TAFE Queensland Robina Campus
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

TAFE Queensland's Commitment (external website)

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

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:
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;
Flexible learning: Flexible training and assessment options to maximise student participation; and
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.

W: https://tafeqld.edu.au/about/policy-and-governance/student-rules-and-policies/equity-and-diversity#accordion-ae73140866-item-50703ed774

INTERNAL (TAFE Queensland's policy documents require a login to our staff portal site)
At TAFE Queensland we believe that everyone has the right to be their authentic self at all times, including in the workplace. TAFE Queensland is committed to developing and maintaining an inclusive and safe environment for all employees and students that is free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying. Refer to the attachment for more detailed information.

TAFE Queensland does not have a Bias Response Team. HR is responsible to responding to any staff or student incident that does not comply with published policies for:
*Student Equity and Diversity Policy - details included in the Student Rules and Policies Handbook with the policy located on the TAFE Queensland SPOT website (login required)
*Staff Equity and Diversity Policy - located on the TAFE Queensland SPOT website (login required).

The Equity and Diversity Committee, responsible for these policies, exists with representation from all regions. This committee is responsible for policy development, reviews, and updates. The policy work guides the development of procedures and work instructions.

Staff develop their understanding of these policies at the point of staff induction and continued updates via annual orientations, face-to-face training sessions, and online webinars. Any issues or incidents must be reported to line managers and/or the Human Resources team who will take the required action based on the policy document.

TAFE Queensland has provisions in place to ensure equal access to student admissions. Incidents of discrimination, bullying, and harassment against students are investigated and managed under specific arrangements coordinated by Human Resource personnel.

STAFF

*Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Career Pathways Service
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Career Pathways Service has been designed to increase the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees in leadership and decision-making roles in the Queensland Public Sector. The service achieves this by working in a partnership approach with several agencies across the sector, providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees (participants of the service) with access to a range of learning and development opportunities to support their career journey. This includes formal learning and development training, access to career guides and cultural advisors, exclusive career pathways job and mobility pool, yarning circles, and resources to support career progression.

The service works at a system level, also supporting supervisors of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants who opt-in to develop their leadership and cultural capability, and working with partner agencies to strengthen their cultural capability and the cultural capability of the sector more broadly. To support the 2023 intake, the service will be accepting applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees at the AO5 level (or equivalent) and above as part of its targeted approach to increase representation and close the gap at AO8 level and above.

TAFE Queensland Gold Coast has also recruited individuals from underrepresented groups through a supported traineeship program. Ten trainees are recruited each year in administration roles. The trainees complete a body of work across a number of internal teams. At the end of the traineeship, if interested, the individuals apply to join TAFE Queensland.

STUDENTS

*Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Unlock your potential at TAFE Queensland with courses and services specifically designed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. With dedicated Indigenous student support, specialised 'away from base' residential block training, and our partnership in the RATEP, TAFE Queensland is well suited to help you reach your education goals.
W: https://tafeqld.edu.au/information-for/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people

STAFF

TAFE Queensland utilise an EAP service provided by Benestar. Employees can access Benestar by telephone, face-to-face, or video counselling. There is a toll-free number for appointments and online access via the website www.benestar.com.

Benestar counsellors are all highly experienced, professionally qualified psychologists or social workers. Consultations are strictly confidential. Benestar is completely independent of TAFE Queensland and no identifying information about you will be revealed. Services are provided at the cost of TAFE Queensland.

Benestar also offers a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Support Line, with access to clinicians who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or have in-depth cultural awareness and experience supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

STUDENTS

Robina Campus students have access to TAFE Queensland Gold Coast's Student Support Services Team (15 in total) to support student needs:
• Manager
• Indigenous student support officer 3 days pw
• Accessibility student support officer – disability, Full Time (FT)
• Learning Skills teachers x 4 FT – assist students with learning needs i.e. maths for electro, tutorials, 1:1 as required, mini-workshops
• 4 casual tutors support students with disability - Part Time (PT)
• Counsellors x 3 FT + 0.6 PT x 1 – mental health focus with some career advice, connect students to external support services, accommodation, etc
• International students (800+) support staff – 1 x FT & 1 x 0.8 – all type of support and connect students with specialist support, accommodation, working conditions, etc
• BKSB** coordination x 1 FT – support students to improve marks, etc.

Robina Campus follows the TAFE Queensland (TQ) wide policy for Equity and Diversity
• Sit under TQ policy but each region adapts to presented needs, i.e. neuro-diversity (asperges, borderline personality disorder, AHD)
• New program – essential computer skills, CS state 60% issues with computers, students had to enrol, 4 days of delivery with 25 enrolled

**Basic Key Skills Builder (bksb) is an approved online skills review tool used by TAFE Queensland. It determines the reading and numeracy levels for a student within the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF).

Scholarships ($5,000) are available to support students. Access and equity scholarships provide equitable access to study at TAFE Queensland. They are awarded to students who can demonstrate a genuine interest in and commitment to their chosen career and identify themselves with one of the following access and equity categories:
• is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
• has significant caring responsibilities
• has a disability or long-term medical condition or illness
• is long-term unemployed (for a period greater than 6 months)
• is a sole parent
• suffers significant financial difficulties or social barriers to study
• suffers from another specified disadvantage.
Merit scholarships are awarded to students who have achieved outstanding academic merit or demonstrate strong work performance, along with the demonstrable desire to secure ongoing employment within the industry to which they applied for the scholarship.

Of the 100 scholarships awarded each year, Robina Campus currently has 2 students on scholarships. One is a Merit Scholarship recipient who commenced study in Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping this Semester, the other is an Access and Equity Scholarship recipient due to commence Certificate IV in Leadership and Management in the April 2023 intake.

TAFE Queensland's aim is to be the training provider of choice for underrepresented students and the employer of choice for people with diverse backgrounds by advancing equal and equitable social and economic opportunities for these students. TQ does not have specific programs to support underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members.

Some of TAFE Queensland's initiatives include:
* Providing entry-level pathways like traineeships for new employees, including Educators
* Women in Trades to grow numbers in these industries
* Formation of a First Nations Employee Network to inform and guide workforce initiatives to provide opportunities to connect and collaborate in a safe environment
* Providing entry-level pathways like traineeships for new employees, including Educators
* Engaging underrepresented students and staff in organised events to breakdown barriers and open communication channels
* Cultural competency training for employees to develop awareness and build capability
* Career development and mentoring opportunities to support progression into leadership roles
* TAFE Queensland Foundation Educator Program creates opportunities for people without teaching experience to be mentored and trained to become a TAFE Queensland educator.

This website shows the opportunity for our First Nation staff https://tafeqld.edu.au/about/working-for-tafe-queensland/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-staff

*Providing Access to Facilities

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.