and respected. We believe that diversity enriches our work and learning experiences, promotes personal growth, and helps create a vibrant campus culture. Our commitment extends to ensuring equitable opportunities for all ANU community, students and staff, by acknowledging and celebrating the differences in culture, religion, and personal identity. The ANU strives to create spaces where open dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding can thrive, enabling everyone to contribute to the diversity of our academic community.

By being aware of the different cultural and religious events, the university can better support the diverse needs of its community, the following link from the Department of Home Affairs maintains an inclusive calendar of significant dates observed by the various communities in Australia. This calendar may serve as a reference to areas to raise awareness, offering support at the local level and ensuring that significant holidays and observances are respected and accommodated.

Governance

The Inclusive Communities team reports to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic).

Our Team

Inclusive Communities (functional account): inclusive.communities@anu.edu.au

Larissa Siliézar Mendoza, Head of Inclusive and Respectful Communities: Larissa.SiliezarMendoza@anu.edu.au

Alicia Saiz, Senior Project Officer: Alicia.Saiz@anu.edu.au

Susannah French, Administrative Officer: Susannah.French@anu.edu.au 

For staff contacts in the Respectful Relationships Unit, click here.

ANU Gender Equity Strategy

This is the Australian National University’s (ANU) first Gender Equity Strategy. It was led by Professor Fiona Jenkins, convenor of the Gender Institute. The Strategy was developed by the ANU Gender Equity Plan Taskforce which researched gender equity work and cultural change, reviewed good practice and undertook extensive consultation with our community. The Strategy was approved by the Senior Management Group (SMG) Committee in 2023.

The Strategy aims to provide coordinated guidance in relation to the promotion of gender equity and the reduction of gendered barriers at the University. It supports and enables Pillar 4 of the ANU Strategic Plan 2021-2025, helping our institution to become a standard bearer for equity and inclusion, and embodying our values of respect and inclusion. The Strategy is a major step towards achieving our strategic vision.

Following the Strategy’s approval, the Gender Equity Plan Taskforce presented a final report to the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Governance Committee with recommendations to facilitate the development of an effective implementation plan for 2024 and 2025. This implementation is now a part of the strategy and will require involvement from business areas around the University across four key areas culture and behaviour, leadership and governance, environment; and policy and systems.

Our community and our leaders understand that we have a lot of work to do in pursuit of gender equity for all within our institution. By working together, being transparent and accountable, using evidence and data, and reflecting often, we will take bold and important steps towards realising our values of being an inclusive and respectful institution which values diversity.

View the ANU Gender Equity Strategy.

Anti-Racism Taskforce Recommendations Report

After signing the Australian Human Rights Commission campaign entitled ‘Racism. It Stops With Me.’ In 2022, ANU established the Anti-Racism Taskforce led by Professor Sujatha Raman. The Taskforce conducted consultations and undertook research in relation to the prevention of and response to racism and racial discrimination in university spaces. The Taskforce then produced its Recommendations Report which sets out a three-phase implementation plan for ANU.

The Recommendation Report received swift and enthusiastic endorsement from Council in September 2023 and ANU has implemented the immediate and short-term actions in Phase 1 including providing information, support and a safe place for disclosing incidents of racism or discrimination on campus. The Harmful Behaviours webpage has been live since the commencement of Semester 1, and links to the expand disclosures form.

ANU is now on a path to implement longer-term actions in phases 2 and 3 of the Report which include improving data collection and widening both the participation of students and employing more staff from diverse backgrounds. The implementation of next phase and recommendations will be considered at the IDEA Governance Committee, and we will provide an update on progress through out 2024.

View the Anti-Racism Taskforce Recommendations Report.