EQUITY MATTERS AT SMI

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EQUITY MATTERSAT SMI

• SMI Staff Student Equity Diversity Induction
  Process
• 2008

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The Equity Office
facilitates the development of strategies,
policies, programs procedures that enable the
University to fulfil its commitment to equity
diversity in employment education.

• http//www.uq.edu.au/equity/

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Contact Officers

• Members of the university community volunteer for
  various network roles coordinated by The Equity
  Office.
• UQ Ally Network Members
• people empathetic towards students staff
  identifying as lesbian, gay, transgender,
  bisexual or intersex (LGBT/I).
• Discrimination Harassment Contact Officers
  (DHCOs)
• have undergone formal training act as contacts
  for staff students in areas of discrimination,
  harassment, bullying grievance resolution.
• Equity Diversity Information Networkers
  (EDINs)
• A network of volunteer staff acting as Equity 
  Diversity Information Networkers, providing a
  link between their area The Equity Office.

Melina Gillespie, Room 552 Phone 3346
4059 m.gillespie_at_cmlr.uq.edu.au EDIN UQ ALLY
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Equity Diversity Information Networkers
Role definition for EDINs

• Assist The Equity Office by distributing relevant
  material e.g. pamphlets, notices
• Encourage engagement in equity diversity
  activities
• Actively encourage senior staff in promotion of
  good practice in equity diversity

• Assist in promotion of relevant events
  implementation of strategic initiatives
• Assist the organisational unit meet its
  University Strategic Equity Diversity Plan
  obligations
• Raise awareness about equity diversity within
  their organisational unit work collaboratively
  with DHCOs

• Refer staff students with enquiries or
  grievance issues on equity diversity matters to
  DHCOs

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UQ Equity Policies

• All UQ Policies Procedures relating to Equity
  appear in HUPP
• (Handbook of University Policies Procedures)
• can be located on The Equity Office website

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UQ Staff Equity Diversity

• Data Collection

• used for statistical purposes
• for planning evaluation of staff equity
  strategies
• enables Uni policy procedure development
• confidential

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Online Equity Diversity Training

• EO Online
• Interactive training program developed for
  Australian universities, customised for Qld
  legislation.
• All staff to complete module 1
• Managers supervisors to completemodule 2

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Online Equity Diversity Training

• EO Online

• Module 1
• All staff students
• Discrimination Harassment
• Bullying
• Sexual harassment
• Unlawful under Anti-Discrimination Act

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Online Equity Diversity Training

• EO Online

• Module 2
• Responsibility of managers supervisors to
  prevent/ eliminate discrimination harassment in
  workplace
• Liability for discrimination harassment in
  employment
• Vicarious liability

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Vicarious Liability

• Anti-discrimination laws make employers legally
  responsible for unlawful actions of employees
• Reducing liability reasonable steps
• EO Online provides real-life examples

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Vicarious Liability

• Example of Vicarious Liability provided by The
  Human Rights Equal opportunity Commission
  (HREOC)
• A manager who is aware that an employee is being
  sexually harassed does nothing about it may be
  held liable as an accessory to the harassment.
  There is no defence available for this type of
  liability
• In effect, a person will be an accessory to
  harassment if they were aware that sexual
  harassment was occurring, or were aware that
  there was a real possibility of it occurring, did
  nothing to address it thereby allowed the
  harassment to take place.

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Where do Students go for help?

• The primary university website for all students
  is myAdvisor
• http//www.uq.edu.au/myadvisor
• This website provides information about
  assistance with programs, enrolment, assessment,
  rights responsibilities, financial matters etc.

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Where do Students go for help?
Student Grievance Policies outline procedures for
resolution Discrimination Harassment
policy Management of Sexual Harassment
Grievances policy Student Grievance Resolution
policy.
The UQ Student Union can also provide advocacy
services etc. Discussion in the first instance
can be made with a DHCO.

• International Students 
• Material/ support available to assist
  international students in their studies at the
  University of Queensland include
• International Student Advisors in Student Support
  Services 
• UQ International web site
• Handbook for International Students

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Student Rights Responsibilities

• Student Charter guide for dealing with fellow
  students, staff etc. Postgraduate Research
  Student Charter explains University research/
  training policy provides principles of good
  practice concerning supervision, infrastructure
  support, monitoring progress examinations.
• Student Responsibility Promoting an Equitable
  Environment, where everyone feels valued
  discrimination/ harassment are not welcome.E.g.
  Treating others with respect Valuing
  celebrating difference Speaking out at unfair
  treatment of others Being inclusive of all
  others

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Hints for Students
First steps in resolving discrimination,
harassment bullying issues (Guidelines for
Students)

• Hints on talking to or writing a letter to the
  Person for quick early resolution
• For example, if you feel able to talk to the
  person
• Consider time place to do so
• Carefully consider words and phrases you might
  use
• Use 'I' messages e.g. 'I feel offended when??
• It often helps to tell the person you want to
  maintain a positive relationship
• Concentrate on person's behaviour, not their
  personality
• Be prepared for their response, which could be
  scorn, denial, guilt, apology, sarcasm, or
  possibly anger
• Be prepared to give concrete examples of the
  offending behaviour
• See a DHCO

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Staff Grievance Resolution

• Workplace Harassment
• The University of Queensland addresses workplace
  harassment in the Discrimination Harassment
  Policy (section 3) Staff Grievance Resolution
  policy
• Sexual Harassment Resolution Procedures
• Refer to HUPP for Management of Sexual
  Harassment Grievances (policy 1.70.2) University
  of Queensland Statute No. 4 (Student Discipline
  Misconduct) 1999 Staff Code of Conduct.

Information can also be obtained from the Equity
Office, its website, a DHCO or Human Resources.
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CMLR Contract Equity Letter

• Dear Sir or Madam,
• We are looking forward to commencing/ continuing
  our successful working relationship with your
  company. Staff and students from the University
  of Queensland will be regularly visiting your
  sites.
• We would like to take this opportunity to advise
  you of the official Equity policies and
  procedures of the University approved by
  University Senate. The University of Queensland
  has policies and procedures in place which enable
  it to fulfil its legal obligations and commitment
  to equity and diversity in employment and
  education. Harassment in any form is not
  acceptable at the University.
• We aim to foster an environment in which
  individuals are treated respectfully and
  courteously, and where there are procedures in
  place to assist in reaching a resolution at the
  lowest possible level when conflict arises.
• Relevant university policy and procedure can be
  located at the following web address, and in
  addition information brochures have been
  enclosed.
• Policy 1.70.1 Equal Opportunity, Affirmative
  Action the Status of Women
• Policy 1.70.2 Management of Sexual Harassment
  Grievances
• Policy 1.70.3 Racism
• Policy 1.70.6 Discrimination, Harassment
  Bullying Policy
• Policy 1.70.8 University Disability Policy
• In the event that mine staff or contractors
  should have an equity issue with a member of the
  University of Queensland staff or student body
  undertaking University related activity, it is
  requested that the incident be reported to the
  Project Supervisor or Senior Manager from the
  University of Queensland so that the complaint
  can be dealt with and a prompt resolution
  achieved.
• The University aims to work towards 'best
  practice' in equity and diversity in all areas of
  our operations. In accordance with this aim, we
  request that your company provide us with your
  policy and procedure on equity matters and who to
  contact if there is a problem. This will assist
  our staff and students to know about your
  policies and their rights and responsibilities
  and the procedures for dealing with complaints of
  harassment and discrimination when working on
  your site.
• We thank you for your cooperation in fostering
  and promoting a work/ study environment of trust
  and respect.

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Equity Scholarships

• Scholarships for undergraduate domestic students
• Scholarships for Aboriginal Torres Strait
  Islander students
• UQ Return to Research Scholarships
• Merit Based PostgraduateEquity Scholarships
• UQ Link Special Entry
• Economics Scholarship

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Equity Programs Initiatives

• EO Online
• ALLY Program
• UQ Senate Standing Committee for Equity,
  Diversity Status of Women
• New Horizons Program 2008
• Promoting Women Fellowships 2008 Supporting
  Academic Careers
• Staff Development Programs
• Professional Development Support for Staff with
  Carer Responsibilities
• Equity Diversity Information Networkers (EDINs)
• EDSW Report May 2007
• Diversity Week

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Why Celebrate Diversity?

• The University is a microcosm of the world, with
  people from many countries, different
  backgrounds, abilities disabilities,
  ethnicities, religious beliefs, sexualities
  gender identities. Staff students may
  be single, partnered, married, have children or
  carer responsibilities, young, older or identify
  with various ethnic groups.

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Diversity Week

• Diversity week aims to
• Celebrate diversity of University community
• Increase awareness understanding of issues
• Encourage/ support elimination of discrimination
  
• Provide opportunities for individuals making
  positive contributions to diversity
• Support improvement of work/ study environment
  for all
• Recognise reward those who have made an
  outstanding contribution to equity diversity

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Diversity Grants Awards

• Application for grants to assist with Diversity
  week costs
• Vice Chancellors Equity Diversity Awards
  individual unit
• 2007 Diversity Week theme We All Count focussed
  on indigenous issues.
• Unit award went to members of UQ's School of
  Psychology Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander
  Studies Unit for their Indigenous Mental Health
  Day.
• Sonya Regenberg won the 2007 Diversity Week
  design competition.

Find 2007 Diversity Week event highlights
suggestions for 2008 activities on the Diversity
Week website http//www.uq.edu.au/diversity-week/
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Equitable Outcomes

• Staff students aware of issues, their rights
  responsibilities
• Awareness of The Equity Office website
• Accessing UQ Equity policies
• Staff encouraged to complete UQ staff equity
  diversity data collection form
• Completion of EO Online training
• Managers/ supervisors aware of responsibilities
  regarding discrimination harassment in the
  workplace
• Protecting staff students during work/study at
  non-University locations

• Contribute to an equitable, all-inclusive
  diverse university work/ study environment