Diversity and Inclusion – helping to create a world where everyone is part of the conversation
Inclusion matters
As a copywriter, I know the power of words.
I know words have the power to make people feel welcomed, appreciated, and like they matter. I support inclusion and diversity and I won’t stand for anything less.
I’m fully aware of my privilege as an educated, white hetero woman who looks like a mild-mannered school mum, so I don’t stand out as a target for discrimination. My privilege means I can say that I generally don’t experience discrimination on the basis of my skin colour, my background, my sexuality, religion or beliefs.
Despite having taken on my husbands’ very obviously Arabic, Islamic surname, I haven’t experienced discrimination for that either.
But many, many others do experience discrimination and bias on a daily basis.
People that I know and love personally, and millions of others around the world.
And just because it hasn’t happened to me, doesn’t mean I won’t stand up and advocate for those who should be given a place at the table and whatever help I can give.
One small step I can take to help make the world a better place is to make my voice heard with this statement, and back that up with positive action.
If you have more than you need, build a bigger table – not a higher fence.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion
Everyone we come into contact with is welcomed and accepted as they are. Diversity in all it’s glorious shapes and forms makes the world a wonderful place to live. Every individual should feel a sense of belonging, welcome, and acceptance. The contributions, diverse talents and just being the wonderful humans they are is enough.
Diversity and inclusion are vital to the success of Melbourne Education Writer. I work with people from all backgrounds, beliefs and experiences. I believe everyone should have the freedom to be themselves and be valued for their differences. It’s what makes our world go around.
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
Want to know how you can make the world a better place?
Recommended Tools & Resources
There’s a wealth of resources out there for diversity and inclusion. The lists below are not exhaustive, but are some that I use, and know of personally. If you have any recommendations to add – please share them so others can use them to learn from too.
Charities we support
Resources and Further Reading
Charities we support
At Hayzel Media, we aim to increase our impact by donating a percentage of our profits, time, or expertise to the following charities.
This is not an exhaustive list, but a sample of some of our favourites you may like to check out and show some love to as well.
Deadly Science
DeadlyScience wants to ensure all schools have access to our history of science by providing resources that connect schools to the First Scientists of Australia.
WomenCan and The Placement Circle
Together with The Placement Circle, WomenCAN is a charity that links communities of peer-supported women to placed based vocational education and employment.
Rafiki Mwena
Rafiki Mwema work with children who have experienced trauma in early life. Their work is to remove the shame the children experience and return them to the experience of innocence. To reboot the safety and love they feel in relation to the outside world, so they can grow up to be balanced, loving adults, thereby breaking the cycle of abuse.
Deaf Services
Having a hearing loss myself, and having worn a hearing aid as a child, I know the importance of early intervention and the impact of inclusion and support for children with hearing loss.
Deaf Australia was founded in 1986 as a not-for-profit organisation that represents all Deaf, hard of hearing people and others who are fluent and knowledgeable about Auslan.services support deaf, hard of hearing and hearing-impaired adults and children around Australia.
Useful Resources
Resources and Further Reading
Whether you’re writing for your own business, teaching others, or want to educate yourself on issues of diversity and inclusion – here’s some great places to start.
First Nations Peoples
- Language and Terminology Guide
- Appropriate words & terminology for Aboriginal topics
- Protocols for producing Indigenous Australian writing
- How to write about Aboriginal culture
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
- Common Ground
- Australians Together – Indigenous Perspectives Resources for teachers
Race
- What is Inclusive Language – Part 1 and Part 2
- Writing About Race and Ethnicity
- Black History Month | UK
- Tolerance | Teaching Resources
- Vocabulary and concepts
Immense thanks and recognition to Kate Toon at the Clever Copywriting School for the above list of resource and the Diversity Statement template (get a copy here) used to create the statement above.