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City of Greater Shepparton
URL: http://www.greatershepparton.com.au/residents/cultureandcommunitystrengthening/lead/
Localities Embracing and Accepting Diversity (LEAD)
LEAD is a three year pilot project working across the “Whole” community complementing existing activity to support minority cultural groups, having a particular emphasis on addressing responses to those most affected by discrimination; Aboriginal, refugee and migrant community members.
The LEAD project was established by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and developed in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship, beyondblue: the national depression initiative, The Victoria Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC), Whittlesea City Council, Greater Shepparton City Council, the University of Melbourne and the Municipal Association of Victoria.
LEAD is based upon research which shows that race-based discrimination results in a number of short, medium and long-term health impacts. In comparison, good health is influenced by a number of socio-economic factors which include education, employment, social inclusion and a sense of belonging. While there is widespread support for diversity in Victoria, people from Aboriginal, migrant and refugee backgrounds continue to experience high rates of race-based discrimination. LEAD seeks to create a more inclusive community that is proud of its strong cultural diversity and values the differences that exist between us but also acknowledge what is common to all.
An overview of research evidence informing the LEAD project is available at the VicHealth website.
The LEAD program aims to:
- Promote positive attitudes towards cultural diversity and decrease discriminatory attitudes and behaviours within the" whole" community;
- Encourage the implementation of policies and practices that promote diversity and prevent discrimination with local organisations;
- Create a more inclusive environment with diverse local identities;
- Support the capacity of local governments and their communities to create harmony;
- Build knowledge and evidence in the primary prevention of discrimination; and
- Assess the strength and limitations of the LEAD model and use learning's from the program to help shape future policies, practices and programs.
Greater Shepparton City Council was selected by VicHealth to participate in LEAD following a competitive tender process conducted between December 2008 and May 2009. Along with City of Whittlesea, Greater Shepparton City Council was chosen to pilot the project because our region has a strong track record in working to support diversity and address disadvantage affecting people from Aboriginal, migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Following an extensive planning and development phase during 2009 and 2010, Greater Shepparton City Council selected four settings for action. These settings have been selected as they are places where the greatest rates of discrimination occur, the experience of discrimination is most likely to influence an individual's present and future ‘life chances' and it is viable and acceptable to implement strategies that have been proven to be effective.
The four settings Greater Shepparton's LEAD Project is focusing on are:
- Greater Shepparton City Council;
- Education;
- Employment; and
- Sport and Recreation.
These settings are working towards pro-diversity organisational change, awareness raising education programs, diversity training and building leadership and advocacy. Each of these settings can, and do, play a key role in overcoming discrimination and disadvantage within our community.
In addition, a Communication Strategy and Social Marketing Campaign have been developed in partnership with VicHealth and VEOHRC to support pro-diversity.
By operating at the local level, it will be possible to link LEAD interventions to other activities. All LEAD activities are rigorously evaluated. The evaluation aims to improve the knowledge base and evidence for strategies effective in reducing race-based discrimination and supporting diversity. The evaluation is particularly concerned with the role of local governments in this process as well as the strengths and limitations of settings based approaches. The evaluation is being conducted by a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from the School of Population Heath at the University of Melbourne.
LEAD Staff
- Acting LEAD Coordinator - Rachel Rath - phone - 5832 9466 or email rachel.rath@shepparton.vic.gov.au
- LEAD Project Officer (Wednesday/Friday) - Kim Mansell - phone - 5832 9479 or email kim.mansell@shepparton.vic.gov.au
More In This Section
Greater Shepparton City Council, including the LEAD project were nominated for two state awards recently
The LEAD project works in partnership with various organisations at the local level, to reduce race based discrimination.
As part of the LEAD project a local experiences survey has been conducted with our Aboriginal and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities within Greater Shepparton.
Local people and local stories were featured in a new community awareness campaign to increase acceptance of cultural diversity and reduce race-based discrimination.
Greater Shepparton City Council is now calling for expressions of interest from local sports clubs who would like to be involved in the LEAD project.