The Advantages of a Culturally
Diverse Workforce
Dr Peter Streker
Victorian Health Promotion Foundation
Why does VicHealth
focus on this?
•Victoria is more culturally diverse than
ever
•Good health starts where we work,
live and play
•Racial discrimination can damage
health and opportunities for wellbeing
•Cultural diversity brings real benefits
Guiding framework
Key contributing factors
Individual
Organisational
Community
Societal
Themes for action
Actions to reduce discrimination and support diversity
Settings for action
Intermediate outcomes
Individual
Organisational
Community
Societal
Long term benefits
Individual
Organisational
Community
Societal
The Research
Almost 1 in 5 Australians has experienced race-based
discrimination in the workplace.
Systemic race-based discrimination in the workplace occurs
through avoidable and unfair differences in
• recruitment and promotion
• selection and interviewing
• job allocation
• performance evaluation
• training
• remuneration
• dismissal
Trenerry, Franklin & Paradies (2012)
The financial costs of discrimination
• Resolving serious discrimination and
harassment grievances through formal
processes approx $55,000 per case.
(NSW Dept of Premier & Cabinet )
• Approx 70% of workers exposed to violence,
harassment and discrimination take time off
work
Physical & mental health benefits
• Strong evidence that RBD leads to
– higher rates of ill health, especially mental health and
wellbeing problems such as anxiety, depression, stress and
poor quality of life.
– People reporting RBD more likely to be overweight or
obese and engage in behaviours that cause poor health
[e.g. smoking]
• Productivity Commission found - mental health and
nervous conditions, have largest impact on increasing
workforce participation when addressed.
Innovation & Problem Solving
If diversity is well managed:
• enhanced creativity, flexibility and problem
solving skills.
• More effective at working with culturally distinct
clients & colleagues
Adler & Gunderson (2008)
More than reducing race-based discrimination
Supporting cultural diversity means respecting
the different ways of living and valuing diversity
as an asset.
Maximising benefits from cultural diversity:
1. Explicitly commit to racial equality and antidiscrimination in mission, values, goals,
policies etc
2. Ensure job advertisements and application
information accessible to people from
diverse cultural backgrounds
3. Specific policies and procedures for
responding to RBD - include clear examples
of unacceptable practices behaviours.
Creating a Wave of Action
through Partnerships
The Wave of Research
1. Research:
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Bystander
Effects on Children
Benefits of Cultural Diversity
Socialisation & racism
Costs of racism
Cyber-racism
Experiences of racism
Community Trials
2. Local Government:
• LEAD
• Municipal Association of Victoria
3. Arts
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Arts About Us
Social Connections
Indigenous Arts program
Community Trials
4. Sports
• Bystander & FFV
• Everyone Wins
5. Workplace
• Creating Healthy Workplaces –
VEOHRC & AMES
• Australian Human Rights
Commission & Diversity Council
of Australia audit trial
Multi-layered Communications
6. Communications
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Evidence Reviews
Summaries
Media campaigns
Arts performances
Social Media
Multi-layered Communications
7.
8.
9.
10.
Evaluations
Tools & Guides
Training courses
Workshops & Forums
For further information, go to
www.vichealth.vic.gov.au