To strengthen the University of Melbourne as an institution of preference for outstanding students and staff from Australia and around the world.
The University of Melbourne consistently out-performs national indicators for the participation of students with disabilities. The University has set ambitious targets for improved access for students from disadvantaged backgrounds that may require review of current application and selection procedures.
The University of Melbourne employment strategy has been to develop fair, open, consistent recruitment practices with strong incentives for outstanding people to perform at the highest levels. Fundamental to this approach is to ensure that the principles of equity and merit are entrenched in all human resources policies.
The University is committed to assisting its staff and students to realise their full potential, and recognises that additional disability-specific professional development opportunities will assist staff to deal appropriately with disability-related issues.
| |
Strategy |
Method |
Measure |
Timeframe |
Responsibility |
| 1.2.1 |
Human Resources policies and procedures, including Equal Opportunity, Discrimination, Recruitment and
Selection, and Academic Promotion, comply with legislation and best practice in relation to the recruitment and
employment of people with disabilities. |
Human Resources policies and procedures reviewed and updated regularly in light of legislative change
and best practice in equal opportunity and disability employment. |
Benchmarking of best practice conducted and informed policy change. |
Continuing |
Equal Opportunity & Discrimination Policies |
| Policies reflect current legislation. |
2004 |
Equal Opportunity Coordinator |
| Policies updated and meet best practice standards |
Continuing |
All other Human Resources policies |
| Manager, Client Services (Human Resources) |
| Manager, Workplace Relations |
| Manager, Staff Equity & Development |
| 1.2.2 |
Human resource measures that enhance the employment experience and prospects of staff with disabilities
identified and implemented. |
Flexible work options developed and revised in light of legislative changes and best practice. |
Flexible work policies and options in place and promoted to staff and managers. |
Continuing |
Manager, Client Services (Human Resources) |
| Flexible work policies provide guidance for decision-makers in relation to equal opportunity law. |
Data and feedback from staff indicate that flexible work options are accessible and meet the needs of people with disabilities. |
Continuing |
Manager, Risk Management |
| Training and advice provided to academic and general staff managers and staff on flexible work
arrangements and reasonable accommodations. |
Guidelines on 'reasonable accommodations' for staff with disabilities developed and promoted widely. |
2004 |
Manager, Workplace Relations |
| Data and feedback from staff indicate that reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities have been made. |
Continuing |
Manager, Staff Equity & Development |
| 1.2.3 |
Policy and procedures affecting the recruitment and employment of people with disabilities are readily accessible to staff and managers.
|
Policy and procedures available in written and web-based formats. |
Policy and procedures available in written and accessible web-based formats. |
Continuing |
Manager, Client Services (Human Resources) |
| Staff and managers informed of changes to entitlements, obligations and procedures. |
Managers and staff informed of changes to policy and procedures. |
Continuing |
Manager, Staff Equity & Development |
| Equal opportunity, discrimination complaints and flexible work policies and procedures promoted to staff and managers at workshops, briefings and training. |
Data and feedback indicate that staff and managers are aware of their rights and obligations under relevant policies and procedures. |
Continuing |
| Data and feedback indicate that policies and procedures are accessible and utilised. |
Continuing |
| 1.2.4 |
Recruitment and Selection Committees have expertise in equal employment and anti-discrimination policy and legislation. |
Recruitment and Selection training includes equal opportunity and anti-discrimination policy and legislation. |
Training promoted and conducted for academic and general staff and attendance levels maximised. |
Continuing |
Vice Principal (Human Resources) |
| Recruitment and Selection training includes specific discussion of legal obligations in relation to the recruitment of people with disabilities. |
Monitoring indicates that selection committees are compliant with the Selection Policy training requirement. |
Continuing |
Manager, Staff Equity & Development |
| Policy requirements relating to the training of Recruitment and Selection Committee members implemented and monitored. |
Feedback and data indicates that applicants with disabilities are provided with equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in recruitment and selection procedures. |
Continuing |
Manager, Client Services (Human Resources) |
| 1.2.5 |
Academic Promotion panels have expertise in equal employment and anti-discrimination policies and legislation. |
Guidelines provided to staff participating in academic promotion panels, and include equal opportunity and anti-discrimination policy and legislation. |
All promotion panel members provided with guidelines outlining policy and best practice in the employment and promotion of staff with disabilities. |
2003 |
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Students and Staff) |
| Policies and guidelines reviewed and updated to ensure equal opportunity and best practice in academic promotion procedures. |
Equal Opportunity Observers attend academic promotion panel meetings. |
Continuing |
Equal Opportunity Coordinator |
| Equal Opportunity Observers for promotion and confirmation proceedings appointed and briefed. |
Feedback from EO Observers collected and informed policy change. |
Continuing |
Manager, Client Services (Human Resources) |
| Feedback from Equal Opportunity Observers informs the revision of promotion policy and procedure. |
Feedback from Equal Opportunity Observers and data on appeals and complaints indicate that applicants for promotion are provided with equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation. |
Continuing |
| 1.2.6 |
New staff are made aware of their rights and responsibilities in relation to equal opportunity and disability discrimination. |
Staff orientation programs provide information about the University's equal opportunity and anti-discrimination policies and procedures. |
Equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination information included in University-wide orientation programs and materials. |
Continuing |
Staff Development Program Coordinator |
| Staff orientation programs provide information on services available to assist staff with disabilities. |
Anti-Discrimination Advisers participate in Department orientation programs for new staff. |
Continuing |
Equal Opportunity Coordinator |
| 1.2.7 |
University leaders, managers and supervisors are made aware of their rights and responsibilities in relation to equal opportunity and disability discrimination. |
Professional development programs for academic and general staff managers provide information on equal opportunity and anti-discrimination policies and procedures. |
Equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination information included in management development programs including Performance Development training. |
Continuing |
Manager, Staff Equity & Development |
| Briefings and information sessions provide academic and general staff managers with information and training on their legal obligations under state and federal Equal Opportunity legislation. |
Disability employment guidelines for managers developed and promoted widely. |
2005 |
University Compliance Officer |
| Guidelines for academic and general staff managers provide guidance on disability employment matters and managing discrimination complaints. |
Equal Opportunity Briefings on equal opportunity, discrimination, and disability employment are held and attended by managers and senior staff. |
Continuing |
Equal Opportunity Coordinator |
| Guidelines provided to academic and general staff managers responsible for performance development and management include Equal Opportunity information on reasonable accommodations and best practice in disability employment. |
Complaints data and feedback from managers and staff indicate that training and guidelines are meeting the needs of people with a disability and their managers. |
Continuing |
| 1.2.8 |
Staff responsible for the revision and development of policy and procedures are aware of their responsibilities in relation to equal opportunity and disability discrimination. |
Information on indirect discrimination available to relevant staff. |
Written and web-based information available on indirect discrimination. |
2003 |
Equal Opportunity Coordinator |
| Advice provided on existing and drafted policy in relation to the potential for indirect discrimination. |
Briefings and training on disability discrimination include indirect discrimination. |
Continuing |
University Compliance Officer |
| Complaints data and feedback from managers and staff indicate that guidelines and advice are meeting the needs of people with a disability and policy developers. |
2003 |
|
| 1.2.9 |
Support and advice is available to staff and students with concerns of disability discrimination. |
A network of staff trained as Anti-Discrimination Advisers is maintained. |
New Advisers undertake compulsory training. |
Continuing |
Equal Opportunity Coordinator |
| Anti-Discrimination Advisers provided with ongoing training on issues relating to disability discrimination. |
Existing Advisers undertake ongoing training and are provided with case related support. |
Continuing |
| Issues dealt with by the Advisers monitored and statistics maintained and reported to the EEOC and HRC. |
Issues dealt with by the Advisers monitored and statistics maintained and reported to EEOC and HRC annually. |
Continuing |
| Case data and feedback from staff indicate Discrimination Complaints Policy and Procedures, and the Advisers Network, are meeting the needs of people with concerns of disability discrimination. |
Continuing |
| 1.2.10 |
Assessment of accommodation needs is available to staff with a disability. |
Academic and general staff managers, and staff informed of services available for workplace assessments. |
Data and feedback from staff indicate that workplace assessments are conducted and reasonable accommodations made. |
Continuing |
Manager, Risk Management Office |
| |
Applicants for advertised positions informed of services available for workplace assessments. |
Information is available to job applicants and Recruitment and Selection committee members on workplace assessment services. |
Continuing |
Manager, Client Services (Human Resources) |