Building inclusion to empower communities

Inclusive environments have happier members, greater longevity, and generally perform better, according to the CEO of Activ Foundation.

“We all want and need to be part of something bigger than ourselves, which is why connection with community is so important to leading a healthy and happy life,” Activ Foundation chief executive Clare Amies told Business News.

“This applies to people of all abilities – whether through a team, workplace, friend, or community group, we all seek that sense of belonging and acceptance in our lives.”

Activ Foundation along with other organisations such as genU, a profit-for-purpose organisation which Activ merged with in June 2024, continue to advocate for wider inclusion for all, specifically for people living with disability.

“Inclusive environments have happier members, greater longevity, and generally perform better, so it makes sense to create settings that are inclusive and accessible,” Ms Amies said.

One area that has specifically made strides in this space is in the sporting arenas, from local clubs with all ability teams and associations to the international stage, with the upcoming Paralympic Games starting on Wednesday August 28.

“Sports are synonymous with a sense of community, whether you’re in a team or on the sidelines, and it’s great to see so many associations taking the lead in driving greater inclusion,” Ms Amies said.

“At Activ, we’re proud to have partnered with many of these leading organisations including the Perth Wildcats, West Australian Football League, and the WA All Abilities Football Association.”

The Chevron City to Surf for Activ celebrates 50 years this year.

Each of these partnerships saw their people seeking to understand their role in enabling inclusion, create welcoming spaces, and engage in activities that would welcome and facilitate the integration of people of all abilities into mainstream activities.

"The growth of sporting inclusion is to be celebrated, on and off the field. We encourage associations to keep going – don’t stop at the local footy club; let’s continue this sense of inclusive community into wider community, workplaces, and educational institutions,” Ms Amies said.

The impact of communities that champion disability and sport goes well beyond the tangible. “Team members of all abilities are encouraged and supported to try new things, learn new skills, embrace the values of teamwork, foster understanding, and diversify experiences, which makes for a much richer experience for all.”

John Frederico, one of the Chevron City to Surf’s first wheelchair participants, in 1983.

Activ is proud to own and run Perth’s iconic community event, the Chevron City to Surf for Activ, which celebrates 50 years in 2024 and will be held on Sunday August 25 this year.

The event - which welcomed wheelchair participants in 1983, with John Frederico setting the pace for the 12km at 46.24 - exists to champion inclusion by catering for people of all abilities and walks of life to enjoy an inclusive sporting event, through to its purpose of raising funds that go directly back into improving the lives of people living with disability.

Promoting workforce diversity 

Anglicare WA chief executive Mark Glasson said the not-for-profit organisation, which provides more than 100 services across WA including disability support, has a commitment to prioritising workforce diversity and inclusion by leveraging the goodwill, skills and passion of its staff to attract, retain, and develop top talent. 

"By adopting an intersectional approach, we view diversity as a vital asset in delivering exceptional services. Our commitment is reflected through various employee resource groups and diversity and inclusion working groups, which operate under robust governance structures. These structures ensure that diversity and inclusion initiatives are deeply integrated at all levels of the organisation and closely aligned with senior leadership," he said.

Anglicare WA chief executive Mark Glasson.

Anglicare WA is a supporter of the Diversity and Inclusion Network of WA (DINWA), a cross-sector professional network with a mission to break down silos and foster collaboration across geographic and sector boundaries to effectively enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts statewide.

Co-founded by Anglicare WA's diversity and inclusion lead Anna Boschman, together with Jill Brazil, founder of Diversity in Training, DINWA was launched in September 2023 and has rapidly grown to 98 registered members from 57 organisations. Members of DINWA are from organisation like ECU, Curtin, UWA, Iluka Minerals, Anglo Australia Gold, the Australian Red Cross, Richmond Wellbeing, and Auspire.

"Recognising the crucial role of systems change and intersectional collaboration in achieving social impact, DINWA, which Anglicare WA is a proud supporter of, unites DEI professionals from various industries across Western Australia," Ms Boschman said. 

The network hosts four online events annually, alongside multiple face-to-face gatherings, providing opportunities for professionals to share innovative solutions to complex DEI challenges within the Western Australian context.