Our Anti-Racism Statement
At CAWLS, we are committed to creating a workplace culture and service environment that is culturally inclusive, safe, and free from all forms of racism, racial discrimination, and harassment. We hold a stance of strict zero-tolerance towards racism, racial discrimination, racial harassment, racial vilification, and racial hatred in our organisation.
We recognize that anti-racism is an active process rather than a passive stance. It requires our consistent, committed, and targeted action to address all forms of racism, including individual, institutional, and systemic racism.
Scope of Our Commitment
This statement and our underlying policy apply to everyone within our ecosystem:
- Our People: Our clients, staff, including paid employees, volunteers, secondees, students, people on work experience, and Board members.
- Our Services: How we deliver services and support to members of our community and the general public.
- Our Interactions: How we treat each other, as well as our interactions across social media and online communications.
Our Actions and Responsibilities
To ensure our commitment is backed by meaningful action, we actively engage in the following practices:
- Sovereignty and Respect: We recognise and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ enduring and unceded sovereignty over the lands that constitute Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and honour their enduring relationships with this land.
- Cultural Safety: We continuously check that our policies and work are culturally safe, respectful, and inclusive of diverse perspectives, explicitly including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and experiences.
- Education and Training: We provide ongoing training for our staff and Board members to identify and effectively respond to racism, discrimination, harassment, vilification, and hatred.
- Partner Alignment: We make reasonable efforts to ensure that our contractors, consultants, suppliers, and external representatives are fully aware of our anti-racism position.
Accountability, Grievances, and Complaints
We take all observations and complaints of racism with the utmost seriousness. We encourage witnesses and any affected individuals to report instances of racism immediately.
- Staff Grievances: Internal staff grievances regarding racism or racial discrimination are handled confidently in accordance with our policy and related procedures.
- External Complaints: Complaints made by non-CAWLS personnel regarding the behaviour of our staff or clients are managed through our trained staff.
Misconduct: Anyone found to have engaged in racism, racial harassment, discriminatory behaviour, vilification, or hatred will face formal management under our Managing Misconduct Policy