Diversity Council Australia (DCA) has launched two new programs to build cultural intelligence and strengthen inclusion across multicultural and multifaith workplaces.

Now available, the facilitated knowledge programs are said to respond to growing demand from organisations seeking practical ways to navigate complex cultural and faith-related issues at work amid heightened global tensions and growing polarisation.

DCA Head of Education Phoebe Mwanza says workplaces don’t exist in isolation from the world around them.

“Global conflict, rising faith-based discrimination, social polarisation, and misinformation increasingly shape the realities that employees bring into the workplace each day,” she says.

“Cultural intelligence gives leaders and employees the tools to have respectful conversations, mediate conflict and create psychologically safe environments where everyone feels respected and can contribute.”

DCA’s new offerings include:

• Leading with cultural intelligence: Building and supporting multicultural and multifaith teams.

A two-hour facilitated program for people managers, team leaders, senior executives and C-suite leaders. ‘Leading with cultural intelligence’ equips leaders with the mindsets, behaviours and practical tools needed to create culturally responsive, faith-inclusive teams. It also explores why cultural intelligence is important for business now more than ever, provides tools for engaging and communicating effectively across intercultural contexts, and guidance on managing conflict and difficult conversations across multicultural and multifaith teams.

• Cultural intelligence for multicultural and multifaith teams.

A 90-minute facilitated program for all employees. This program explores why cultural intelligence matters at work, encourages participants to reflect on their own cultural intelligence, and builds practical skills for communicating and working effectively with colleagues from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds.

DCA CEO Catherine Hunter says cultural intelligence acknowledges that leaders don’t need to be experts in every culture or faith.

“Instead, they need the confidence, flexibility, curiosity, and ability to learn, ask, listen, adapt, and respond constructively when difference shows up,” she says.  

“If diversity is the mix of identities in a workplace, and inclusion is what makes that mix work, cultural intelligence is the key that enables leaders and teams to bridge the two.”

Both programs are available virtually or in person, for groups of up to 30 participants, and can be delivered to DCA members and non‑members, with members receiving significantly reduced pricing.