Inclusive
The Inclusive pillar focuses on enabling the full participation of all Victorians. Inclusion is about equal access to opportunities and resources and removing discrimination. If all Victorians feel valued and respected, the benefits to the State centre around greater wellbeing, better outcomes for all and a supportive, understanding culture.
Inclusivity improves Victoria’s potential by increasing the ability for all Victorians to fully participate in society and the economy. Inclusion goes well beyond diversity, focusing on creating an environment and culture that enables everyone to thrive. Inclusion aims to address conscious and unconscious bias and remove barriers to participation. If an inclusive society is achieved, creativity, innovation and productivity in Victoria increases dramatically.
There are many benefits to an inclusive society. When excluded groups gain greater access to education, employment and business opportunities, poverty and inequality are reduced. More inclusive states are also more peaceful, with a reduction in division. This reduces conflict and increases the capacity for meaningful state projects, including ongoing protection of human rights and lifting of living standards.
This pillar explores how to create a more inclusive, connected and cohesive society, which will in turn create economic, social and cultural benefits. These benefits include more people in the workforce, greater innovation and an improved culture of respect and kindness. The pillar looks at how community engagement can be improved, how to support self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and how Victoria can change for the better. In an international context of societies experiencing increasing division, Victoria can continue to build on its reputation as a world-class place to live, learn, work and operate a business by deliberately being more inclusive.