Message from the Associate Dean Diversity and Inclusion
Welcome to the Faculty of Arts' Diversity and Inclusion website.

The Faculty of Arts is committed to fostering a community where everyone has the opportunity to participate fully and thrive. We value and embrace the diversity of our students and staff, and believe an inclusive and diverse academic community is vital for research and teaching excellence. As your Associate Dean Diversity and Inclusion, I do my best to work with and alongside you to build a collegial environment where people feel respected as members of the community, which can only strengthen our standing as an academic institution and enhance our contributions to society.
Collaborating closely with Associate Dean Indigenous is a key part of my role. The Faculty's Indigenous Strategy outlines our commitment to valuing and supporting Indigenous students and staff, and promoting Indigenous research and mutually beneficial collaborations.
On this website you will find information on Faculty Diversity and Inclusion initiatives and events, as well as available supports and resources.
Associate Professor Ikuko Nakane
Associate Dean Diversity and Inclusion
*Note: Associate Professor Kalissa Alexeyeff is Associate Dean Diversity and Inclusion during July - December 2023 while Associate Professor Ikuko Nakane is participating in special studies programs (SSP).
Fostering a dynamic, diverse and
inclusive community
The Faculty of Arts is committed to achieving our full potential by working together to support diverse groups and have a number of networks and programs to support our equity, diversity and inclusion priorities and objectives.
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Indigenous strategy
The Faculty of Arts is committed to benefitting the peoples, cultures and economies of Melbourne, Australia, the Region and the world.
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Faculty of Arts strategy map 2019-2025
The Faculty of Arts Strategy Map commits to diversity and inclusion as one of our core values. We work to create and sustain a positive, inclusive and welcoming culture in which diversity is celebrated and all students and staff are respected and valued.
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Diversity and inclusion at Melbourne
The University of Melbourne aspires to be a place where all people are valued and respected, have equal access to opportunities and are encouraged to fulfil their talents and potential.
News and initiatives
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Diversity calendar
Throughout the year around the world people come together in recognition, commemoration and celebration of significant national and international dates.
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Diversity & Inclusion Small Grants Program
A small grants program to support staff and students who are interested in hosting or coordinating events that further the vision of the Faculty.
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Webinar series
Through speaker addresses, interactive workshops, panel discussions, and more, the series is designed to encourage engagement with issues relating to diversity and inclusion at the University and beyond.
Resources and support
There are a range of resources, groups, and services, both within the University and with external organisations, that may assist underrepresented and marginalised communities and their allies.
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Indigenous resources
University Resources
- Murrup Barak: Supports Indigenous students at the University through a range of academic and employment services and events.
- Indigenous Knowledge Institute: Interdisciplinary research institute aiming to advance research and education in Indigenous knowledge systems.
- Research Unit for Indigenous Languages: Works with Indigenous communities across Australia and the region to expand and strengthen Indigenous language research, and to support efforts by communities to maintain their linguistic and cultural heritage.
- The Australian Centre: Runs the Critical Public Conversations Series and the Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Program in Indigenous Settler Relations.
- Faculty of Arts Indigenous Postdoctoral Fellowship: A four-year fellowship awarded to an Indigenous Australian researcher who has recently completed or close to completing a PhD.
- Indigenous Bursaries: Several bursaries for Indigenous students are offered by the University.
External Resources
- Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation: Provides a range of services including consultations, awareness training, research, cultural practices for events, and natural resource management.
- Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association: State-wide agency providing advice to government on a range of community development issues, and provider of extensive services to the Aboriginal community.
- First Peoples - State Relations Victoria: Group within the Department of Premier and Cabinet responsible for nation-leading work in the ares of cultural rights, self-determination, treaty and truth.
- Yoorrook Justice Commission: Investigates historical and ongoing injustices against First Peoples in Victoria since colonisation. It will establish an official record of the impact of colonisation on First Peoples in Victoria, and make recommendations for practical actions and reform.
- First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria: The independent and democratically elected body to represent Traditional Owners of Country and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria.
- The Uluru Statement: Calls for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution and a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth-telling between governments and First Nations peoples.
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Anti-racism and cultural and linguistic diversity
University Resources
- UMSU People of Colour Department: Promotes welfare, provides a safe space, and fights against racism on campus.
- UMSU BIPOC Grants Program: Grants supporting students of colour to plan and deliver a project that benefits other students in their academic cohort or wider student community.
- Anti-Racism Hallmark Research Initiative: Undertakes and disseminates solutions-focused anti-racism research and interventions to combat racism at both the interpersonal and structural levels.
- Research Unit for Multilingualism & Cross-cultural Communication: Conducts research in Australian and international contexts in fields including bi- and multilingualism, language demography, and inter-cultural communication.
External Resources
- Racism. It stops with me: National campaign providing tools and resources to help people and organisations learn about racism and stand against it by acting for positive change.
- Diversity Council Australia: Provides information, leading practices, case studies, readings, and additional resources on cultural diversity.
- Victorian Multicultural Commission: Provides support and advocacy for culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians.
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Disability
University Resources
- Student Equity and Disability Support Services: Information on types of support available to students with disabilities.
- UMSU Disabilities Department: Provides a space for students living with or experiencing a disability.
- Melbourne Disability Institute: Facilitates interdisciplinary research to build the evidence-base needed to guide social and disability policy reforms, and to advance opportunity and equity for people with disability, their families and carers.
- Accessibility Guides: Web accessibility guides for students and staff.
External Resources
- People with Disability Australia: National disability rights, advocacy and representative organisation made up of, led and governed by people with disability.
- Scope Australia: Disability service provider offering a range of services from therapy to accommodation support, communication support, and research.
- Australian Network on Disability: National not-for-profit that helps organisations engage with people with disability.
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Gender equality
University Resources
- UMSU Women's Department: Advocates for and supports women and non-binary students on campus.
- Strong Women: Promotes the inclusion of women at Melbourne University Sport across all levels of participation.
- Athena Swan Program: An accreditation process that explores the state of gender equity at the University, followed by the development and delivery of a 4-year action plan to address opportunities and challenges. The University received the Athena Swan Bronze Award in 2020.
External Resources
- Gender Equity Victoria: Peak body for gender equity, women's health, and the prevention of violence against women.
- Safe and Strong, Victorian Gender Equality Strategy: Victorian Government strategy to prevent violence against women through gender equality.
- Chief Executive Women Australia: Advocates and engages with government and business to achieve gender balance and equal opportunity for women.
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LGBTQIA+
University Resources
- Pride in Action Ally Network: Aims to bring together LGBTQIA+ identifying staff and students, along with their allies, to share information and foster an inclusive workplace and learning environment.
- Queering the Curriculum Resource: An evolving resource providing relevant theoretical and practical resources to aid staff in their practice of teaching with respect for gender and sexuality.
- UMSU Queer Department: Advocates for and supports queer communities on campus.
- Pride in Sport: Aims to provide a safe place for LGBTQIA+ identifying people to participate in sport.
External Resources
- Rainbow Door: Free specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family (Runs 10am-5pm, 7 days p/week. Phone: 1800 729 367).
- QLife: National service providing anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people in Australia (Runs 3pm-midnight, 7 days p/week. Phone: 1800 184 527).
- Black Rainbow: National Indigenous owned and operated organisation supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBQTI+SB people.
- Transgender Victoria: Victoria's leading body for trans and gender diverse people, working to achieve justice, equity and inclusion.
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Support services
University support services
- Safer Community Program: Provides support and advice to members of the University community about inappropriate, concerning or threatening behaviour.
- Counselling & Psychological Services (CAPS): Provides free, confidential, short-term professional counselling to students and staff, as well as a range of workshops, mental health training, and helpful resources.
- Student Equity & Disability Support: Provides supports for students who need ongoing assistance with their studies.
- Financial Aid: Provides information and advice about budgeting, managing debt and Centrelink payments, and can help students access assistance during times of financial hardship.
- UMSU Advocacy: Free and confidential advocacy service for graduate, undergraduate, domestic, and international students.
- International Graduate Student Wellbeing Group: Supports graduate international students to look after their health and wellbeing.
- External support services: Lists recommended external support services for mental health emergencies, including suicide and crisis support.
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Diversity and inclusion related policies
- Student Charter: Sets out the key principles underpinning the partnership between students and the University.
- Appropriate Workplace Behaviour Policy: Sets out the standards, values, and expectations for appropriate behaviour in the workplace.
- Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Policy: Sets out the University's commitment to preventing sexual misconduct in all its forms, including information on how disclosures can be made and complaints will be managed.
- Flexible Work Arrangements Procedure: Aims to assist the University to meet its obligation to provide a learning and working environment free from unlawful discrimination.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Policy: Sets out the University's responsibilities for managing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage.
- Gender Affirmation Policy: Sets out the University's support for staff and students in affirming their gender identities.
Report an incident or issue
For students
- Student complaints and grievances: Processes and procedures required to raise or escalate a student complaint or grievance, including the reporting of sexual misconduct.
- Raise a concern or issue: How to raise a concern or issue, and the processes, policies and services available at the University to help you seek a resolution.
For students & staff
- Anonymous reporting: Provide information anonymously about inappropriate behaviour experienced or witnessed whilst at the University.
- Inappropriate workplace behaviour line: Confidential reporting service providing a channel for employees and students to report inappropriate employee behaviour: unlawful discrimination; sexual harassment; harassment; sexual assault; bullying; stalking; victimisation, or vilification (Phone: 1800 685 463).
Diversity and inclusion committee members
There are Diversity and Inclusion committee representatives across all Schools and Institutes in the Faculty.
Committee members:
- Associate Professor Kalissa Alexeyeff (Chair, July - December 2023)
- Dr Sheelagh Daniels-Mayes (Deputy Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion)
- Dr CQ Quinan and Dr Benjamin Gook (representatives, School of Culture and Communication)
- Associate Professor Dana Goswick (representative, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies)
- Professor Keith McVilly, Dr Lutfun Nahar Lata, and Associate Professor Juliet Rogers (representatives, School of Social and Political Sciences)
- Dr Ken Setiawan (representative, Asia Institute)
- Associate Professor Mara Favoretto, Dr Ruth Singer, Dr Tess Do, and Ms Melissa Bruorton (representatives, School of Languages and Linguistics)
- Professor Claire Maree (representative, Queering the Curriculum Advisory group)
- Ms Jennifer Warszewski (representative, Human Resources and Professional Staff)
- Ms Kathy Graham (representative, Academic Support Office and Professional Staff)
- Ms Melissa Obeyesekere (Committee Executive Officer, Office of the Dean)
Contact
For more information about diversity and inclusion at the Faculty of Arts, please e-mail the Committee Chair.
- Associate Dean Diversity and Inclusion
- Associate Professor Kalissa Alexeyeff (July - December 2023)
- arts-diversityandinclusion@unimelb.edu.au