Regulation 17.2.R1 - Equal Opportunity Policy

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1. Principles

1. The University of Melbourne is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education, employment and welfare for staff, students and prospective students of the University, and will continue to develop equal opportunity practices and programs compatible with its overall goals and responsibilities. This commitment is consistent with the principles of justice, equity and the pursuit of excellence which should apply in a university, and conforms with the spirit and intent of equal opportunity and anti-discrimination legislation. The policy is designed to support the principle that staff are selected or promoted according to merit.
   
2. The University accepts that it has a responsibility to create an educational and employment environment free of discrimination. It will ensure that its structures and practices are free from direct or indirect discrimination based on gender, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, sexual preference, social and economic circumstances, race, disability and religious and political beliefs and activities. Notwithstanding the above there are special circumstances (e.g. certain disadvantaged groups) where the University will adopt policies which may discriminate between classes or groups of individuals.
   
3. The University recognises that it has a responsibility to develop programs in education and employment which redress, where appropriate, the effects of past discriminatory practices within the community, and that it has a responsibility to take positive steps to overcome inequality of opportunity.

2. Policy Guidelines - General

In its responsibility for all members of the University community, the University aims to-

1. Ensure that there is no discrimination against any group of students or staff in access to University facilities.
2. Establish and maintain mechanisms within the University to deal with complaints concerning discrimination and sexual harassment.
3. Educate the University community on the general goals and philosophy of equal opportunity together with the rationale for policies and practices which are adopted.
4. Provide the University community with information about the University's condemnation of sexual harassment, provide advice and support for those who have been harassed, and training for Sexual Harassment Advisers.
5. Continue to work towards the provision of child care to meet the needs of its members.
6. Ensure that all University policies, procedures and official documentation and publications accord with equal opportunity principles and are amended as necessary to accord with these principles.
7. Eliminate sexist and other discriminatory language from all University publications and discourage the use of such language in published and unpublished material and in the speech of its staff and students.

3. Policy Guidelines - Education

In its responsibility for education the University aims to-

1. Continue, develop and extend programs for the admission of disadvantaged groups.
2. Take positive steps to provide support for members of disadvantaged groups once they are admitted to the University.
3. Encourage the increased participation of women students in all aspects of University life, including post-graduate study and decision making structures.
4. Provide an environment where all disciplines at under-graduate and post-graduate level are accessible to both women and men.
5. Maintain and develop programs to accommodate disadvantaged or disabled students, adjusting where necessary the learning environment or procedures.
6. Ensure that University courses develop an awareness and acceptance of the principles of equal opportunity in order to encourage graduates and members of the University to eliminate inequality of opportunity in society.
7. Encourage faculties to acknowledge the possibility that gender and ethnicity enter into the construction of knowledge, and to take account of this in the processes of curriculum planning.
8. Ensure the promulgation of University guidelines for writing and preparing material which avoids discriminatory language.

4. Policy Guidelines - Employment

In employment, the University aims to-

1. Implement the University's Affirmative Action Program for Women.
2. Provide improved opportunities for more women to participate in University committees.
3. Cover in all training programs for staff with management responsibility, principles of equal opportunity and means towards its achievement.
4. Encourage disadvantaged individuals to participate in training and staff development programs in order to broaden skills and equip them adequately for positions of responsibility.
5. Maintain and develop programs to accommodate disadvantaged or disabled staff adjusting where necessary the work environment or procedures.

5. Procedures

1. Responsibility for implementing the policy on equal opportunity will rest with the management of each Faculty, School, Department and Section.
2. The University will maintain the Equal Opportunity Standing Committee as a Council Committee, charged with responsibility for monitoring progress in implementing the Policy, for providing advice to the Vice- Chancellor and to Council and for monitoring the University's Affirmative Action Program for Women.
3. The University will maintain an Equal Opportunity Officer, responsible to the Vice-Chancellor, whose duties include facilitation of the implementation of the University's policy and support of the Equal Opportunity Standing Committee in its role of monitoring the implementation of the policy and compliance with relevant legislation.
4. In establishing procedures aimed at implementing the equal opportunity policy, there will be wide consultation with staff and students and their representative organisations.
5. The costs of implementing the policy on equal opportunity will be covered by each Faculty, School, Department or Section in its annual budget.
6. The equal opportunity policy statement will be circulated to all staff and to the student body. It will be incorporated in relevant publications such as the Orientation Handbook and the Prospectus. An equal opportunity statement will continue to be incorporated in advertisements for staff and publicity material for courses.
7. The University will review its equal opportunity policy at least every three years or when necessary.

This regulation became a regulation by virtue of sub-section 7(2) of the University Acts (Amendment) Act 1994.