2. Equity and diversity

TAFE Queensland's Commitment

What You Need to Know

TAFE Queensland celebrates and values the diversity of its community, and is dedicated to ensuring equal opportunity and treatment for students throughout their learning experience.

In particular, TAFE Queensland is committed to creating a positive learning environment for students that promotes equality, is free from discrimination and harassment, and is supportive of the specific needs of individuals.

TAFE Queensland is committed to the following principles for the management of student equity and diversity:

Principle 1: We will provide equal access to all prospective students during the admissions process.

Principle 2: We will create a positive learning environment that protects students from discrimination, harassment, and other inappropriate behaviours.

Principle 3: We will foster an inclusive and flexible learning environment that works to meet the specific needs of students.

Principle 4: We will provide students with reasonable access to available appropriate support services.

Creating a Respectful Environment

What You Need to Know

Equal Access to Admissions:

TAFE Queensland provides equal access to student admissions.

We will ensure that:

1. Admission processes are free from discrimination;
2. Entry into TAFE Queensland is determined by meeting published course entry requirements and pre-requisites; and
3. Access and equity issues are considered when setting course entry requirements and pre-requisites.

Addressing Discrimination and Harassment:

Under the TAFE Queensland Student Rules and Policies, discrimination and harassment are forms of major misconduct, and will be managed under the Student Misconduct process.

Instances of discrimination and harassment may also be unlawful behaviour under Queensland or Australian law, and may result in further action being taken.

Fostering an Inclusive and Flexible Learning Environment

What You Need to Know

You may be eligible to receive some of the following academic and learning support services, based on your requirements and the capability of TAFE Queensland, including:

1. Reasonable adjustment: Changes to accommodate the individual needs of students with illness, injury, impairment, or disability and enable them to participate in education and training;
2. Flexible learning: Flexible training and assessment options to maximise student participation; and
3. Academic and learning support: Additional academic and learning support (such as literacy and numeracy support).

 

Provision of Personal Support Services

What You Need to Know

If you need personal support for any issue impacting your education and training, TAFE Queensland will endeavour to help you.

If you need to discuss any issue, you can talk to your teacher or your local Student Services/Customer Services area.

TAFE Queensland is committed to supporting the needs of all students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual (LGBTQIA).

Creating a Respectful Environment

What You Need to Know

Addressing Discrimination and Harassment:

TAFE Queensland works to provide a respectful environment for all students.

All students can avoid discrimination and harassment by being respectful and inclusive in their interactions with LGBTQIA persons, including:

Avoiding Deliberate Discrimination and Harassment:

1. Avoiding any form or verbal harassment of LGBTQIA persons, in particular directed towards an LGBTQIA person's gender, sex, sexual orientation, dress, or other personal circumstances;
2. Refraining from any verbal abuse towards LGBTQIA persons;
3. Avoiding threats or actual physical confrontations or assaults of LGBTQIA persons;
4. Abstaining from inappropriate use of electronic resources, devices, and social media in addressing or commenting on LGBTQIA persons; and
5. Respecting the property of LGBTQIA persons.

Avoiding Discrimination and Harassment through Insensitivity or Ignorance:

1. Using the gender, sexuality, name, and gendered prefix and pronoun the LGBTQIA person nominates for themselves;
2. Avoiding questioning the gender, sexuality, name, and gendered prefix and pronoun the LGBTQIA person uses for themselves;
3. Refraining from asking what an LGBTQIA person's 'real' or 'birth' gender, sexuality, name, and gendered prefix and pronoun is;
4. Avoiding discussing an LGBTQIA person's physical appearance, unless invited to do so; and
5. Avoiding questions about an LGBTQIA person's anatomy, sex life, relationship status, or medical treatment, unless invited to do so.

Under the TAFE Queensland Student Rules and Policies, discrimination and harassment are forms of major misconduct, and will be managed under the Student Misconduct process.

Instances of discrimination and harassment may also be unlawful behaviour under Queensland or Australian law, and may result in further action being taken.

Providing Access to Facilities

What You Need to Know

TAFE Queensland students are able to access the facilities (e.g. bathrooms and change rooms) that best correspond to their gender identity.

For example, transgender men (birth-assigned females who identify as male) are able to use male designated bathrooms and change rooms, and transgender women (birth-assigned men who identify as female) are able to use female designated bathrooms and change rooms.

Students accessing facilities that best correspond to their gender identity have no obligation to communicate their decision to use those facilities.

However, if you wish to communicate your use of a facility that corresponds to your gender identity with local staff or students you can discuss this with your local Student Services/Customer Services area, including using a Change of Personal Details Action Plan.

If you require increased privacy in access to facilities, you can ask Student Services/Customer Services for advice on how to accommodate your needs, for example accessing single stall or unisex bathrooms.

Amending TAFE Queensland Records

What You Need to Know

Change of Preferred Name:

TAFE Queensland allows students to make changes to their preferred name as they choose. No supporting evidence is required.

If you wish to change your designated preferred name, you can complete the Continuing Student - Personal Details Check Form (for existing students).

Change of Legal Name:

TAFE Queensland allows students to represent a change in legal name in cases where supporting evidence of a legal name change is presented, in particular:

1. Verification of an update to your Unique Student Identifier profile (if you have or are eligible for a Unique Student Identifier); or
2. A Change of Name Certificate (if you are not eligible for a Unique Student Identifier).
3. If you wish to change your designated legal name, you can complete the Continuing Student - Personal Details Check form (for existing Students).

Change of Gender:

TAFE Queensland allows students to make changes to their designated gender as they choose. No supporting evidence is required.

Whilst we don't require any evidence to support this change, we ask that for consistency of records that you provide verification of an update to your Unique Student Identifier profile (if you have or are eligible for a Unique Student Identifier).

If you wish to change your gender details, you can complete the Continuing Student - Personal Details Check form (for existing Students).

Implementing a Change of Preferred Name, Legal Name, or Gender:

When you have completed the Continuing Student - Personal Details Check form and submitted it to Student Services/Customer Services along with any supporting evidence we will work with you to communicate these changes with appropriate staff and students, using a Change of Personal Details Action Plan. This is a joint effort and we'll respect your wishes for how we communicate your changes in details.

Access Rules for Assistance Animals

What You Need to Know

TAFE Queensland will provide appropriately trained Assistance Animals with access to TAFE Queensland campuses and sites when requested by students.

An Assistance Animal will not be permitted to access TAFE Queensland campuses or sites when:

1. Evidence of the Assistance Animal’s appropriate training is not provided;
2. The Assistance Animal is reasonably suspected of having an infectious disease;
3. The Assistance Animal is not under the effective control of the student (or another person on behalf of the student); or
4. Reasonably necessary to protect public health and/or the health of other animals.

Assistance Animal Applications:

What You Need to Know

When the request is for ongoing access to TAFE Queensland campuses and sites, you must complete the Assistance Animal Access Request Form, and submit to the Student Support Manager.

As part of your request for access for Assistance Animals, you must submit supporting evidence to demonstrate that the animal is appropriately trained, from one of the Appropriate Training Options below:

Option number	Appropriate Training Option	Evidence Required
1.	Accredited under a law of a State or Territory that provides for the accreditation of animals trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of the disability	Evidence that the animal is accredited under a law of a State or Territory.  For example, Public Access Test certification issued under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 (Qld).
2.	Accredited by an Animal Training Organisation, prescribed by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992	Evidence that the animal is accredited by an Animal Training Organisation, prescribed by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. For example, a certificate of accreditation from an Animal Training Organisation.
3.	Trained to: i. Assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of the disability; and ii. Meet standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place.	Evidence that the animal has been appropriately trained. The type of evidence which a student may provide to demonstrate this could include: (a) A letter from an appropriate support person or medical professional stating that the Assistance Animal assists in alleviating the effects of the student’s disability; (b) A letter from an animal trainer or training organisation stating that the Assistance Animal meets standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place; and/or (c) A Statutory Declaration from the student confirming that the Assistance Animal assists in alleviating the effects of their disability and meets standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place. Note: the evidence must demonstrate both elements of this option - that the animal assists the individual to alleviate the effects of their disability and that the animal meets appropriate standards of hygiene and behaviour.

You must also provide a letter or certificate from a licensed veterinarian (dated within the last 12 months) confirming that the Assistance Animal is in a healthy condition and has received all recommended vaccinations.

TAFE Queensland will then assess the application and provide a decision back to you.

TAFE Queensland may also limit or restrict the access given to an Assistance Animal where reasonably necessary to protect public health and/or the health of other animals. In these circumstances, TAFE Queensland will manage suitable and comparable alternative arrangements through a risk assessment and Reasonable Adjustment process.

Assistance Animal Planning and Management:

What You Need to Know

For approved Assistance Animal requests and when the request is for ongoing access to TAFE Queensland campuses and sites, TAFE Queensland will ensure that a management plan is in place for Assistance Animal arrangements, which must be agreed by you prior to access being permitted.

TAFE Queensland will be responsible for the:

1. Provision of orientation for the student and Assistance Animal;
2. Identification of feeding, toileting, and waste disposal areas for the Assistance Animal; and
3. Management of Reasonable Adjustments.

You will be responsible for:

1. Appropriate handling of the Assistance Animal;
2. Provision of food and water;
3. Management of toileting breaks (including waste collection and disposal);
4. Provision of appropriate rest; and
5. Liability for any damage to persons or property caused by the Assistance Animal.

Management of Assistance Animal Concerns and Complaints:

What You Need to Know

In cases where students are uncomfortable in the presence of an Assistance Animal (such as where the individual has a phobia of or suffers allergic reactions to that particular animal type), they should in the first instance raise the issue with their teacher to determine if alternative arrangements are possible.

In cases of student concerns or complaints:

1. Where access for the relevant Assistance Animal has already been granted by TAFE Queensland, that access will not be amended (other than where a concern or complaint relates to the training or health status of the Assistance Animal); and
2. Where access for the relevant Assistance Animal has not yet been granted by TAFE Queensland, the concern or complaint may be taken into account when determining access arrangements for the Assistance Animal.

Periodic Review of Assistance Animal Arrangements:

What You Need to Know

TAFE Queensland will review Assistance Animal arrangements on an annual basis at a minimum, or when a change in campuses, sites, or locations occurs for the student accompanied by an Assistance Animal.

TAFE Queensland may otherwise at any time review Assistance Animal arrangements when required.

Companion Animals:

What You Need to Know

TAFE Queensland will not permit Companion Animals to access TAFE Queensland campuses and sites.

TAFE Queensland encourages students requesting access for Companion Animals to complete the training activities required for the animal to be considered an Assistance Animal. Upon being appropriately trained as an Assistance Animal, the animal will then be permitted access to TAFE Queensland campuses and sites.