VicHealth's LEAD program demonstrated how local governments can prevent discrimination and support cultural diversity within local communities and organisations.
VicHealth's LEAD program demonstrated how local governments can contribute to reducing discrimination and supporting cultural diversity within local communities and organisations.
The Localities Embracing and Accepting Diversity (LEAD) program: summary report captures the key things we’ve learnt from the program and provides an overview of the key tools and resources developed through the program.
Local government, as the tier of government closest to the community, is key in preventing racism before it occurs and promoting social cohesion. In 2009, VicHealth established the Localities Embracing and Accepting Diversity (LEAD) pilot program, which developed and tested solutions for reducing race-based discrimination and promoting cultural diversity in two Victorian municipalities – Greater Shepparton and the City of Whittlesea.
Both councils also collaborated with representatives of local Aboriginal and culturally diverse communities to ensure that they could confidently act as advocates for their communities.
The landmark Localities Embracing and Accepting Diversity program was run by VicHealth over four years in partnership with and supported by:
- Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
- beyondblue
- Municipal Association of Victoria
- Australian Government Department of Social Services
- The Lowitja Institute The University of Melbourne
Tools and resources to address race-based discrimination and support diversity
A number of publications, tools and resources were developed throughout the LEAD implementation and evaluation to support activity to reduce race-based discrimination and support diversity.
These include:
Intervention resources
Workplace Diversity and Anti-Discrimination Assessment Tool
This tool can help you review existing policies, procedures and practices to enable your organisation to support diversity and address race-based discrimination.
The original Assessment Tool that was developed and then trialled by Council’s involved in LEAD is available as a fillable PDF.
The research that informed the original Assessment Tool can be found here
School-Based Assessment Tool
This tool can help you review existing policies, procedures and practices to enable your organisation to support diversity and address race-based discrimination.
The research that informed the original Assessment Tool can be found here
Anti-racism training
The VEOHRC training developed by LEAD is evidence-based training for reducing race-based discrimination and promoting diversity and can be tailored to meet an organisation’s needs. To find out more, contact VEOHRC.
Social marketing and communications
The LEAD program was supported by the See Beyond Race community awareness campaign. The campaign used a range of media, including television, radio, billboards and print advertisements in local papers and at local bus stops.
Featuring people from Shepparton and Whittlesea areas, the campaign aimed to challenge racial stereotypes and encourage awareness of our common humanity. The stories of people in the campaign were also featured in local newspapers, via a partnership with local media.
More information on the See Beyond Race campaign can be provided from VicHealth on request.
Evaluation resources
A range of reports and journal articles resulting from the LEAD evaluation have been published.
Experiences of Racism surveys
Key findings of the CALD Experiences of Racism survey, conducted in 2010–2011 as part of the LEAD program, can be found here.
Key findings of the Aboriginal Experiences of Racism survey, conducted in 2010–2011 as part of the LEAD program, can be found here.
A journal article examining the experiences of racism in health settings and their impact on mental health among Aboriginal Victorian’s can be accessed here.
Community observation
A journal article on the findings from the community observations undertaken through LEAD can be found here.
School staff and student surveys
Findings from the baseline staff and student surveys conducted in LEAD schools, reported in Mental health impacts of racism and attitudes to diversity in Victorian schools, can be accessed here.
Access the journal article here
A journal article examining the associations between experiences of both direct and vicarious racial discrimination, motivated fairness, racial/ethnic attitudes, and mental health outcomes among Australian primary and secondary school students.
Media monitoring and evaluation will be available at a future date.
