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Student Equity and Inclusion Services

A free and confidential service providing a range of support services to students with a disability (or students who are carers of a person with a disability) or medical condition, to assist them in engaging in their studies on the same basis as a student without a disability in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (DDA) and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (Cth). These support services can include:

• assessment and provision of advice on reasonable adjustments
• provision of inclusive technology and software
• provision of specialised equipment
• access to specialised educational support staff
• referral to internal or external support services
• pre-admission advice on inherent requirements

The team is also a point of contact for Academic staff to provide expert advice on disability related matters.

Student Equity & Inclusion supports the University’s commitment to an inclusive and culturally safe learning environment. Operating under the guiding principles of student centred-ness, integrity, collaboration, empowerment, self-determination and self-advocacy, it is our goal to promote the personal growth and development of students with disability by facilitating the provision of reasonable adjustments, and supporting and educating the university community in matters relating to disability.

How to register 

To access the support services provided by Student Equity and Inclusion you will need to register via appointment with an Inclusion Support Advisor. Registration will require disclosure of your disability and provision of supporting documentation. You do not need to have all your supporting documentation on hand for your first appointment, however it is recommended. Key dates apply for registration as outlined below.

 

Key dates

If you are a new student or a current student who is registering for the first time, you must do so by the relevant dates below. If you register after these dates, your adjustments will not take effect until the following study period.

Commencing study period	Final date for registration
Summer Term	31 December 2022
Term 1	24 February 2023
Term 2	21 April 2023
Term 3	23 June 2023
Term 4	18 August 2023
Term 5	20 October 2023

 

What is ‘disability’?

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) defines disability as:

1. total or partial loss of the person’s bodily or mental functions; or
2. total or partial loss of a part of the body; or
3. the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or
4. the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or
5. the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person’s body; or
6. a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or
7. a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person’s thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgement or that results in disturbed behaviour.

This definition of disability is broad, covering all types of impairment including hidden impairments such as psychiatric illnesses and learning disorders, and temporary conditions such as physical injury or pregnancy-related illnesses.

Disclosure

The first step towards registering with Student Equity & Inclusion is making the decision to disclose your disability. It is important to understand that this disclosure is limited and shared with your consent for the purpose of implementing reasonable adjustments. Your personal information is treated with respect and confidentiality is maintained at all times. You will be required to sign a Permission to release confidential information form.

Requirements for supporting documentation

Supporting documentation must be provided in order to complete your registration and enable access to support services or reasonable adjustments.

The supporting documentation should be comprehensive and where appropriate include information pertaining to the nature of the impairment and/or medical condition and the associated impacts that it may have on your ability to study. It may include recommendations of possible strategies to assist you. These recommendations will be considered but may not be implemented as prescribed.

The documentation may be provided in the form of a letter from an appropriate medical professional (see table below) or on the approved Practitioner’s Report – Student Equity and Inclusion. If you are providing a letter from a medical professional you must ensure that it is printed on official letterhead and contains the Practitioner’s signature, provider number and contact details.

Depending on the nature of condition, you may be required to update your medical documentation periodically during your studies.

Appropriate Medical Professional — supporting documentation

Condition	Appropriate Medical Professional
Autism Spectrum Disorder	Registered Psychologist Psychiatrist
Learning Disability (e.g. Dyslexia)	Registered Psychologist
Neurological Condition (e.g. Acquired Brain Injury, Cerebral Tumour)	Neurologist Neuropsychologist Clinical Psychologist Psychiatrist
Hearing	Registered Audiologist
Mental Health (e.g. Depression, Anxiety Disorder, Eating Disorder)	Registered Psychologist Psychiatrist GP Initially
Medical (e.g. Chronic Fatigue, Diabetes, Epilepsy)	GP or Medical Specialist
Physical Impairment (e.g. Arthritis, Cerebral Palsy)	GP or Medical Specialist
Vision	Ophthalmologist Specialist Service (e.g. Vision Australia)
Temporary Condition or Injury	GP Physiotherapist Occupational Therapist Medical Specialist

Learning Access Plans

Once you have met with an Inclusion Support Advisor and submitted the necessary supporting documentation, any reasonable adjustments that may be required will be negotiated with you and documented in a Learning Access Plan. The Learning Access Plan is a document which is used to confirm your adjustments and provide relevant information on the functional limitations (not your diagnosis) that you may experience in relation to your studies. You will be provided with a copy of this plan, which is then forwarded onto your teaching staff each session to ensure that you receive your adjustments as necessary.

Your rights and responsibilities

Students with disability have rights which are protected and enforced under the DDA and the Disability Standards for Education.

Students with a disability have a right to:

• choose whether they disclose their disability;
• be consulted about their needs;
• participate in courses offered by SCU, including fieldwork and placement components;
• use the services and facilities at SCU on the same basis as other students;
• access specialised services to enable their participation;
• reasonable adjustments to support their access and participation in their studies on the same basis as students without disability;
• an environment which is free from all forms of harassment or discrimination;
• be treated with dignity and respect; and
• the opportunity to contribute to the development and review of policies, procedures and practices which impact on their lives.

In addition to this, students with disability must ensure that they:

• abide by all relevant policies at SCU;
• use the services that have been provided to them in a fair and honest manner;
• share responsibility for the negotiation and implementation of reasonable adjustments; and
• make early contact with the university to discuss support arrangements.

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