Flinders University’s commitment to providing an environment where students and staff with disability are valued, supported and encouraged, and are able to, as far as practicably possible, participate fully and independently in the life of the University.
A 'disability' can be a:
The University has several resources and tools to assist both staff and students with disabilities.
This Disability Action Plan (DAP), in conjunction with the Disability policy, sets out the University’s approach to meeting its obligations and responsibilities under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992 and the associated Disability Standards for Education 2005. The DAP takes account of the Universities Australia (formerly Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (AVCC)) Guidelines on Information Access for Students with Print Disabilities (November 2004) and Guidelines Relating to Students with Disabilities (May 2006) which were predicated on the following two key principles:
(i) that Universities will uphold academic standards such that students graduate with the requisite skills and knowledge associated with the degree conferred; and
(ii) that Universities provide students with disabilities with the opportunity to realise their academic and social potential and to participate fully in university life.
Consistent with the University’s commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for people with disabilities studying and working at Flinders, and the Key Strategies embodied within Flinders University Strategic Plan 2016-2025 – Making a Difference: The 2025 Agenda, the DAP details strategies and defines success indicators within the context of the following six primary objectives:
Success indicators:
Strategies | Responsibility delegated to | Targets | Timeframe |
Review University promotional material provided to prospective students, careers advisers, secondary schools, overseas agents etc. to ensure that it gives sufficient prominence to University policy relating to students with disabilities, and services available to students with disabilities | Director, Student Recruitment Executive Director, Strategic Marketing and Communications Executive Director, International Centre Disability Advisors |
Review of promotional material undertaken, and redrafted as necessary | Annually – prior to the start of teaching |
Course-specific promotional material to make specific reference to inherent requirements or other issues which may be of concern to prospective students with disabilities, e.g. mode of delivery, work placement or fieldwork requirements, and future employment limitations | Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Faculty General Managers Executive Director, International Centre Course Coordinators Disability Advisors |
Review of existing material undertaken, and redrafted as necessary | 2018 |
Ensure that front-line enquiry staff in Student Centre and Faculty/School Offices, and all staff representing the University at joint Universities/TAFE Information Days, Open Days, Education Fairs etc., are fully conversant with Flinders University Disability Policy, and particularly the University’s legal obligations and the Principle of Reasonable Adjustment or Accommodation |
Director, Student Recruitment Executive Director, International Centre Faculty General Managers Course Coordinators |
All staff involved in recruitment and/or new student enrolment appropriately trained | Annual email |
Maintain capacity to give special consideration to applications for admission from people with disabilities | Director, Student Recruitment |
Increase in number of students with declared disabilities gaining access to Flinders | Ongoing |
Enrolment packages and the SATAC Guide to include reference to the University’s Disability Policy and the principle of Reasonable Adjustment or Accommodations | Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Director, Student Recruitment |
Material reviewed and revised where necessary | Ongoing |
Success Indicators:
Strategies | Responsibility delegated to | Targets | Timeframe |
Provide students and staff with opportunities for mental health education and development of resilience and skills | Director, Student Services Director, People and Culture Manager, Student Engagement Executive Director, Commonications, Marketing and Engagement Dean, Indigenous Strategy and Engagement Dean, Flinders Living |
RU OK? Day and other promotional events | Ongoing |
Provide students with culturally safe spaces as an essential part of their mental health and wellbeing | Director, Student Services Dean, Indigenous Strategy and Engagement Manager, Student Engagement Coordinating Chaplain, Oasis |
Provision of Student Spaces: Oasis, Yunggorendi Student Common Room, Queer Space, Women's Room | Ongoing |
Provide students experiencing mental health problems with access to University support services and referral to external services where appropriate | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) Director, Student Services Manager, Student Engagement Dean, Indigenous Strategy and Engagement Dean, Flinders Living |
Provision of and referral to Counsellors and Doctors at Health, Counselling and Disability service | Ongoing |
Assist students who are experiencing mental health problems to realise their full academic potential and to successfully complete their course of study | Director, Student Services Manager, Student Engagement Dean, Indigenous Strategy and Engagement Dean, Flinders Living |
Increased numbers of students with mental health problems visit Health, Counselling and Disability service | Ongoing |
Support staff in their dealings with students experiencing mental health problems | Director, Student Services Dean, Indigenous Strategy and Engagement Dean, Flinders Living |
Hold at least 6 workshops for staff each year | Ongoing |
Continue to provide and promote the full range of services available to students | Deputy Vice Chancellor (Students) Director, Student Services Manager, Student Engagement Head, Student Leaning Director, Student Recruitment |
Increased numbers of students access support services | Ongoing |
Supervisors of staff are informed and assisted to respond appropriately around mental health and wellbeing | Director, People and Culture Associate Director, Work, Health and Safety Manager, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Manager, Professional Development Unit |
Workshops at least twice a year | Ongoing |
People and Culture advisors are informed and empowered to respond appropriately around mental health and wellbeing | Director, People and Culture Manager, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Manager, Professional Development Unit |
Workshops or guest speakers at least twice a year | December 2018 |
Continue to provide and promote support available for staff | Director, People and Culture Associate Director, Work, Health and Safety |
Employee Assistance Program is well resources and utilised; Flexible Employment Practices are well accessed |
Ongoing |
Continue to update and promote the University Wellbeing Calendar | Associate Director, Work, Health and Safety Manager, Sports Centre |
Calendar is promoted at least twice a year |
Ongoing |
Success Indicators:
Strategies | Responsibility delegated to | Targets | Timeframe |
The University's "Learning and Teaching" website to provide direct links to the University's Disability Policy and information relevant to teaching students with a disability | Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Director, Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching Manager, Equal Opportunity and Diversity |
Information on website, including links to other relevant websites reviewed and updated | February 2015 |
An academic staff member to be nominated in each Faculty as a Disability Academic Adviser and provided with appropriate training | Executive Deans Disability Advisors |
Faculty Disability Academic Advisors identified in each Faculty, and appropriately trained | Ongoing |
Staff to be reminded periodically of the UniversityGuidelines for Reasonable Adjustment to Assessment and Teaching Methods for Students with Disabilities (availabe as Appendix A of the University's "Assessment Policy and Procedures") | Deputy Vice Chancellor- Academic Disability Advisors Manager, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Faculty General Managers
|
University and Faculty newsletters include appropriate references on regular basis | At the start of each semester |
Students with declared disabilites to be invited to obtain an Access Plan that details reasonable accommodations | Disability Advisers | All students who have declared a disability contacted and invited to be assessed for an Access Plan | Two weeks after the start of each semester |
Ensure each Statement of Assessment Methods (SAM) includes a statement that outlines the process for students with disabilities who wish to negotiate reasonable adjustments to teaching or assessment methods. | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Course/Topic Coordinators |
Statement of Assessment Methods is reviewed and amended as necessary. Updated Statement is disseminated to Faculties. | Prior to start of each semester |
Students with disabilities who are indentified as being "at risk" of preclusion from their course/topic to be individually counselled and supported as appropriate | Topic Coordinators Disability Advisors |
Students with disabilities identified as being "at risk" individually counselled and supported as appropriate | Ongoing |
Funded support services for individual students with disabilities (eg AUSLAN Interpreters) to be readily available | Disability Advisors | Keep abreast of developments in aids and technology designed to support teaching and learning of people with particular disabilities, and provide for their introduction to Flinders as the opportunity and/or need arises. | Ongoing |
Flinders Foundation of University Teaching (FFOUT) to include an information session on issues relevant to teaching students with disabilites | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Director, Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching |
FFOUT for new academic staff to be reviewed to ensure that it contains sufficient reference to University policy with respect to students with disabilites | December 2015 |
Student feedback is sought regarding any issues for people with disabilities | Executive Director, Student and Academic Services |
Emails sent out at least once in a reporting period | December 2016 |
Advice regarding alternative assessment formats to be readiliy available to teaching staff | Disability Advisors Director, Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching |
Development of webpage describing range of alternative assesment formats and when they might be used. Teaching and Learning website to link to this page. | December 2015 |
Success indicators:
Strategies | Responsibility delegated to | Targets | Timeframe |
Decisions on selection of candidates for interview and/or appointment are made in accordance with the University's Disability Policy, particularly the Principle of Access and Equity and the Principle of Reasonable Adjustment or Accommodation | Director, Human Resources Chairs, Selection committees |
Training for members of selection committees to include specific reference to Flinders Disability Policy | Ongoing |
Information about services and facilities for staff with disabilites is readily available to applicants for positions | Director, Human Resources | The "Jobs" website to be reviewed for accessibility and completeness | July 2015 |
Adjustments to/accommodations for interview are made in response to specific needs of candidates | Director, Human Resources Chairs, Selection Committees |
All invitations for interview include specific reference to rights of candidates with disabilites | December 2015 |
Staff induction programs include information about Flinders Disabilty Policy and the disability services and facilities available to staff | Director, Human Resources Cost Centre Heads Manager, Equal Opportunity and Diversity |
All staff induction programs reviewed in terms of inclusiveness of information relating to disabilities | July 2015 |
Maintain up-to-date information regarding government policy with respect to emplyment of people with disabilites | Director, Human Resources | Government policy initiatives which may facilitate the employment of people with disabilites promulgated widely within University as they are announced | Ongoing |
Raise awareness of staff with respect to disability issues generally, including awareness of the wide range of disabilities | Manger, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Disability Advisors |
Promugation of information in various formats to staff | Ongoing |
Managers and supervisors are reminded periodically of their responsibilities in terms of the University's Policy on Disabilities | Director, Human Resources Manager, Equal Opportunity and Diversity |
Staff bulletins include reference to Flinders Disability Policy at least every 6 months | Ongoing |
Use of "good news" stories about staff with disabilities to actively promote the view amongst staff that disability is not a barrier to appointment, career progression or promotion. | Director, Human Resources Manager, Equal Opportunity and Diversity |
Opportunities taken wherever possible to promote acceptance | December 2016 |
Success indicators:
Strategies | Responsibility delegated to | Targets | Timeframe |
Incorportate universal access improvements into the capital planning process | Director, Buildings and Property | Nominate officer to take responsibility for disability access Undertake periodic audits of the University's built environs and leased premises including residential spaces Ensure universal access is an integral part of infrastructure planning |
Ongoing |
Provide a mechanism for the reporting of universal access barriers identified by staff or students | Director, Buildings and Property | Provide information and a mechanism, via the web, for staff and students who wish to report access barriers to Buildings and Property | December 2013 |
Provide accessible transport for people with physical disabilities | Director, Buildings and property | Provide access cabs for staff and students with a physical disability on campus | Ongoing |
Ensure appropriate evacuation procedures are in place for staff and students with disabilites and effectively displayed and promulgaged | Director, Buildings and Property
|
All spaces have Evacuation Procedures displayed at appropriate heights | December 2015 |
Success Indicators:
Strategies | Responsibility delegated to | Targets | Timeframe |
Identify a senior staff member of Information Services as the responsible officer for the development, implementation and evaluation of disability services in Information Services, and promote the services of this officer | Pro Vice-Chancellor (information Services) | Officer identified and his/her identity promulgated to University community | Ongoing |
Continue to allocate and resource rooms/spaces within the libraries for use people with disabilities | University Librarian/Associate Librarian Disability Service | Rooms/spaces allocated-monitor level of demand | Ongoing-Review rooms/spaces as demand increases |
Develop a strategic and coordinated approach to the further development of an accessible online environment at Flinders | Pro Vice-Chancellor (Information Services) Head, Digital Presence Services |
Strategic plan developed with progressive targets set. Accessibility is a standing item on the agenda of the FLO Advisory Group | December 2015 |
People with disabilities are fully informed about access within the Flinders online environment and able to provide feedback | Pro Vice-Chancellor (Information Services) | Web-based feedback facility inplace | December 2015 |
Staff and students have access to training and support in the development of accessible online environment and in the use of assistive technologies | Pro Vice-Chancellor (Information Services) Director, Education ICT Director, Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching Disability Service |
Use of training modules monitored and modules reviewed | Ongoing |
Ensure all future ICT Hardware and Application purchases include appropriate disability access criteria as part of the selection criteria as appropriate | Pro Vice-Chancellor (Information Services) | Procurement processes include disability access criteria | December 2015 |
Course information and promotional material on the web is in accessible formats | Pro Vice-Chancellor (Information Services) Head, Digital Presence Services |
Course information and promotional material on the web reviewed and accessibility ascertained | December 2015 |
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