Preamble

1.                   The Australian National University has an express commitment to equal opportunity in education and employment for students and staff, and prospective students and staff.  This commitment is consistent with the University's pursuit of excellence as an education-intensive research institute of international distinction, and is underpinned by values of integrity in activities, respect in relationships and collegiality in the building of a community of scholarship and learning.

Commonwealth Human Rights legislation

2.             Australia as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, and related Conventions, supports the ‘inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family'. In supporting this commitment the Federal Government has enacted specific legislation to advance the human rights and equal opportunity of specific groups within Australia as expressed in the Age Discrimination Act 2004, Racial Discrimination Act 1975, Sex Discrimination Act 1984, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Act 1986, Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999.   

Policy statement

3.             ANU will continue to integrate the principles of equal opportunity in its planning, policies and practices that advance the distinctive nature and purpose of ANU. 

4.             ANU will promote inclusive work and study environments that value the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives of the University community.  This means that ANU will continue to apply the purpose of equal opportunity and human rights legislation and policy:

• to improve access, participation and inclusion of particular equal opportunity groups who have been traditionally under-represented, through review of policy and practices and implementing special measures; and
• to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of sex; pregnancy; marital status; family responsibility; race, colour, ethnic or ethno-religious background, descent or national identity; sexuality; age; trans-sexuality; disability; union affiliation, political conviction or religious belief.

Equal opportunity at ANU

5.             Equal Opportunity means that staff and students experience fairness, impartiality and equal access to opportunities in employment and education at ANU. Special measures can be implemented to advance substantive equality.

In employment

6.             Equal opportunity in employment includes the principle of selection and promotion of staff on merit, which precludes irrelevant personal attributes.  Fair and transparent processes are applied in assessing the capacity of a person to perform the inherent requirements of a position, having regard to the person's knowledge, skills, qualifications and experience and their potential for future development. 

In education

7.             Equal opportunity in education includes the principle of selection and assessment of students on merit, which precludes irrelevant personal attributes. Fair and transparent processes are applied in assessing the capacity of a student against specified requirements to access and participate in educational programs.

Equal Opportunity for women in the workplace

8.             ANU develops and implements workplace programs aimed at contributing to equal opportunity for women in the workplace and eliminating discrimination as required by the Commonwealth's Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999.   ANU reports on these programs which include strategies to address issues such as the under-representation of senior academic women and women in non-traditional employment fields. 

Implementation of equal opportunity

University Community Equity Committee

9.             ANU has established a University Community Equity Committee that advises the Vice-Chancellor on matters relating to the University community and, in particular, the equity agenda and activities.  The Committee will advise on equity priorities, review plans and policies, receive submissions, commission research and establish working parties on community and equity issues.  

Executive and senior staff

10.         Executive and senior staff members have accountabilities for the implementation of this policy within their area of responsibility.   

Specialist units

11.         ANU has established specific areas with responsibility for advancing the inclusion of staff and students for specific diversity groups such as the Jabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and Disability Services Centre for students with disabilities and a Workplace Diversity Unit for Staff

Equity practitioners

12.         ANU employs staff to promote equal opportunity in planning, policy and strategies and to work with staff and students in the advancement of equal opportunity in employment and education.

Definitions

Discrimination: Unlawful discrimination can occur when someone, or a group of people, is treated less favourably than another person or group because of a specified attribute such as their race, colour, national or ethnic origin; sex, pregnancy, breastfeeding; relationship status; carer status; age; transsexuality; disability; sexuality; union affiliation; religious or political conviction or any other characteristic specified.


Direct discrimination occurs when a person or group is specifically excluded from an employment or education opportunity because of a personal characteristic such as sex, age, disability or race. Direct discrimination is the result of the beliefs or stereotypical attitudes some people may have about the characteristics and behaviour of members of a group.  For example refusing to interview an applicant because of their age or deciding not to enrol a student who meets the course requirements because of their disability.


Indirect discrimination occurs when employment and educational requirements, conditions or practices are applied to people equally and appear to be neutral but the requirements, conditions or practices significantly reduce the chance of members of some groups specified in human rights legislation to obtain an education or employment opportunity.

Equal opportunity groups in employment include people with disabilities, Aboriginal people, Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and mature workers.


Equal opportunity groups in education, called equity groups, include students with disabilities, students with low socio-economic status, students from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds, Aboriginal students, Torres Strait Islander students, students from rural and isolated backgrounds and women in non-traditional fields of study.


Special measures enable actions to be implemented to advance substantive equality for individuals who belong to groups that have experienced past disadvantage because of laws and rules, stereotypes and attitudes.  These groups are specified in the Australian human rights legislation.

Replaces former ANU Diversity policy May 2002 (file 200300026) and Equal Opportunity statement

March 2009- Updated to reflect new arrangements for staff equity – HR Division Diversity and Inclusion Unit.