AISZ DEIJ Policy

AISZ is dedicated to creating systems that value the unique contributions of all students and staff to our school and fully engage all members of our school community in achieving our vision. We commit to explicitly embedding a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens in our organizational and learning culture. The Director is responsible for ensuring that our school culture embodies practices honoring and demonstrating diversity (the collective mix of differences and similarities amongst individuals within our community), equity (equitable access to success across our school’s programs), and inclusion (an environment in which all individuals feel a sense of belonging) in our diverse community.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEIJ) speak differently to distinct values we embrace as a school:

• Diversity: The representation of different and unique identities, characteristics, experiences, and perspectives.
• Equity: Giving our community what they need to succeed by increasing access, resources, and opportunities for all;
  especially for those who are underrepresented and have been historically disadvantaged.
• Inclusion: A welcoming culture in which differences are celebrated and everyone is valued, respected, and able
  to reach their full potential.
• Justice: Justice at AISZ is an active and conscious effort to work against systemic inequity, exclusion, and intolerance within our school and community. All community members are empowered to tackle difficult issues, minimize bias, remove barriers to resources and opportunities, and dismantle injustice wherever found, including within ourselves. 

We believe that these bring together different points of view and different experiences. Embracing Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion helps to prepare our students and our wider community for life in a global society,
broadening perspectives and contributing to academic excellence. DEI helps individuals and communities thrive.

We recognise diversity, equity and inclusion as an asset to our school. Respecting differences and recognising
diversity are core beliefs in our school, symbolised by our emblem. By engaging with multiple perspectives
different from one's own, our community of learners build empathy, respect, and understanding. It is an ongoing
process which strengthens our community and enriches the lives of our students.

Diversity includes, but is not limited to: heritage, ethnicity, language, gender, gender identity and expression,
spiritual beliefs, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, identity and expression, age, socio-economic status, learning
styles, personal perspectives and abilities.