Equity diversity & inclusion

We want all our students and staff to have a sense of belonging.

Art and design students discussing work inside the Red Center build enviroment study space.

EDI at Arts, Design & Architecture

We’re committed to fostering a safe, supportive and equitable environment for all staff, students and the wider community regardless of gender, cultural background, disability, sexual orientation or identity. That's our committment.

EDI at UNSW

UNSW is committed to excellence in teaching and research, and providing equal opportunity. 

Contacts and resources

    • Associate Dean Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement - Professor Emma Kirby (emma.kirby@unsw.edu.au
    • Arts, Design & Architecture student liaison contact for academic support and EDI matters (including counselling and referral to UNSW services) – Dr Alessandra Mecozzi Saha (a.mecozzisaha@unsw.edu.au
    • Associate Deans Indigenous – Associate Professor Fabri Blacklock and Dr Liza-Mare Syron (ada.indigenous@unsw.edu.au
    • LGBTIQ+ student and staff support – (ally@UNSW)
  • Our UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture EDI Committee facilitates, supports and creates initiatives, programs, guidelines and activities to empower everyone in the faculty to feel safe, included and respected. We collaborate with other UNSW EDI groups to ensure everyone has equitable opportunities to succeed, regardless of background, to show leadership and benefit from others' initiatives and best practices.

  • Our faculty wants LGBTIQ+ students and staff to fulfil their potential and enjoy being at UNSW without experiencing any sense of alienation and ill treatment from fellow staff or students. Being a safe and inclusive environment is fundamental to who we are. 

    The ally@UNSW Network aims to ensure UNSW is a safe and welcoming place for all LGBTIQ+ staff and students, and Arts, Design & Architecture is well represented in the ally network membership. The Ally training program aims to make UNSW an excellent place for everybody by reducing barriers of fear and ignorance that lead to prejudice and discrimination. 

    See our Arts, Design & Architecture Ally contacts.

  • UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture is committed to the idea that fairness requires equality of access and opportunity. UNSW provides a range of support to students to manage the demands of university and a health condition, learning disability, mental health issues or other personal circumstances impacting their studies. Students may be eligible for support or educational adjustments after registering with UNSW Equitable Learning Services.

    Learn more

  • Our faculty is made up of an incredibly diverse group of people. We’re committed to cultural and linguistic diversity, and strive to provide a culturally inclusive environment where students and staff can freely express who they are, their opinions and points of view, and reach their full potential. It’s important they fully participate in teaching, learning, work and social activities, and feel safe from abuse, harassment or unfair criticism. To help create a culturally inclusive culture, UNSW promotes Cultural Diversity Teaching Practices. 

    Learn more

Panel Pledge: I stand for gender diversity at every forum

As part of their commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, staff are encouraged to reflect on and critically engage with organisers of public and professional forums where there’s a lack of diversity in speakers, content or people with lived experiences of the forum themes. One practical way of doing this is by ensuring all forums you’re involved in at the university, and more broadly, take diversity into account. Within this context, UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture encourages all staff to commit to the Panel Pledge. 

Our Panel Pledge:

  • I commit to ensuring all forums I am professionally engaged in take gender equity into consideration.
  • When speaking at an event, I will request confirmation of who the other panellists/speakers/participants are, and how gender balance will be achieved. 
  • I will insist, as a condition of acceptance, that I expect women to participate in a meaningful way.
  • I reserve the right to withdraw from an event, should gender equity not be achieved. 
  • I will highlight gender imbalances where I see them and provide event organisers with the names of relevant women leaders in my field.

Pledges

These members of staff have made the Panel Pledge: 

  • Michael Balfour, Head of School, School of Arts & Media 
  • Jan Breckenridge, Head of School, School of Social Sciences 
  • Christy Newman, Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Enterprise & Engagement) 
  • Claire Annesley, Dean–Arts Design & Architecture 
  • Kim Beswick, Head of School, School of Education 
  • David Cami, Faculty Executive Director  
  • Dorottya Fabian 
  • Timothy O'Leary, Head of School, School of Humanities & Languages 
  • Carla Treloar, Professor and Director 
  • Helen Groth, Professor 
  • Karen Fisher, Professor 
  • Andrew Murphie, Associate Professor 
  • Ayxem Eli 
  • Chris Davison, Professor 
  • Jon von Kowallis, Professor of Chinese Studies 
  • Ping Wang 
  • Limin Mao, A/Prof Centre for Social Research in Health 
  • Caroline Wake, Senior Lecturer 
  • Michael Richardson, Senior Research Fellow 
  • Louise Ravelli, Associate Professor 
  • Trish Hill, Senior Research Fellow 
  • Susanne Schmeidl, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences 
  • Theron Schmidt, Lecturer 
  • Andrew Brown, Student Administration Officer 
  • Paul Evans, Senior Lecturer 
  • Sandy Evans, Lecturer in Music 
  • Dennison Lindberg, School Manager, School of Humanities & Languages 
  • Helen Caple, Associate Professor 
  • Kylie Valentine
  • Tema Milstein, Associate Professor, Environment & Society
  • Mira Kim, Associate Professor
  • Catherine Rowe, Deputy Executive Director
  • Sue Starfield, Professor, School of Education 
  • Jennifer Perkins
  • Zhoe Trotter, Admin shared support
  • Ashleigh Hamilton, Manager, School of Social Sciences