Brought to you by the Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion, the Inclusion Festival (12-16 August) invites UTS staff and students to participate in a series of workshops, talks and activities on building an inclusive community. This week will offer up a diverse range of opportunities for us to connect and learn from each other, so we can collaboratively create a safe, respectful learning and work environment for all.

There’s a lot to explore and the majority is all happening on campus, so take a look at the full program of events and decide on what to attend using our theme-chunked guide of highlights below.

1. Anti-racism

Racism? NOT on our campus. The festival kicks off on Monday morning with Cultivating an anti-racist campus culture, where keynote speaker Giridharan Sivaraman will share his perspective on the higher education sector’s role in combating racism and will join a panel discussion on the role UTS is playing in driving anti-racism efforts. The following day, take the 3-hour training on Everyday Allyship.

2. Belonging

First impressions count, and students feeling welcome and included at the time of induction is crucial for setting them up for success in their studies. Join an interactive workshop run by the Business School’s Simone Faulkner and James Wakefield, where they will share best practices to combat isolation and improve engagement for students. Later in the week, combat ‘diversity fatigue’ in the panel discussion Perceptions of Belonging.

3. Digital accessibility

The LX Lab is hosting a couple of events that will guide you on where to begin with digital accessibility. Book in for Tuesday’s workshop on Assistive Technology (organised by UTS Accessibility Service) and Wednesday’s introduction to Microsoft Word’s accessibility checker (from the LX Lab Tooltime series) to be informed on designing accessible learning experiences so that everyone has the opportunity to succeed in their subject.

4. Gender equality

At UTS, 50% of our academics are women, but representation decreases with seniority. On Tuesday afternoon’s Supporting academic women to succeed event, a cross-faculty panel will identify intersectional challenges and highlight initiatives to reduce or remove barriers to career progression. Also, don’t miss Thursday’s panel session on Culturally and Racially Marginalised Women in Leadership.

5. Community activism

Spotlights on communities, and their activism and social impact, include a panel session from Pacific writers, musicians and artists on Monday afternoon. Running all week, We are Blacktown is an exhibition of immersive portraits of Blacktown community leaders and people working for change.

There’a plenty more to explore, from an assistance pet toileting area launch to a pronoun clinic to emphasise the importance of using correct pronouns, so make sure you check out the full list of events. See you on campus!

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