How we build inclusion every day at Cultural Perspectives

Inclusion not only means acknowledging and celebrating our differences, but also finding connections when we share food, traditions and knowledge with each other.

Inclusion is the process of ensuring that diverse individuals feel accepted, empowered and safe in their place of work and are effectively integrated into the working culture regardless of their background and identity.

Inclusion is important so that employees feel supported – and indeed, encouraged – to be comfortable embracing their unique identity at work. Without inclusive practice, barriers to work increase and employee wellbeing suffers, leading to an unsuitable working habitat and worsened employee engagement.

With inclusive practice, organisations not only protect their workers – they benefit from a diverse and empowered community. There are innumerable opportunities to enrich both the workplace atmosphere and the quality of work through the interaction and collaboration of different perspectives and experiences.

We live in one of the most multicultural cities on the planet, with over 50% of Sydney inhabitants originally born overseas and nearly 40% speaking a language other than English at home. Inclusion is not optional in the workplace; it is necessary to navigate the dynamic and beautiful diversity of our community.

Inclusion is a fundamental aspect of creating a positive work environment. While we help clients connect with multicultural communities, it is also important to recognise and celebrate our own internal multicultural community. At Cultural Perspectives, our team has an incredibly diverse background culturally, geographically and linguistically, each with unique experiences and perspectives.

Inclusivity is an ongoing effort that begins long before the workday starts and concludes long after the workday ends. The workplace is more than just an office – it must also be a safe space. This is why diversity and inclusion are embedded into our DNA through our policies and values.

Inclusion means supporting your workers with their needs, opening a dialogue and allowing healthy communication between employees and leadership. Valuing staff means valuing their opinions, establishing effective channels and being adaptive to feedback. We are constantly learning from each other, growing our understanding and providing professional support where possible.

We will always be culturally sensitive and use inclusive, contextually conscious and culturally aware languages, avoiding terms that could potentially be interpreted as offensive, hurtful or enforcing harmful stereotypes. We are dedicated to ensuring our work uplifts rather than damaging our community in any way.

While inclusion is immeasurably important to our work, it is also fun. It is a privilege and a joy to walk into the office and speak to new people, learn about new cultures and of course, try new foods.

Above: The Cultural Perspectives and CIRCA Research teams celebrating Diwali with homemade treats.

A few weeks ago, our team celebrated Diwali. We shared traditional sweet and savoury snacks while hearing about the significance of Diwali.

Through recognising culturally significant events for our staff, we acknowledge and celebrate our differences – but it is also a unifying experience to share food, tradition and knowledge with each other.

Inclusivity is not something to be achieved; it is a commitment we make every day to ensure the people in our communities feel welcome, safe and respected. Here at Cultural Perspectives, it is one of the key principles with which we operate – it guides our actions, behaviours and values.

If you would like to see what inclusion at work looks like in practice, you can learn more about our team and our work here.