Our approach to diversity and inclusion

At Merri-bek City Council, we want our workforce to be as diverse as the community we serve. We value lived experience and its role in creating a safe and inclusive work culture.

We encourage applications from:

• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community
• People with disability
• People from all cultures, sexualities, religions, ages and gender identities.

Our Gender Equality Action Plan

Our Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) outlines strategies to make our workplace more inclusive. We created these strategies in response to our 2025 Gender Data Audit and staff consultations. They focus on creating meaningful change in areas like:

• Recruitment and promotion
• Leave and flexibility
• Sexual harassment and safety
• Gendered segregation.

Even though our GEAP has gender in its name, it is an intersectional plan. We acknowledge that different parts of a person’s identity (e.g. their cultural identity, religion, sexuality etc) can expose them to overlapping and compounding forms of discrimination. We chose strategies that reduce barriers across a wide range of identities, backgrounds, and experiences.

We commit to building and sustaining a workplace that is inclusive, accessible and fair. A workplace where every employee experiences respect, dignity and safety.

First Peoples Employment Plan

At Merri-bek City Council we have a First Peoples Employment Plan. This Plan drives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment across Council.

Our vision is that Merri-bek City Council is an employer of choice by First Peoples.

Our workplace and practices are culturally safe and supportive of First Peoples expressions of:

• Identity
• Gender
• Cultural values and practices
• Abilities

• Socio-economic status and rights to self-determination.

We provide opportunities at all levels of the organisation, that realise First Peoples staff career objectives and aspirations. This is in line with our Statement of Commitment to First Peoples.

First Peoples Careers page and get in touch with our First Peoples careers team today.

Workplace adjustments

We aim to remove barriers and increase access, where possible, at all points in our recruitment and onboarding processes, and during your time at Council.

For more information about adjustments during the recruitment process please contact Danni Jovanovic, Recruitment Business Partner on recruitment@merri-bek.vic.gov.au.

Our Diversity and Inclusion Calendar

Our internal Diversity and Inclusion Calendar includes a wide range of calendar dates.

The calendar:

• Raises awareness
• Builds connection
• Celebrates the diversity of our workforce.

It works alongside our:

• First Peoples Wellbeing Calendar
• Learning and Development Calendar

• External events and communications developed by our community-facing teams.

Facilities for staff

Prayer room/quiet rooms are available in:

• Coburg Civic Centre (multi-faith prayer/quiet room)
• Hadfield Operations Centre (a prayer room and a multi-faith prayer and wellbeing room)
• Glenroy Community Hub (multi-faith public prayer/quiet room).

All gender end-of-trip facilities (showers and lockers) are available in the Coburg Civic Centre.

Bagung wilam - a cultural connection room for First Peoples employees - is available in the Coburg Civic Centre.