Welcome
The School of Biomedical Sciences (SBS) is one of the University’s fastest growing Schools. Together the SBS aims to grow innovation and help the next generation of biomedical scientists, doctors and health professionals to thrive. To meet the challenges of a changing world will require our steadfast commitment to strengthening an inclusive, diverse and equitable culture.
Whether you’re looking to connect with student or staff groups, attend special events and celebrations or access support services, you’ll find a range of diversity and inclusion opportunities and resources here to engage, learn and contribute to a more inclusive campus for everyone.
Our Priority Areas & Terms of Reference
The School's Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Action Committee aims to develop a diverse, harmonious scholarly community where student and staff wellbeing are woven into the fabric of our day-to-day business. The JEDI Action Committee includes professional staff, students, early career academics, and senior leaders from across all Departments in the SBS, who are committed to supporting a diverse and respectful community.
The JEDI Action Committee is guided by the University’s Athena Swan (SAGE) Gender Equity Bronze Award, the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2030, and the Faculty’s Advancing Health 2030. The Committee will discuss, review, and develop policy and procedure that embeds and promotes equity and inclusivity across systems, processes, work and culture of the School.
Diversity & Inclusion Events & News
Visibility in Pride (ViP)
ViP is a new network created for LGBTQIA+ staff and graduate researchers across the Faculty of MDHS
Student & Staff Stories
Meet some of students and staff who have shared their stories. These stories aim to promote understanding, celebrate diversity and inclusion, and build meaningful connections.
Resources & Support
We've put together a range of internal and external resources designed to promote equity, belonging and inclusion.
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University Resources
- Murrup Barak: Supports Indigenous students at the University through a range of academic and employment services and events.
- Indigenous Knowledge Institute: Interdisciplinary research institute aiming to advance research and education in Indigenous knowledge systems.
- Indigenous Bursaries: Several bursaries for Indigenous students are offered by the University.
- BlakAbility: BlakAbility is an exciting new Australian Research Council (ARC) funded project looking to improve the lives of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people living with disability. This is the first time a project such as this has been undertaken and the team is led by Dr Sheelagh Daniels-Mayes.
External Resources
- Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation: Provides a range of services including consultations, awareness training, research, cultural practices for events, and natural resource management.
- Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association: State-wide agency providing advice to government on a range of community development issues, and provider of extensive services to the Aboriginal community.
- First Peoples - State Relations Victoria: Group within the Department of Premier and Cabinet responsible for nation-leading work in the ares of cultural rights, self-determination, treaty and truth.
- Yoorrook Justice Commission: Investigates historical and ongoing injustices against First Peoples in Victoria since colonisation. It will establish an official record of the impact of colonisation on First Peoples in Victoria, and make recommendations for practical actions and reform.
- First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria: The independent and democratically elected body to represent Traditional Owners of Country and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria.
- The Uluru Statement: Calls for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution and a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth-telling between governments and First Nations peoples.
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University Resources
- Student Equity and Disability Support Services: Information on types of support available to students with disabilities.
- UMSU Disabilities Department: Provides a space for students living with or experiencing a disability.
- Melbourne Disability Institute: Facilitates interdisciplinary research to build the evidence-base needed to guide social and disability policy reforms, and to advance opportunity and equity for people with disability, their families and carers.
- Accessibility Guides: Web accessibility guides for students and staff.
- UniMelb Neurodiversity Project
External Resources
- People with Disability Australia: National disability rights, advocacy and representative organisation made up of, led and governed by people with disability.
- Scope Australia: Disability service provider offering a range of services from therapy to accommodation support, communication support, and research.
- Australian Network on Disability: National not-for-profit that helps organisations engage with people with disability.
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University Resources
- UMSU Women's Department: Advocates for and supports women and non-binary students on campus.
- Strong Women: Promotes the inclusion of women at Melbourne University Sport across all levels of participation.
- Athena Swan Program: An accreditation process that explores the state of gender equity at the University, followed by the development and delivery of a 4-year action plan to address opportunities and challenges. The University received the Athena Swan Bronze Award in 2020.
External Resources
- Gender Equity Victoria: Peak body for gender equity, women's health, and the prevention of violence against women.
- Safe and Strong, Victorian Gender Equality Strategy: Victorian Government strategy to prevent violence against women through gender equality.
- Chief Executive Women Australia: Advocates and engages with government and business to achieve gender balance and equal opportunity for women.
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University Resources
- Safer Community Program: Supports the University of Melbourne to provide a safe and inclusive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer, asexual and questioning, staff and visitors.
- Pride in Action Ally Network: Aims to bring together LGBTQIA+ identifying staff and students, along with their allies, to share information and foster an inclusive workplace and learning environment.
- Queering the Curriculum Resource: An evolving resource providing relevant theoretical and practical resources to aid staff in their practice of teaching with respect for gender and sexuality.
- A guide creating inclusive environments for trans and gender-diverse students; ideal especially for tutors or lecturers who interact with students. PDF version. Word version.
- UMSU Queer Department: Advocates for and supports queer communities on campus.
- Pride in Sport: Aims to provide a safe place for LGBTQIA+ identifying people to participate in sport.
- LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Action Plan
- Pride in Action Ally Network
- Gender Affirmation Policy
- Safer Community – Information for TGD Staff and Students: Includes contact of Senior Advisor (Gender Affirmation) includes links to updating personal details
- Creating inclusive environments for TGD students
- Inappropriate Workplace Behaviour Reporting
- Speak Safely Portal: Reporting sexual assault & harassment
- HR Complaints Handling Processes
- Creating Inclusive Environments for Trans & Gender Diverse Students
External Resources
- Rainbow Door: Free specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family (Runs 10am-5pm, 7 days p/week. Phone: 1800 729 367).
- QLife: National service providing anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people in Australia (Runs 3pm-midnight, 7 days p/week. Phone: 1800 184 527).
- Black Rainbow: National Indigenous owned and operated organisation supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBQTI+SB people.
- Transgender Victoria: Victoria's leading body for trans and gender diverse people, working to achieve justice, equity and inclusion.
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Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Action Committee
Meet our Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Action Committee in the School of Biomedical Sciences who are leading the way in shaping a School culture where every voice is valued and represented.
The inaugural SBS Diversity and Inclusion Action Committee (DIAC) was established in Dec 2025 with co-chairs Dr Ana Potemkin (she/they) and A/Prof Michelle Rank (they/them).
Ana is a bioinformatician working for the Computational Sciences Initiative at the Doherty Institute and Michelle is an education focused academic in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology leading postgraduate vocational study in anatomy. Ana and Michelle are passionate about supporting the School to exemplify values of inclusion, collaboration, and diversity and shepherd through initiatives that build collegiality, promote equitable access to career opportunities, and improve visibility of our diverse staff and student community.
Diversity and Inclusion is an integral part of what I do and who I am. With the rights of marginalised communities under attack around the world, it is vital, now more than ever, to stand up and say, 'We deserve to be here, we deserve to be safe, we deserve to be accepted.' How could I sit by and do nothing?
- Dr Ana Potemkin