At Cafs, we actively celebrate diversity and inclusion and the importance of providing an inclusive and safe environment for all who come to us for support or to work with us.
We know that diversity adds so much to our strength as an organisation and to our community.
We are proudly governed by our community and committed to making a difference for all, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTIQA+ people, people of all abilities, and people from all cultural backgrounds and faiths.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Cafs proudly acknowledges the Wadawurrung, Djab Wurrung, and Dja Dja Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we work and live.
We aim to provide culturally safe and welcoming support services that respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, values and practices, and to be an employer of choice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Cafs has had to own up to its own history of harm. We deeply regret the trauma experienced under policies of the past by the residents of the Ballarat Children’s Orphanage and Ballarat Children’s Homes.
In learning from those wrongs, we welcomed the formal Apology to the Stolen Generations and signed up urgently to the National Redress Scheme that emerged from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Cafs is committed to creating a fully inclusive and accessible community for all people and to identify and remove barriers for people with disabilities in our own work.
Cultural and linguistic diversity
Cafs values and embraces the many culturally and linguistically diverse communities that make up the Central Highlands region, and provide richness to our lives.
We aim to partner with those communities, to provide culturally responsive services, and build a diverse workforce.
LGBTIQA+ people
Cafs provides an LGBTIQA+ inclusive environment for our staff, clients and community, aiming to be free of bias and discrimination.
Our Rainbow Tick accreditation demonstrates our commitment and ability to deliver LGBTIQA+ inclusive services and we continuously review and improve the quality of care we provide to gender and sexually diverse people.
Preventing violence
Cafs is proud to have White Ribbon Australia accreditation, in recognition of our work to stop any form of violence against women.
Violence has a devastating impact on women’s lives, too often pushing them into homelessness, unstable housing, job loss, poor health, child removal, and contact with the justice system. Across all our programs, we’re not just responding to these effects, we’re working to stop violence before it starts.
Let’s build a better future, together.
Ready to Make a Difference With Us?
Whether you’re reaching out for support, seeking more information or looking to give back, partner, join or volunteer, we’d love to hear from you.
