Moving beyond compliance and symbolism. Designing for belonging.
Inclusion and belonging are created where curiosity, values and purpose meet lived experience, thoughtful execution and leadership accountability.
Belonging Co Approach
Belonging Co exists because traditional inclusion and engagement approaches are not delivering the outcomes organisations and communities need. Policies are written, training is delivered, reports are produced, communities and staff are engaged — yet lived experience remains unchanged in many cases. The potential for social and cultural impact is not realised.
The common barriers are:
🔸Leadership capability, confidence and understanding
🔸Systemic and structural barriers - cannot be resolved without executive intervention
🔸Accountability with positions with limited to no authority, budget and resourcing
🔸Limited understanding of engaging lived experience and cultural perspectives
🔸Lack of clear pathways and measures for social and cultural inclusion outcomes
🔸Narrow scope of social and cultural inclusion impact
🔸Compliance and risk, rather than vision and belief, driving this work
Belonging Co approach
🔸Work at the leadership level - because leaders have the greatest potential to affect change and create impact.
🔸Take a holistic view of inclusion, beyond just diversity categories
🔸Belonging is a societal need, not just a workplace compliance task
🔸Belonging done well has a positive business and community impact
🔸Belonging is an aspiration but also a shared responsibility
🔸Belonging is a leadership accountability
🔸Belonging needs a diverse skill set
🔸This is the #Belonging Shift
The key principles of this approach are:
1. Lived experience is treated as important insight and evidence
2. Cultural agency and meaningful engagement are valued
3. Executive leaders are responsible for inclusion outcomes
4. Systems change is prioritised over surface level fixes
5. Develop business and community impact of inclusion
What this looks like in practice
🔸Tell the truth clearly
🔸Design practical solutions
🔸Identify gaps, barriers and roadblocks
🔸Help leaders move forward with clarity and accountability
🔸Build organisational capacity and capability for inclusion
Belonging needs tools and ideas from diverse sectors
🔸Community engagement and community development
🔸Placemaking, arts and culture
🔸Social impact and sustainability
🔸Diversity, inclusion, anti-racism
🔸This is the #BelongingShift