'Creating safe study and work spaces for LGBTQIA+ students and staff'
All Australian universities have an important role to play in promoting inclusion and tolerance.
UniSC supports diversity in the higher education sector and recognise the rights of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual students and staff to learn, live and work, free of prejudice and discrimination, with all the essential freedoms enjoyed by other members of our university community and the broader population.
UniSC is committed to providing an inclusive environment for all, including those of diverse gender and sexualities (LGBTQIA+) by educating staff on important issues relating to these communities.
UniSC will not tolerate harassment or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Please be aware that codes of conduct for staff and students apply at all times. The Student Charter sets out the expectations the University has of its students and also the obligations of the University to its students. The Student Expectations and Responsibilities site provides further relevant information for students.
Please make use of our support services. For students, contact Student Wellbeing, Student Guild Advocacy, or Safety and Security For staff, email the Health, Safety & Wellbeing team or use the links on the Workplace health, safety and wellbeing page at any stage if you need support, or advice on reporting or disclosing harassment. If you would like external support and advice you can call Diverse Voices, (peer to peer LGBTQIA+ telephone and internet counselling service).
Allies at UniSC
An Ally is an individual who is informed about, empathetic towards and has an understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) issues.
An Ally acknowledges the experiences, upholds and supports the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals by raising awareness of diversity in personal identity, gender, and relationship choices.
UniSC Allies act as a point of contact for staff and students on LGBTQIA+ issues and can discuss these areas confidently.
How can I contact a UniSC Ally?
Look for the Ally UniSC symbol on lanyards or badges or email one of the contact points below to be put in touch with a UniSC Ally.
Students
Student Central is a first point of contact for student related matters.
Email [email protected]
Office Locations for Student Central
Student Wellbeing are available to help during your time at UniSC.
Email [email protected]
Future students can email [email protected]
Staff
Contact someone by emailing [email protected]
Want to become a UniSC Ally?
To become an Ally at UniSC, the first step is to undertake LGBTQIA+ Awareness Training.
For more information about LGBTQIA+ Awareness training events for staff, go to the Page Up Learning Library.
For further enquiries, email [email protected].
Aims of a UniSC Ally
- Visibly support LGBTQIA+ inclusion by promoting and participating in Ally and Pride network events, utilising UniSC Ally Network merchandise and identifying yourself as an Ally within your networks.
- Provide a confidential and safe environment for people to make enquiries about issues related to the diversities of sex, sexualities and genders.
- Direct individuals to appropriate touchpoints should someone seek support.
- Call out (where safe to) inappropriate anti-LGBTQIA+ behaviour.
- Commit to ongoing personal education on the experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community.
An Ally is:
- An open, understanding, non-judgemental and comfortable listener.
- Aware of maintaining confidentiality.
- Knowledgeable of the additional support available at UniSC and in the wider community.
- NOT necessarily a counsellor, nor necessarily trained to attend to crisis situations, but aware of the referral process.
- NOT necessarily from the LGBTQIA+ community.
- NOT necessarily able to act upon grievance processes associated with bullying, discrimination or harassment. However be aware of the referral process.
- Committed to promoting UniSC as a safe, inclusive and diverse university.
UniSC Ally responsibilities:
- Participate in an interactive training program and commit to ongoing personal education on the experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Publicly identify as an ally by allowing your name and faculty/department to be available or student contact details to be published on the UniSC ally web page.
- Wear your UniSC Ally Network lanyard and/or pin to affirm your commitment and make you visible as an Ally.
- Provide a safe place for individuals to access you.
- Be open to questions relative to LGBTQIA+ issues.
- Work within and support existing equity policies.