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Diversity Fest 2020

For the second edition of the festival, the program included over 40 events including panel discussions, workshops, film screenings, art exhibitions and live performances.

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Diversity Fest

The program featured contributions from students, staff and alumni from all parts of the UNSW community. Responding to the theme 'Meeting at the Intersections', the festival provided a platform for diverse perspectives to be shared, created a space where these experiences intersect, and stimulated discussion on how we can stand in solidarity with each other.

Monday 26 October

Sensing Place

A dynamic, interactive live musical peformance that speaks to connection, belonging and the importance of place to our identity.

Musicians Sarah Jane Moore and Oliver Gathercole invite you to listen in on Sensing Place, an evolving performance series that brings together piano and voice to deliver music that speaks to connection, belonging and the importance of place based dialogues and musical friendships. After Sarah Jane and Oliver perform there will be opportunity for attendees to share their own ideas about where the belong, how they feel place impacts their identities and to share lyrics / poetry / creative writing or ideas after the performance. Attend, respond, listen in or share; all are welcome to this dynamic live event.

Introduction to Auslan

Your opportunity to learn the fundamentals of Auslan, the sign language used by the majority of the Australian Deaf community.

Accessible Games

Come play a range of boardgames, cardgames and dicegames that accommodate low vision, low fine motor skills and neurodiversity!

A Revolution in the Making

Meet a family that call for the abolition of the prison industrial complex, make revolutionary wares and promote acts of undercover kindness.

Tabitha, Dylan, Eamon and Mabel are a family whose heritage spans three Aboriginal nations: Gunditjmara, Ngarrindjeri and Meintangk Boandik. is a storyteller, poet and freelance writer whose work centres around activism and the abolition of the prison industrial complex. Dylan and Eamon established to share their art and stories with the world.

"The name Revolution Ware was chosen because our existence as Aboriginal people is an act of radical resistance, and self-care in the capitalist colony is a revolutionary act."

Revolution Ware helps to fund a campaign founded by the family and organised by Mabel. The campaign was established to encourage other people to choose kindness, because the family believes that being kind can really change the world – a smile at a stranger or a pay it forward coffee; it all helps makes this world a nicer place to be.

Meet this impressive family as they join Bec Harcourt (Program Manager, Indigenous Business Education, UNSW Business School) in conversation.Ìý

This conversation is part of a series of Indigenous Business Month @ UNSW events.

Orchids: My Intersex Adventure

On Intersex Awareness Day, we recommend watching this autobiographical documentary that shares a journey of self discovery.

26 October is an internationally observed day designed to highlight human rights issues faced by intersex people and share intersex histories. On this day, we recommend engaging with the deeply personal documentary (2010), available to view through the UNSW Library.

Tuesday 27 October

A Cuppa with Aunty Olga & Somansh

Get yourself a cuppa and listen to a yarn that connects author and businesswoman Aunty Olga Collis-McAnespie with UNSW staff member Somansh Agrawal.

Olga Collis-McAnespie is a Muruwari Guwamu/Kooma author and businesswoman who has has shared her personal history in .Ìý

Somansh Agrawal is a part of the award winning Digital team in the Education Portfolio at UNSW Business School, where he is championing the evolution of higher education in the digital domain. He has a Masters of Engineering degree from UNSW and has experience working in Educational Technology and IT. Born in London, UK, brought up Gurgaon, near New Delhi in India, and in 2017 he  moved to Australia after graduating in engineering  from VIT University in Vellore, a bustling town near Chennai in India. Somansh’s love for food and chai comes from his cultural background. He enjoys many different sorts of cuisines, which he believes is one of the easiest ways to bring people together.

Weaving Together

An online space to come together to weave with nature based materials, share stories and un-weave our cultural misconceptions.

Weaving Together is a shared workshop hosted by creative artist Dr Sarah Jane Moore and scientist Luke Steller. Sarah Jane will join us from her home studio in Tasmania and weave with nature based materials whilst Luke with join from UNSW and bring his own materials harvested from fieldwork and beyond. Moving away from the original mindset of weaving just to make a finished product, here in this workshop you can sit with Sarah Jane and Luke to learn how the process of weaving can un-weave capitalist / self-centered / goal oriented learnings that we have all picked up in our lives.

Bring foraged materials, wool, plastic, tape, string and your imaginations to join together and weave for well being, weave for inclusion and weave together in a friendly, safe and community minded digital space where sharing is key.Ìý

Applying Equity and Diversity in your Career

In this Industry Connections session, meet employers to learn how you can apply equity, diversity and inclusion when choosing your career.

Henna Art Class

Learn the principles of the temporary body art used in and around the Arabian Peninsula, Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and areas in Africa.

Environmental Intersectionality

A history of the frontline environmental justice movements that have called for the fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens.

Black Lives Matter in Australia

Let's talk about racism and the Black Lives Matter movement in an Australian context. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.

For Sama

A screening of the 2019 documentary film that focuses on Waad Al-Kateab's experience as a journalist and rebel during the Syrian uprising.

Wednesday 28 October

Adaptive Sports

Demonstrations of sports that have been modified to be inclusive of people of all abilities and allow everyone to participate.

Making sport, health and well-being accessible to all students and staff is a priority at UNSW. Adaptive Sport Day is an opportunity for students and staff to participate in sports that have been adapted to be more accessible.

Thriving as LGBTQIA+ in STEMM

How far has diversity and inclusion come in STEMM, and what needs to be done to continue to make positive steps into the future?

What does Thriving as LGBTQIA+ in STEMM look like? How far has diversity and inclusion come in STEMM, and what needs to be done to continue to make positive steps into the future? These are questions our panel - from a wide range of experiences across business and research, and with lived experience of diverse genders and sexualities - will reflect on. Each person will share their challenges, triumphs and ultimately what motivates them to stay in STEMM.

Tea & Talk with Eileen Baldry

Make a cuppa and tune in to our conversation with Professor Eileen Baldry, UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Equity Diversity & Inclusion).

Through My Eyes: In conversation with Dr Evianne Grosvenor and Melinda Montgomery

An interactive discussion on the process of creating meaning around inclusion and disability through feminist self-portraits.

‘’ is a collaborative, arts-based knowledge translation research project initiated at the Black Dog Institute and UNSW Sydney. Through participant-led photographic enquiry, the project seeks to reveal fresh perspectives on disability to challenge pervasive, limiting negative attitudes and assumptions.

In this interactive webinar, Evi and Mel present a series of self-portraits included in the resulting . They will discuss how each work was constructed, the influence of feminist themes and how the images call for greater inclusion. This talk provides an opportunity to understand how seeing and thinking more about diversity in bodies and abilities can benefit all women.

Untold Stories

Hear the inspirational stories of our own students and staff, who will share their lived experiences of navigating through life's challenges.

Untold Stories is a new lived experience storytelling project which provides opportunities for UNSW staff and students to share their personal experiences and journey to recovery to help and inspire others going through similar experiences. Speakers share their personal stories of overcoming adversity and challenges including those relating to mental health, gender identity, disability and culture.

Join us for the launch of this project in this safe online space to hear the inspirational stories of our own students and staff as they navigate through life's challenges. There will be opportunities to ask questions, to deepen your understanding of other people's experiences and how we can support those around us.

This project is led by the UNSW Health Promotions Unit and teams, with funding from Health & Wellbeing Fund and the Division of Equity Diversity & Inclusion.

Fusion Culture Group

Founded in 2011, this community project brings together people of all cultures through joy and movement.

Inclusive Education Showcase

An opportunity for the UNSW teaching community to discover inclusive technologies and practices, and learn how to make their classrooms more accessible.

Inclusive Education comprises practices that make teaching and learning more accessible to all students. It is framed by the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to increase the accessibility of tertiary education to a wider population of students.

UNSW educators who teach inclusively will present their work at this showcase, followed by a Q&A. The showcase is a unique opportunity for the UNSW teaching community to learn about different inclusive technologies and practices and how to incorporate them into their teaching and learning to make them more accessible.

Aboriginal Art Class

Learn from a First Nations artist about a cultural practice which pre-dates European colonisation by thousands of years.

Fighting Gendered Violence on Campus: A Roadmap

UNSW students and staff discuss the perfect set of tools a university must provide students with to fight gendered violence on campus.

Thursday 29 October

Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves

Meet Cheryl Penrith and Debra Beale, two Aboriginal business owners who are making waves in the worlds of art and fashion.

Fostering Connections: International Student Experience

Connecting with communities is hugely important for everyone, but it can be particularly significant and powerful for international students.

Connecting with communities is hugely important for everyone, but it can be particularly significant and powerful for the international students. At UNSW, we run strong initiatives that support community connections, many of which have been nominated for the  International Student Community Engagement awards in 2019 and 2020. In this event, you will hear from the program leads and the student participants themselves, who will share the highlights, lessons learnt and insights on how these initiatives have impacted their experience at UNSW and in Sydney.

Speakers will include program leads and student participants from Cultural Mentors & Live Chat Mentors Programs, PELE (Personalised English Language Enhancement), HEROES, Australian Business Essentials and the Professional Development Program.

Disability Confident Training

Providing you with the knowledge, skills and tools to be able to confidently welcome people with disability in the classroom setting or workplace.

Student Minds: You Can't Ask That!

Unlearn common misconceptions about how different cultural groups approach mental health, and expand your thinking around forms of mental health care.

Student Minds will be screening 'You Can't Ask That!,' a short film featuring UNSW students responding to anonymously submitted questions about cultural stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination, and the misconceptions around different cultural approaches and perceptions of mental health. Candid and heartfelt, the project will cut through the mystery and awkwardness to provide watchers the chance to expand their thinking of what mental health care can look like within different cultures.

A Deadly Evening with Mi-kaisha

A special performance and conversation with Sydney R&B Soul artist .

R&B Soul artist, Mi-kaisha, grew up on the streets of Sydney’s music scene. The soundtrack of her childhood included soulful tunes from the 90s and island tunes from her father’s Koori Radio Hip-Hop show ‘Island Hopping’.

She describes herself as a ‘city girl through and through’ and represents a beautifully melted dichotomy of sweet and deadly. Her voice is phenomenally soulful and sugary, and yet her lyrics represent hard-hitting often political messages about being a young blak woman in Australia.Ìý She draws inspiration from the strong resilient women in her community.

Mi-kaisha was named .

Friday 30 October

Cards with Care

Write a Card with Care to the elderly and hospital patients. We do the design work – all you have to do is bring the kind words and care!

African Culture Spotlight

Highlighting the cultural diversity of the African continent and diaspora, with the opportunity to explore drumming circles and various cuisines.

Courageous Women Doing Business Differently

Meet Carol Vale, Shantelle Thompson and Ashlee Donohue, three Indigenous business leaders fearlessly treading their own path.

Diversity in Sport

A discussion of the barriers to diversity in sport and a celebration of the breakthrough successes that continue to inspire.

Toxic Masculinity: What is it?

How to identify and dismantle the idea of men as the socially dominant force, along with the associated traits that promote violence and exclusivity.

Friday Fireside

Join the UNSW Postgraduate Council at the end of the week to unwind and unpack current events.

All Week: 26 - 30 October

Arc Diversity Week

We have partnered with the UNSW student union to produce their own Diversity Week program. Events by students, for students.

is run by students, for students. Throughout Diversity Fest, Arc is organising workshops, game nights, panel discussions, film screenings and social get togethers.

Keep an eye on their  in the coming weeks for more information and to register for these free events.

Be a Better Human

A joint initiative of and UNSW to encourage everyone to do more when it comes to understanding, preventing and responding to disrespectful behaviours.

Indigenous Business Month @ UNSW

Courageous women doing business differently, a revolution in the making, sisters doing it for themselves, and a cuppa and a yarn.

is an initiative that sees business as a way of providing positive role models for young Indigenous Australians. This year's theme is 'Invigorate, Build, Maintain to keep our sector strong'. It is a practical call to arms – acknowledging that businesses across all sectors are met by challenging times in 2020, and acknowledging we all have a role to play in keeping the Indigenous business sector strong.Ìý

Mental Health Month

Talking about the tough stuff. Make mental health your priority this October. 21 events organised for students and staff throughout the month.

This October, UNSW is marking Mental Health Month with lots of online and on-campus events to help you with the tough stuff!

Mental Health Month is a co-created event brought to you by Health Promotions Unit, Arc, and Safety & Wellbeing.

Mr Emancipation

Mr Emancipation is the story of Walter L Perry’s determination to put on a celebration that would transcend divisions of race and class, in spite of racism. He staged an Emancipation Day festival that was where everyone wanted to be. Jesse Owens, Dr. William Borders, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and so many others all headed there because, as civil rights activist Dick Gregory said, "The largest Juneteenth celebration was not in America, it was in Windsor, Canada".

The award-winning documentary took five years to produce, but MR EMANCIPATION: The Walter Perry Story is the result of 20 years of research.

Director Preston Chase is a seventh generation African Canadian and a descendant of William Parker. Parker escaped slavery in Maryland, and went on to play a key role in the Christiana Riots in Pennsylvania. It was his friend, the great Fredrick Douglass who convinced Parker to take refuge in Canada. Born to a single mother in the Black community of downtown Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Preston Chase went on to become a high school teacher. He is also the family historian and a passionate advocate for greater awareness of a historic Black community, time has forgotten.

Wide Angle Film Festival

The 12th edition of the film festival, which reflects the lived experience of people with disability, is now an online experience! Open captioned and audio described versions are available.

The Wide Angle Film Festival brings together compelling films that reflect the lived experience of people with disability. For its 12th edition, it presents a curated selection of diverse, exceptional, international short films that reflect unique perspectives.

Picture a Scientist

This "quietly devastating" chronicles the groundswell of researchers who are writing a new chapter for women scientists.

Biologist Nancy Hopkins, chemist Raychelle Burks, and geologist Jane Willenbring lead viewers on a journey deep into their own experiences in the sciences, ranging from brutal harassment to years of subtle slights. Along the way, from cramped laboratories to spectacular field stations, we encounter scientific luminaries - including social scientists, neuroscientists, and psychologists - who provide new perspectives on how to make science itself more diverse, equitable, and open to all.

The view from here: Women artists in the UNSW Art Collection

A celebration of the many extraordinary works by women artists in the University’s collection.

The view from here: Women artists in the UNSW Art Collection celebrates the many extraordinary works by women artists in the university’s collection. Featuring twenty works from the 1990s to the present day, it includes some of Australia’s best-known contemporary artists including Janet Laurence and Nonggirrnga Marawili, as well as those such as Hayley Millar-Baker and Louise Zhang who are just beginning to make their mark. Ranging from bark paintings to textiles, photography to sculpture, the selected works are diverse in expression, style and concerns and reflect the rich heritage and ongoing impact of women in the visual arts.

This online exhibition is a collaborative project between the and .

Through My Eyes

A participant-led photographic project which reveals fresh perspectives on disability to challenge pervasive negative attitudes and limiting assumptions.

Women with disability face participation barriers based on long-held attitudes around their identity that adversely affect their health, income levels, and access to education and employment. It is through a reductive, narrow view of disability identity that disabling assumptions arise and discriminatory barriers are reinforced.

To challenge these assumptions, six female photographers with physical impairment shared their personal experiences and stories through the medium of photography. Over a period of three months, they conceived and constructed visual responses to four feminist topics: the politics of appearance, sexuality, exclusion/inclusion and power imbalances.

Worlding with Oysters

A dialogue between art and science that opens up a space to embrace Indigenous knowledges, understandings and wisdoms.

In this exhibition Dr Sarah Jane Moore asks us to listen to the Bandangi – the Sydney Rock Oyster. The poetics, songs and artworks presented are a result of Sarah Jane observing and interpreting the research of Dr Laura Parker, Indigenous Scientia Fellow in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, who aims to ‘future-proof’ natural oyster populations through building resilience to ocean warming and acidification. This dialogue between art and science opens up a space to embrace Indigenous knowledges, understandings and wisdoms, where the revitalisation of cultural practices is a call to arms to care for Sea Country.

This exhibition is presented as part of the .

Friendship as a Way of Life

An exploration of queer kinship that offers perspectives on LGBTQI+ partnerships, collaboration, visibility, sex, intimacy and knowledge.

‘Friendship as a Way of Life’ brings together more than 20 artists and collaborative groups to explore queer kinship and forms of being together. The exhibition centres around three ideas that offer perspectives on LGBTQI+ partnerships, collaboration, visibility, sex, intimacy and knowledge: ‘Public Relations’ (the public expression of private lives and forms of communicating identities); ‘Living Arrangements’ (spaces and approaches to living/being with ‘chosen families’); and ‘Intergenerational Kinship’ (learning, sharing and support across generations). Presented across the entire gallery and online, this major project seeks to foreground the way LGBTQI+ communities create alternative networks of support through various creative and resourceful means.

UNSW Staff Survey

UNSW staff (salaried or casual) are invited to participate in a survey about work quality and discrimination, satisfaction with life and psychological distress.

Find out more

Diversity Festival

UNSW Diversity Festival invites students and staff to participate in activities that embrace the diversity of our community and ignite broader conversations about how we can foster a more inclusive society.

Diversity Fest 2022

An exciting range of free events and activities took place at UNSW for Diversity Fest 2022. Events addressed topics including age and gender diversity, cultural and linguistic diversity, disability inclusion, First Nations knowledge, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, mental health and neurodiversity.

Diversity Fest 2021

Over 50 free events and activities took place as part of Diversity Fest 2021. Events addressed topics including age diversity, cultural and linguistic diversity, disability inclusion, gender diversity, First Nations knowledge, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, mental health and neurodiversity.

Diversity Fest 2019

The inaugural festival featured more than 30 events, including panel discussions, live music performances, debates and social get-togethers.