Science and Technology Australia says it is providing representative societies and associations, alongside employers and research institutes, with practical new resources designed to help improve equity, diversity and inclusion in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sector.
The organisation says it has begun rolling out templated policies, codes and other resources for member organisations to empower them to be effective in achieving this goal.
“With the support of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, we’re providing practical support for members to take a best-practice approach to equity, diversity and inclusion,” said CEO Kylie Walker.
“Our events policy template, for example, helps members ensure speakers, panellists and moderators authentically reflect the breadth of people working in their discipline.”
President of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT), Professor Carl Kirkpatrick, said that the resources were already proving useful.
"ASCEPT is using the EDI policy template to create a policy that reflects our own society’s needs,” said Professor Kirkpatrick.
“It’s given us a solid start and is making the process clearer and quicker than if we’d started from scratch.”
“Membership of a representative organisation is increasingly a catalyst to creating more inclusive and safer STEM workplaces,” continued Ms Walker.
“STA is connected with scientists and technologists across Australia and from all disciplines, giving us a unique position from which to further empower them to build a better sector from the ground up.”
Members can access the new resources via the members-only section of Science and Technology Australia's website.