Membership Diversity and Inclusion
The Membership Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan | 2023–2026 (PDF) is based on recommendations from the former Membership Diversity Advisory Group (MDAG).
Membership diversity and inclusion principles
- our members reflect the diversity of the community we serve
- our culture is inclusive, where people feel valued and are respected
- our leaders advocate for workplaces that support and reflect our diverse community at all levels
Our action plan
Diverse representation and equity on College bodies and leadership
Representation matters. Diverse representation matters. We're committed to ensuring diverse representation on decision-making bodies and in leadership roles, as we believe it plays a crucial role in enhancing inclusivity and equity.
To support this, we're developing Membership Diversity identifiers to better understand our members and ensure everyone is represented.
Actively advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in medicine
We're working with our members and Specialty Societies to understand and address challenges around equity, diversity, and inclusion in medicine.
By listening to their experiences, we can take meaningful action to support diversity in different physician disciplines.
We've introduced days of significance to provide an opportunity to learn about, celebrate, and support the rich diversity of our members.
Integrate diversity and inclusion vision into policies and resources
We're updating our policies and resources to better support our diverse members and create a more inclusive culture.
Support diversity and inclusion through external partnerships
We're building partnerships with external organisations and activities to address the systemic challenges that our members encounter. When relevant, we invite them to share their expertise on our work.
How we define diversity
Diversity means including people with a variety of characteristics and experiences within a group, organisation, or society.
| Diversity factor |
Description |
| Age |
Age diversity includes people of all generations, bringing different perspectives and life experiences. |
| Gender |
A spectrum of gender identities, including man, woman, non-binary, transgender, and other gender expressions. |
| Geographical location |
Geographic diversity includes people from different places, such as rural, urban, regional, and international areas, bringing unique cultural, environmental, and socio-economic perspectives. |
| Indigenous status |
Recognising and valuing the presence of Indigenous peoples, their unique cultural heritage, rights, and perspectives. Includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Māori |
| Ethnicity |
Ethnicity includes diverse backgrounds, cultures, races, and ancestries, shaping different traditions, customs, and perspectives. |
| Religion |
Inclusion of people of different faiths, spiritual beliefs, and those with no religious affiliation |
| First language |
Recognising linguistic diversity by including people whose first or native languages differ and supporting multilingualism and cross-cultural communication. |
| Sexual orientation |
Recognition of diverse sexual orientations, including but not limited to heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, asexual, and pansexual individuals. |
| Disability and Neurodiversity |
diverse physical, cognitive, and psychological abilities, including people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals (e.g., autism, ADHD, dyslexia). |
| Entry pathway |
The varied ways individuals enter the medical workforce in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. |
We understand that people can experience multiple layers of discrimination or privilege based on different aspects of their identity (e.g., a neurodivergent woman of colour).
Diversity is about valuing these experiences and creating an inclusive environment where everyone’s perspectives are respected.