Standards for equity services

Information about student equity and disability support standards at the University of Melbourne for students, staff, and the wider University community.

Students

We expect students who are Registered for ongoing support to:

  • Initiate and maintain contact with staff including academic staff to communicate their academic support needs
  • Regularly check their student email account and student portal for information and announcements
  • Contact academic staff for extension requests before the assessment due date
  • Promptly advise Student Equity and Disability Services with changes to their condition and manage their enrolment accordingly
  • Be aware of the expiry date of their study adjustments and the processes involved for updating support.
  • Abide by the Student Charter:
    students.unimelb.edu.au/campus-life/policy-and-conduct/student-charter

Student Equity Advisers

To ensure equitable support for registered students, Student Equity Advisers will:

  • Determine the need and nature of study adjustments through discussion with the student
  • Act on information in a timely manner to optimise students’ participation in educational programs and student life
  • Coordinate comprehensive student support services (e.g. interpreting services, accessible formatting) and monitor, in partnership with faculties and graduate schools, at-risk student progress
  • Advocate on a student’s behalf to secure study adjustments in exceptional circumstances where a student does not have the functional ability to do so themselves.

Teaching staff

To ensure an equitable learning environment, University teaching staff are expected to:

  • Create a safe and welcoming class environment where students feel comfortable and confident to request support services
  • Adhere to the University’s privacy policy and protect the privacy of students who share personal information in their Academic Adjustment Plan in conversation with staff. See privacy information below.
  • Monitor the performance of registered students if disclosed, to ensure that they are adequately supported and are not receiving any unfair disadvantage or advantage in their studies
  • Refer students to Student Equity and Disability Services if appropriate
  • Maintain academic integrity when considering study adjustments and negotiate alternative arrangements if a study adjustment is not reasonable
  • Seek advice from Student Equity and Disability Services for additional information or support.

University responsibilities

In accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) and the principles of the Disability Action Plan, the University will:

  • Ensure that students with disabilities have the same access to study, assessment and services as students without disability
  • Eliminate discrimination against students on the ground of disability
  • Promote recognition and acceptance of people with disabilities within the University so that all students have equal access to education and services
  • Develop a culture that understands and responds to disability as a shared responsibility
  • Foster the best and most appropriate practices in disability services
  • Extend disability training and support to academic and professional staff to ensure compliance with disability legislation and the Disability Action Plan.

Privacy

  • Why we collect your personal information

    SEDS is collecting and processing your personal information for one or more of the following:

    • To determine eligibility for Special consideration and/or Registration for ongoing supports
    • Inform available outcomes available for Special consideration
    • Develop and implement Academic Adjustment Plans (AAPs) when registering for ongoing support including alternative exam arrangements and accessibility supports
    • Inform reporting and planning activities including for government funding reporting requirements, and to improve student services in relation to Special consideration and Registration for ongoing supports (non-identifying information only).
  • How we process your personal information

    We will process your personal information as necessary for our legitimate interests, in accordance with applicable privacy laws, and only under the following circumstances:

    • For the purpose for which it was collected; or
    • A related purpose which you might reasonably expect; or
    • Where you have consented to the processing; or
    • If we are required or permitted to do so by law.

    We collect your personal information directly from you. In some cases, we source some information (e.g., your subject enrolment details and results) from the University’s student database, and if required we will validate curriculum and assessment details with the relevant faculty.

    We will only share your personal information with the University of Melbourne staff members who are directly involved in the assessment of your application and in determining the appropriate outcomes. The information may also be made available to authorised staff in your Faculty to aid in determining special consideration outcomes, and also with the centrally organised exams team when it involves alternative exam arrangements (AEAs) including accessibility adjustments when registered for ongoing support.

    Where relevant, sharing of your Academic Adjustment Plan (AAP) with others such as academic staff will be done with your consent. If you choose not to share your AAP, this may limit what adjustments can be made.

    There may be some instances where your personal information may be transferred outside of Victoria or Australia (for example, where providers are located internationally or use a cloud-based system with servers based in international jurisdictions). We take all reasonable steps to ensure that the interstate or overseas transfer of personal information is in accordance with our privacy obligations as outlined in the University’s General Privacy Statement.

    If you choose not to provide requested information, it may mean that your application is deemed ineligible and/or cannot be approved and implemented by SEDS, faculties or other services or programs at the University.

  • Further privacy information

    Refer to the University’s General Privacy Statement or other privacy statements for general information about how we process and protect personal information, including:

    • Our lawful basis for processing personal information;
    • Collection, use and disclosure of personal information;
    • Accuracy, security and storage of personal information;
    • Retention and disposal of personal information;
    • Your individual rights; and
    • Applicable privacy laws.

    Your rights

    You may request access to, or correction of, your personal information we hold, or exercise your individual rights as applicable under relevant privacy laws, unless this would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of others or would contravene the University’s other legislative obligations.

    If the lawful collection of your personal information is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. However, this will not affect the lawfulness of our processing of your information prior to you withdrawing your consent.

    Privacy contacts

    For further information you can contact us at Equity and Disability Support equity-disability@unimelb.edu.au.

    For further information about how the University manages personal information, and for details of how to make an enquiry, lodge a complaint, or to contact the University’s Privacy and Data Protection Officer, please refer to our Privacy webpage, view the University's Privacy Policy or contact privacy-officer@unimelb.edu.au.

    Last updated:  Wednesday 16 August 2023

Need help?

If you have questions relating to ongoing support, or if you need to get in touch with the Student Equity and Disability Services team, please contact Stop 1.