POL-14 — Diversity, Inclusion & Disability Rights Policy

CONVI serves a diverse community of participants. Disability intersects with culture, gender, sexuality, age, religion, and every other dimension of identity. This policy establishes that CONVI delivers support that is respectful, safe, and equitable for every participant and every worker — regardless of who they are.

Document reference	POL-14
Version	v1.0
Status	Current — Authoritative
Legislative basis	Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) · Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) · UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
Review cycle	Annual
Next review	May 2027

1. Disability Rights Framework

CONVI's approach is grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the social model of disability. This means:

Disability is understood as the interaction between a person's characteristics and barriers in the environment — not as a personal deficit to be fixed
Participants are presumed capable, competent, and worthy of respect — language and attitude reflect this
The NDIS is a rights-based scheme — participants are not receiving charity, they are exercising a right to support
Workers use the language participants prefer for their own disability — ask, do not assume

2. Equal Opportunity & Anti-Discrimination

CONVI does not discriminate in service delivery or employment on the basis of:

Disability — including type, severity, visibility, or label
Race, ethnicity, national origin, or cultural background
Gender, gender identity, or gender expression
Sexual orientation
Age
Religion or spiritual belief
Pregnancy or carer status
Physical appearance or other protected attributes under Victorian law

Any worker who discriminates against a participant or colleague on the basis of a protected attribute is in breach of the Code of Conduct (POL-02) and may be subject to disciplinary action and complaint to the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

3. Cultural Safety

CONVI acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the First Peoples of Australia and are the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we operate. CONVI is committed to delivering culturally safe support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants.

Cultural safety for all participants means:

Asking participants about cultural, religious, and community practices relevant to their care
Accommodating cultural preferences in support delivery where possible — meal times, prayer times, gender preferences for workers, dress requirements
Not imposing assumptions about what a participant believes, values, or practices based on their background
Seeking guidance when working with communities CONVI has limited experience with

4. LGBTIQ+ Inclusion

CONVI delivers respectful, affirming support to LGBTIQ+ participants and employs LGBTIQ+ workers without discrimination. This means:

Using a participant's correct name and pronouns without exception — if unsure, ask once respectfully
Not questioning, challenging, or expressing disapproval of a participant's or worker's gender identity or sexual orientation
Not referring to a participant's identity as something to be "managed" or "accommodated" — it is simply who they are
Reporting to the Director any situation where a participant's LGBTIQ+ identity creates a safety risk in their home environment — this is treated as a safeguarding concern

5. Disability Language Standards

CONVI uses	CONVI does not use
Person with disability / Person with [condition]	Disabled person (unless preferred by the individual)
Participant / Person / [Name]	Patient · Client · Consumer · Sufferer · Victim
Uses a wheelchair / Wheelchair user	Wheelchair-bound · Confined to a wheelchair
Has autism / Autistic person (use what the participant prefers)	Suffers from autism · Afflicted by · High/low-functioning
Behaviour of concern / Challenging behaviour	Problem behaviour · Misbehaviour · Bad behaviour
Non-speaking / Minimally verbal	Mute · Can't talk · Dumb
Complex support needs	High needs · High maintenance · Difficult

6. Reporting Discrimination or Breach

Any participant or worker who believes they have experienced or witnessed discrimination contrary to this policy may raise a concern:

Direct to Director: alex@convi.au | +61 494 574 786
NDIS Commission: 1800 035 544
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission: 1300 292 153
Australian Human Rights Commission: 1300 656 419

POL-14 | v1.0 | May 2026 | Convi Pty Ltd (ACN 677 127 703) as Trustee for Attard Family Australia Trust | ABN 60 342 025 267

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