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Thursday, 21 March 2013

A campus where 80 different languages are spoken by staff and students - and where more than 20 per cent of staff are from culturally diverse backgrounds - is well down the track in preparing for the ‘Asian century'.

On today's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, The University of Western Australia is launching its new Action Plan for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Staff (CALD).

As one of more than 100 organisations around Australia to mark the Australian Human Rights Commission event, UWA has planned ‘Harmony Day' to affirm and celebrate its cultural, linguistic and religious diversity.

The CALD action plan - first implemented in Australia by Melbourne's Deakin University last year - aims to help all UWA  staff reach their full potential no matter their race, first language or religion, and will unite different cultural competence programs on campus.

An independent evaluation of UWA's ‘Courageous Conversations about Race' initiative is currently being developed will be completed later this year.  The ground-breaking ‘Courageous Conversations' series - in its fifth year - joins the University's Cultural Diversity Inclusive Practice Toolkit, interfaith calendar and the Language and Cultural Exchange (LACE), in promoting intercultural friendship.  And Aspire UWA and Fairway UWA contribute to campus diversity by encouraging students who would not normally consider university as an option.

Malcolm Fialho, Senior Diversity Officer at UWA, said the UWA staff and student population reflects the findings of the 2011 WA census which found that WA is Australia's most culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse State.

By supporting its diverse student body and workforce, UWA provides an international benchmark for standards in teaching and learning and international engagement - and continues to be regarded as an Employer of Choice with inclusive employment practices that enable everyone to participate fully in the workplace.

Media references

Malcolm Fialho (UWA Senior Diversity Officer)  (+61 8)  6488 2252
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783

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