Greater Shepparton City Council is at the forefront of a new pilot program to combat racism and promote diversity.
Called LEAD (Localities Embracing and Accepting Diversity) program works with local businesses, employers, schools and Council to reduce race-based discrimination and celebrate diversity through a range of activities, including training, leadership programs and policy reviews.
LEAD targets discrimination against people from Aboriginal, African, Middle Eastern, Asian and Muslim backgrounds.
These have been targeted based on Victorian research showing they experience a higher rate of discrimination.
Such discrimination has had negative impacts on productivity, social cohesion, social connection and human rights.
Greater Shepparton City Council is one of two Victorian Councils selected to take part in the LEAD pilot in partnership with VicHealth, Whittlesea City Council, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human
Rights Commission, Municipal Association of Victoria, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and beyondblue.
The pilot is focusing on changing attitudes and behaviour in five key settings:
- employment
- education
- sport and recreation
- social marketing
- Council.
The LEAD program will be monitored and evaluated by the School of Population Health, Melbourne University which will measure change in Greater Shepparton compared with trends in similar areas elsewhere in Victoria.
The LEAD Program aims to:
