UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT - WHO CAN I TALK TO?

If you are a student and you believe you are being harassed or treated unfairly by a member of the University, whether staff or student, the University has Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures for Students to assist you. This policy applies if you believe your adverse treatment has something to do with your sex, age, marital status, sexuality, pregnancy, race, nationality, religious group, or disability.

Student Contacts are specially trained in the use of the procedures and will guide and support you in dealing with your situation.

What does a Student Contact do?

A Student Contact will:

• Explore your concerns in a confidential discussion
• Provide support and advice where appropriate
• Supply relevant information
• Refer you to a more suitable person if necessary
  

In many cases, informal discussion will provide sufficient guidance to enable you to deal with the situation yourself. In other cases, the Student Contact will advise and support you in any action that you have decided is appropriate.

If you wish, you may make a formal complaint in writing to the Chair of the Student Grievances Committee. The Student Contact can assist.

The Chair of the Student Grievances Committee will:

• Inform the other person a complaint has been made, and give details;
• Receive a written response from the other person;
• Appoint a suitable person to investigate and report on your complaint;
• Make a confidential report and recommendation to the Vice-Chancellor if the complaint is substantiated; or
• Appoint a suitable person to help you and the other person to resolve differences, confidentially and speedily, through mediation or conciliation, in a way which is satisfactory to all concerned.

The booklet Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures for Students sets out the action you can take to deal with the complaint. It is available from any Student Contact Officer.