How to hold inclusive meetings
A practical guide for everyone
Making meetings inclusive matters. Meetings are where people come together to discuss ideas, make decisions, and be heard. Making your meetings inclusive ensures everyone can participate in meetings on an equal basis.
Resources
- 10 Tips for Inclusive Meetings Infographic
- Inclusive Meetings at Work Checklist (Members only)
- Inclusive Meetings at Work Guide (Members only)
What is an inclusive meeting?
A meeting is inclusive when a diversity of participants (e.g. genders, races/ethnicities, sexual orientations):
can access the meeting
are respected and connected during the meeting
can contribute their perspectives.
When meetings are not inclusive, they lock out the contributions and perspectives of a diversity of people. Research shows that, in meetings, people from marginalised backgrounds (e.g. culturally and racially marginalised people, people with disability) are:
more likely to be required to meet at inaccessible times and in accessible ways
more likely to be overlooked, interrupted and spoken over, and less likely to get airtime and be given credit for their ideas
less likely to experience psychological safety.
DCA’s ‘How to hold inclusive meetings’ guide and checklist are tools that help everyone be inclusive in meetings, whether in-person, online or hybrid and whether you are meeting chair, facilitator or participant.
Members can log in to access the resources below.
To request an accessible alternative format of any document, please email admin@dca.org.au. Please let us know which format you need and for which document. While DCA will do its best to provide you with the alternative you need, please be aware that not all formats may be available.
Gain Full Access with DCA Membership!
DCA members get access to cutting-edge research, valuable toolkits & guides and inspiring events designed to support your D&I journey.
If your organisation has just signed up, your access will be activated as soon as payment is received.