AFTRS : Access & Equity

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Access and Equity

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A group of students get to know each other on their first day

Orientation Day for new students - preparing to work collaboratively

Approved September 1999

AFTRS is committed to providing equality of opportunity to all students and applicants for full time and short courses. Access to training opportunities will not be affected by gender, sexual preference, marital status, disability, religion, culture, racial origins, political preference, pregnancy or age except in programs addressing specific recognised disadvantaged target groups.

Objectives and Strategies

AFTRS is committed to achieving the following Access and Equity objectives and strategies.

To ensure the broadest possible field of applicants for student places is reached by targeted advertising and stressing that courses are available to all suitably qualified applicants.
To ensure that student selection procedures are non-discriminatory.
Selecting students on the basis of merit ie skills, ability and experience.
To regularly review all AFTRS student policies, literature, publicity and training material to ensure it is non-discriminatory.
To encourage students from target groups to assume non-traditional roles in the film and broadcasting industries.
To encourage the inclusion in courses of segments which raise awareness of the role, status and work in film and broadcasting of people from identified target groups.
To look for opportunities to encourage all kinds of young people to enter the industry in every kind of creative, technical and administrative role.
To continue to support specifically targeted programs eg WIFT and Indigenous Program Initiatives.
To ensure all courses are accessible for applicants with physical disabilities.
To continue to make library services available to the public.
To continue to support students in relocating to Sydney to attend full time courses.
To continue to develop AFTRS web site to provide easily accessible information.
To continue to explore options for distance learning.

What is Access and Equity?

The concept of access implies that anyone who is eligible to apply to be a student at AFTRS should face no barriers to acceptance in comparison with other eligible applicants.

Equity implies that all eligible applicants receive an equitable and appropriate outcome. Equity also implies that if any sector of the population is not receiving a fair proportion of resources (under representation), it is not being equitably treated and requires specific targeting.

Access and equity also means the absence of harassment at AFTRS. Unlawful harassment can be based on any of the prohibited grounds of discrimination. Harassment is any form of behaviour that is unwelcome, which is based on one of the prohibited grounds, and which offends, humiliates or intimidates someone.

The Access and Equity Officer

The responsibility for ensuring access and equity lies with every staff member who has direct or indirect involvement with students, and every student. However, the Manager Student Services has been appointed AFTRS' Access and Equity Officer.

The Access and Equity Officer is responsible for the following.

Monitoring the implementation of the Access and Equity Policy.
Overseeing the content of AFTRS Access and Equity Plan.
Reviewing and reporting on the effectiveness of the Plan including the maintenance of statistics.
Keeping Senior Management aware of legislative changes and requirements.
Preparing reports for the Commonwealth Government and other agencies.
Providing input into curriculum discussions to ensure access and equity principles are included in decisions.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Committee

In addition AFTRS has formed an Equal Employment Opportunity Committee. The Committee consists of the Manager Student Services, the Human Resources Manager, a student representative and a staff representative.

The Committee has the following functions in relation to access and equity.

To consult with staff and students on access and equity matters as appropriate.
To review current policies and practices in the light of access and equity principles.
To consider access and equity initiatives in other organisations for possible adoption by AFTRS.
To assist the Access and Equity Officer in preparing reports and plans.
To investigate claims of discrimination.

Contractors

Management members and section heads will advise freelance contractors of AFTRS Access and Equity Policy.

Complaints (Grievances)

Complaints can only be made by the person(s) directly affected by the alleged behaviour. The person(s) must have documentation or other evidence to prove the extent to which the behaviour affected them.

Complaints of breaches of the Access and Equity Policy can be discussed with the Manager Student Services, directed to other members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, or lodged directly with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. AFTRS considers breaches of this policy to be serious and all complaints will be investigated. Resolution of the complaint may be at varying levels of formality from informal meetings to external investigation and disciplinary action.

Further Information

For more information about Access and Equity of related issues contact the Student Centre or Human Resources.

The following related policies are available on the Intranet, from the Student Centre, or from Human Resources.