Inclusive by design: IDEAs in action
SESSION OVERVIEW
The Australian Universities Accord Review examined Australia’s higher education system and made recommendations for long-term reform. To ensure future wellbeing and productivity in Australia, the report recommended targets and funding and policy reforms to lift the participation and success of under-represented groups. At RMIT, these groups include First Nations students, those with disabilities and neurodivergence, refugees, people from low socio-economic or regional and remote areas, as well as the LGBTIQA+ community, for example.
The RMIT Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Framework outlines the vision, principles, domains, and aspirations for creating a more inclusive and accessible tertiary education institution. The Framework provides details and examples of how RMIT plans to achieve its goal of being ‘Inclusive by design for everyone, everywhere, all the time’, by addressing five domains of
inclusive excellence.
This session will illuminate the benefits of the Framework’s intersectional, whole-of-institution approach to improving access, belonging and outcomes for under-represented groups, demonstrating its implementation in programs and initiatives such as clubs and societies; events and activities; communications; wellbeing and welfare; and management.
Session Outcomes
• Understand the Australian Universities Accord Review:
o Gain insight into the review’s examination of Australia’s higher education system and learn about the recommendations for long-term reform.
• Explore the RMIT Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Framework:
o Understand the vision, principles, domains, and aspirations of the IDEA Framework.
o Learn how RMIT aims to be ‘Inclusive by design for everyone, everywhere, all the time’.
• Assess the benefits of an intersectional, whole-of-institution approach:
o Understand how this approach improves access, belonging, and outcomes for under-represented groups.
• Learn about the implementation of the IDEA Framework:
o See examples of how the framework is applied in various programs and initiatives such as clubs and societies, events and activities, communications, wellbeing and welfare, and management.
PRESENTER
Lara Rafferty is the Associate Director, Student Equity, at RMIT. She has over 20 years’ experience leading strategy and programs in student and staff equity, inclusion and diversity in tertiary education and the community sector.
