Archive for the 'Employment Equity and Diversity' Category

UNE Colleagues

At the recent EEO Committee it was reported that many staff are not aware that the University, through its strategic planning and implementation process, has made the commitment that all staff complete the EO Online: Fair Play program.

All staff are required to complete the EO Online training.

EO Online: fair play training forms part of the University’s compliance commitment under Part 9A of the Anti Discrimination Act. Targets have been set in the University’s EEO Management Plan and the HR Development Plan regarding the percentage of staff completing this training. The 2008 target is 70% of all staff. By the end of 2009 the target is 100% of all staff.

EO Online: fair play is presented in two modules. It comprises information, real life examples, scenarios, quizzes and a learning summary for each segment. All staff should work through module 1. Staff with managerial or supervisory responsibilities should work through modules 1 and 2.

When staff have completed the module/s they will be issued with a Certificate of Attainment and their completion will be recorded in the University’s training and development records system.

Benefits: Equity training promotes an inclusive environment and assists all staff in understanding their rights and responsibilities in the workplace. Managers will find guidance in dealing with difficult situations as well as meeting their equity-related performance objectives.

To complete this program please go to http://www.une.edu.au/eeo/eoonline.php for the link to the program modules.

Please note: the modules do not need to be completed in one sitting. If interrupted simply bookmark the page so you can return to it later.

For assistance with any aspect of this program please contact Bernice O’Mahoney.
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Bernice O’Mahoney
Project & Administrative Officer (EE&D)
Employment Equity & Diversity
University of New England
Armidale NSW 2351
(Located on the Ground Floor, ITD Building)
phone 02 - 6773 3591
fax 02 - 6773 3619
Home Page http://www.une.edu.au/eeo

Dear Colleagues

You are invited to attend an afternoon tea function with the members of the EO Adviser Team .

When: Monday, 4 August 2008 at 3 pm

Where: ITD Foyer

Why: to celebrate the volunteer EOA Team and its work, and to introduce and welcome the new members of the team who completed their training earlier this year.

RSVP by email to bomahone@une.edu.au ASAP but before COB Tuesday 29 July for catering purposes.

Cheers

Bernice

Bernice O’Mahoney

Project & Administrative Officer

Employment Equity & diversity

The next UNE Ally Network training will be held early in Semester 2.

Date: Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Time: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Venue: ODU Training Room, Lamble Building
Morning tea and biscuits provided.

The follow-up meeting for those who decide, after training, that they wish to become part of the Ally support network, is scheduled for Wednesday, 10 September 2008.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you wish to attend this training, or if you need further information, by replying to Bernice O’Mahoney <bomahone@une.edu.au>.

Our Allies form a vital part of UNE’s GLBTI awareness raising and education programs and the establishment of an ALLY Network is seen as particularly important for a regional university. As one student explained,

‘When people have a good experience the news is passed on by word of mouth and other gay and lesbian students come here. The lack of an inclusive environment can ultimately result in people dropping out - and can even result in suicide. It’s a matter of getting support systems and networks going.’

Background information about the UNE Ally Network is available on the Employment Equity & Diversity web site at: http://www.une.edu.au/eeo/ally/

The list of current Allies is at: http://www.une.edu.au/eeo/ally/allycontacts.php

Cheers

Bernice

An Ally is someone (staff or student) who is informed about, is sensitive toward and understanding of GLBTI people and their issues.

International Women’s Day (IWD), March 8 is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. IWD celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future.

All UNE women are invited to an International Women’s Day Morning Tea Celebration commencing at 10.15am on Wednesday 12 March, in the Chancellory, Booloominbah.

Vicki Anderson, Director of HRS, will speak briefly at the Morning Tea.

The cost for the morning tea is $5 for tea/coffee and cake/slices (including gluten free), to be paid at the door.

RSVP: Bernice O’Mahoney <bomahone@une.edu.au>
Thursday 6 March

Attention all University employees [as posted on UNE-official 20 February 2008]

The University is committed to providing an environment which is free from all forms of harassment and discrimination.

The University is also obliged, by law, to ensure that all staff are aware of their rights and responsibilities. One way of demonstrating our commitment in this area is through this une-official notice.

Under the University’s Sex-based Harassment Policy and Procedures, the University recognises that students and staff should be able to expect to work and study in an environment free from sexual and other forms of harassment.

Harassment is any form of behaviour which is unwelcome, unsolicited and unreciprocated, which makes the workplace unpleasant, humiliating or intimidating for the person who is the target of that behaviour.

Any attempt to coerce an unwilling person into any form of sexual activity or to subject a person to repeated unwanted sexual attention, or to punish a refusal to comply, constitutes sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment is unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Act (1984) and the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act (1977).

Sexual Harassment as defined in section 28A of the Sex Discrimination Act:

“… a person sexually harasses another person (the “person harassed”) if:

(a) the person makes an unwelcome sexual advance, or an unwelcome request for sexual favours, to the person harassed; or

(b) engages in other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature in relation to the person harassed

in circumstances in which a reasonable person, having regard to all the circumstances would have anticipated that the person harassed would be offended, humiliated or intimidated.”

For more information, please consult the University’s Sex-based Harassment Policy and Procedures <http://www.une.edu.au/policies/pdf/sexbasedharassment.pdf>

Every employee should be aware of this policy. If you have not read the policy, please access it at the above link. If you would like to discuss any related matter, please contact Employment Equity & Diversity (ext. 3591).

Lyn Tucker
Employment Equity and Diversity Officer
University of New England

Phone: 6773 3242
Fax: 6773 3619

If you received an EEO data survey form earlier this month, please take a few minutes to answer the six quick questions and return the form to Employment Equity and Diversity through the internal mail, if possible by this Friday, 22 February 2008.

The response rate so far has been very good. Many thanks to those who have responded already.

The higher the overall response rate, the more accurate are our data and the better our insight into the participation of equity groups. Understanding our staffing profile enables us to see how representative it is of the local and national population profile.

Forms were only sent to those who have not yet supplied EEO data. If you do not wish to supply this information, take a moment to let us know and you will not be contacted again.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of EEO data collection, including why we need you to supply your name, please do not hesitate to contact Lyn Tucker, EED Officer on extension 3242 or Bernice O’Mahoney on ext 3591. We would be happy to answer your queries.

Lyn Tucker
EED Officer

International Women’s Day (IWD) March 8 is the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential. IWD celebrates the collective power of women past, present and future.

All UNE women are invited to an International Women’s Day Morning Tea Celebration commencing at 10.15am on Wednesday 12 March, in the Chancellory, Booloominbah. Vicki Anderson, Director of HRS, will speak briefly at the Morning Tea.

The cost for the morning tea is $5 for tea/coffee and cake/slices (including gluten free), to be paid at the door.

RSVP: Bernice O’Mahoney <bomahone@une.edu.au> Thursday 6 March