Looking Inward
One of the first things you should consider when practicing cultural inclusion is to look inward, from an individual and organisational perspective, at how you support multicultural volunteers.
By asking, ‘are we doing enough to strengthen diversity in our workplace,’ you can identify areas that need improvement, and implement change accordingly.
“Take time to relearn your own culture and be mindful of your feelings”
Organisational self-assessments are a great tool to begin this process. If you have the time, you can design one with staff that is tailored to your need, otherwise seek assistance from an external party. Welcoming Australia’s initiative, Welcoming Clubs provide this service to sporting clubs to help them build welcoming and inclusive places. Clubs measure themselves against the Welcoming Clubs Standards and are given support to implement a diversity and inclusion action plan.
Another option is to use a self-assessment template which can be found online. One such example is from The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia who have developed an assessment checklist in Appendix 4 of their report ‘Cultural Competence in Australia: A Guide’.
“Remember you are not an expert in other cultures, even if you have read a lot.”
Another approach is to collaborate with staff and volunteers on the cultural strengths and weaknesses of your organisation. This provides a safe space for discussion and can uncover information on potential knowledge gaps. Tools like Miro are suited to facilitating these kinds of sessions and allow each participant’s voice to be heard.
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**TIP – Involve your board and senior management during this process as their support will ensure any change that occurs will be lasting**
Throughout the process of Looking Inward, be mindful of how you conduct yourself:
We all have cultural biases to some extent. Exploring this in a supportive environment will help you identify them and understand when they might affect you.
Your way of doing things may not always be the only way, or even the ‘right’ way.
By questioning your intuitive methods of managing and organising, you become more open to new approaches and change.
Finally, understand that this is an ongoing process and something you revisit regularly. Whether as an individual or organisation, maintaining a regular commitment to Looking Inward will ensure you and your organisation are continually adapting to better meet the needs of your volunteers.