WORKFORCE
campusreview.com.au
Stigmas are
on notice
UTS takes steps to develop a more
inclusive culture that helps workers
of all kinds reach their potential.
By James Wells
T
he University of Technology Sydney
is undergoing “structural and
cultural change” to de-stigmatise
disability and mental health issues among
its workforce.
The Access and Inclusion Plan aims to be
inclusive of all people, including those with
disabilities and mental health concerns. UTS
is attempting to change its organisational
culture to recognise the unique skills
and abilities of all employees and to help
workers reach their full potential. In the
university’s words, this moves “beyond the
current practice of making appropriate
accommodations for people with disability”.
Workplace terminology will change.
‘People with disabilities’ will be replaced
with ‘people of diverse abilities’. Similarly,
‘mental ill health’ will be preferred over the
term ‘mental illness’.
“I’d rather use the term mental ill health
and move away from that diagnostic,
pathologising model of [using the term
mental illness],” says Arif Ongu, UTS equity
and diversity officer, disability.
Ongu says changing workplace language
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is essential to shifting organisational culture.
He says t