Course Title: Promote and respond to workplace diversity
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2013
Course Code: EMPL9781C
Course Title: Promote and respond to workplace diversity
School: 360T Education
Campus: Brunswick Campus
Program: C5290 - Diploma of Education Support
Course Contact : Robyn Blaikie
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4838
Course Contact Email:robyn.blaikie@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Lorraine Rodrigues lorraine.rodrigues@rmit.edu.au 9925 9494
Soosan Kian soosan.kian@rmit.edu.au 9925 9183
Nominal Hours: 45
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
No specific pre-requisite and co-requisite.
Course Description
This course describes the knowledge and skills required to value, promote and respond to diversity in the workplace. It enables the worker to identify and understand the role, benefits and challenges of diversity in their workplace, and to contribute to organisation diversity policies and processes
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CHCCS506A Promote and respond to workplace diversity |
Element: |
1. Research diversity in the workplace |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Collect and analyse quantitative and qualitative workplace diversity data |
Element: |
4. Contribute to workplace diversity policies and procedures |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Develop diversity strategies in consultation with stakeholders including people from key target groups |
Element: |
2. Promote an appreciation for diversity workplace |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Integrate principles of diversity into work duties in the workplace |
Element: |
3. Communicate within a diverse workplace |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Manage barriers to inclusivity to facilitate full participation of all members of the workplace and client group |
Learning Outcomes
Develop the knowledge and skills required to value, promote and respond to diversity in the workplace. It enables the worker to identify and understand the role, benefits and challenges of diversity in their workplace, and to contribute to organisation diversity policies and processes
Details of Learning Activities
This unit is part of Diploma of Education Support program. You will study this unit with several other units on the same day. Your program consists of face to face teaching and Directed Study. You are not required to attend to complete Directed Study, however you are expected to complete all work given and will at times be required to show evidence that the work has been completed in this unit. Directed Study is a very important part of your program. An outline of your Directed Study will be given by your teacher and is published in the Weekly Program Delivery Plan.
The student learning experience will be facilitated through participation in a range of activities: 

Group discussion 

Research assignments

Guest speakers

Oral and/or written questions on "What if?" scenarios

Realistic simulations and role play
Practical demonstrations and direct observation of actual work and simulated work practice
Oral Presentations
Individual and group projects - Completing the projects will include negotiated independent study time and practical work relevant to the unit of competency. 

Work placement
Teaching Schedule
Program Dates: Mon 4th February – Friday 13th December 2013
Term Breaks: Mon 8th April – Fri 12th April 2013; Mon 1st July – Fri 12th July 2013; Mon 23rd Sept – Fri 4th Oct 2013
Public holidays: Mon 11th March (Labour Day); Fri 29th March (Good Friday); Mon 1st April (Easter Monday); Thurs 25th April (ANZAC Day); Mon 10th June (Queen’s Birthday); Tues 5th November 2013 (Melbourne Cup)
Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.
Library Orientation & an RMIT Online Systems Information Session will be scheduled during the first two weeks of your program. Information about student services, rights and responsibilities is contained in your student diary.
Semester 1
Week 1-4
Definitions of diversity within legislation
Anti-discrimination legislation and its requirements
Diversity in the workplace
Direct and indirect discrimination
Discussion, Q&A activities, online activities
Week 5-8
Equal Opportunity, equity and diversity principles
Principles and practices of cultural awareness and cross cultural communication
Cultural assumptions and their effects on behaviour and work practices
Discussion, Q&A activities, Excursion
Assignment/project1 – Research/Q&A
Week 9-12
Ways to ensure effective and equitable activities to diverse clients
Barriers to inclusivity
Analysing workplace diversity information
Responding to workplace diversity in accordance with workplace objectives
Accessing and referencing workplace information relating to diversity
Discussion, Q&A activities
Research/Q&A
Week 13-16
Promoting diversity in the workplace
Integrating principles of diversity and inclusivity into work duties in the workplace
Integrating diversity and inclusivity into planned activities
Contributing to diversity planning in the workplace
Discussion, Q&A activities
Scenarios/ Q&A
Week 17-20
Integrating diversity and inclusivity into planned activities
Contributing to diversity planning in the workplace
Reflecting on own experiences of diversity and inclusivity in workplacement
Discussion, Q&A activities
Progress interview – Assignment 1, Evidence of practical experience promoting and responding to workplace diversity; e.g Observation/Demonstration, Third party
Semester 2
Week 1-4
Identifying and adapting professional development opportunities to promote diversity principles
Generating a supportive workplace by valuing and promoting the benefits of diversity
Applying own experiences of diversity to workplace
Discussion, Q&A activities
Week 5-8
Communicating within a diverse workplace
Responding to workplace diversity in accordance with workplace objectives
Responding to workplace diversity barriers to inclusivity in the workplace
Promoting diversity in the workplace
Discussion, Q&A activities
Assignment/project 2 – Research/Scenarios
Week 9-12
Reflecting on own practice
Use of communication strategies meeting the diverse needs of individuals within the workplace
Reflecting and reviewing use of communication strategies with regard to workplace diversity
Developing diversity strategies in consultation with workplace representatives
Discussion, Q&A activities
Report back from workplacement (oral and written)
Week 13-16
Reviewing and reflecting application of anti-discrimination, equity and diversity principles in the workplace
Issues and challenges promoting diversity in the workplace
Barriers to inclusivity
Benefits of workplace diversity
Discussion, Q&A activities
Week 17-20
Barriers to inclusivity
Benefits of workplace diversity
Reflecting own experiences of diversity and inclusivity in workplacement
Assessment interview – review folio of final assessments e.g :
Q&A, Assignment/Project1 and 2, Evidence of practical experience promoting and responding to workplace diversity; e.g. Observation/Demonstration, Third party
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
TEXTS AND EQUIPMENT
There are no set texts in this course. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through handouts, our online systems and access to facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources. It is recommended that you bring:
• Display folder with plastic sleeves
• Highlighter pens
• Notebook or loose leaf paper
• Headphones (use your own or they can be purchased from the Brunswick Library very cheaply)
• USB (Memory stick)
Overview of Assessment
You must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of the competencies in order to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. You may be assessed by:
• Direct observation of actual and simulated work practice
• Oral or written questioning
• Assignments and projects
• Presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files
• Review of products produced through work-based or course activities
• Third-party feedback from a work supervisor/employer
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.
An assessment charter (http://mams.rmit.edu.au/kh6a3ly2wi2h1.pdf) summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.
An assessment policy summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers. Your courses assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures see http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment
Assessment Tasks
Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. You may be assessed by:
• Direct observation of actual and simulated work practice 

• Oral or written questioning 

• Assignments and projects 

• Presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise of documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files 

• Review of work produced through work-based or course activities 

• Third-party feedback from a work supervisor/employer 

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.
Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks. Summative assessment tasks in this unit are assessed using the following competency based results:
CC – Competency credit
CA – Competency achieved
NYC – Not Yet Competent
Please note:
Assessments tasks may include other Units of competency from the program.
All Assessment tasks should be submitted by the deadline. If an extension is required you must ask your teacher for one before the due date.
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency.
These are available from the course contact person (stated above).
Course Overview: Access Course Overview