• Section 1 - Purpose
• Section 2 - Application
• Section 3 - Roles and Responsibilities
• Section 4 - Relationship to TEQSA Threshold Standards
• Section 5 - Rights,Responsibilities and Commitments
• Section 6 - Knowledge and Community
• Section 7 - Planning and Support
• Section 8 - Delegations
• Section 9 - Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) Consistent with QUT’s strategic plans and its values and priorities, inclusion and social justice philosophy and practices will be embedded into all aspects of its activities. This enhances the university's core business, how strategy is delivered, and enhances the opportunities of underrepresented students and staff.

(2) QUT is committed to:

1. respecting and protecting the rights of its students and staff;
2. reflecting and embracing the diverse backgrounds, knowledge, experience, and perspectives of the broader community;
3. providing equal educational and employment opportunities;
4. promoting a safe, respectful, diverse and inclusive environment across all domains of university activities;
5. ensuring its graduates possess a sense of social and ethical responsibility;
6. contributing to social justice, human rights and wellbeing within society; and
7. meeting its compliance requirements.

Section 2 - Application

(3) This Policy applies to students, staff, and members of the QUT community in all QUT activities.

Section 3 - Roles and Responsibilities

Section 4 - Relationship to TEQSA Threshold Standards

(4) This Policy assists the University satisfy the provision of standards within Domain 2: Learning environment of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021, specifically 2.2 Diversity and Equity, 2.3 Wellbeing and Safety, 2.4 Student Grievances and Complaints to comply with the requirements of the legislation which pertain to the provision of safe and supportive environments for students with diverse needs.

Section 5 - Rights,Responsibilities and Commitments

(5) All students, staff and members of the QUT community have individual rights:

1. to be treated fairly and respsectfully by the university and by each other;
2. to study and work in an environment free from discrimination and harassment.

(6) To respect and protect these rights, QUT will:

1. take proactive and meaningful action to prevent unlawful conduct;
2. educate and inform members of the university community about their rights, responsibilities and standards of behaviour (Code of Conduct - Staff and Code of Conduct - Student);
3. review and reform university practices to ensure they are inclusive and non-discriminatory;
4. seek transparency in reporting internally and externally against objectives and in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements; and
5. administer grievance resolution procedures.

Section 6 - Knowledge and Community

(7) As a public institution whose purpose is to provide transformative education student experiences and research relevant to our communities, QUT has a unique role to play in both the social justice knowledge and skills which graduates acquire, and the social justice aspects of research.

(8) Graduates of QUT will have a sense of social and ethical responsibility, and an understanding of Indigenous Australian and international perspectives (Graduate Capabilities Policy).

(9) QUT courses will be characterised by content, pedagogy and assessment embedded with Indigenous Australians’ perspectives, inter-cultural perspectives, and an understanding of social justice. Students in their work integrated learning and community engagement / service-learning activities should have opportunities to engage with underrepresented groups and communities.

(10) Staff at QUT will ensure that their research activities include a positive impact on underrepresented groups in the broader community.

(11) The university's community engagement activities will reflect its civic responsibility and be inclusive of culturally and socially diverse communities.

(12) With regard to public policy, the university will contribute its knowledge, analytical skills and ideas through public debate and consultancies which include a social justice perspective.

Section 7 - Planning and Support

(13) To give effect to its social justice policy aspirations, QUT will infuse equity considerations, including intersectionality and affirmative action, into its planning, reporting and accountability arrangements. From time to time, priority issues will emerge, such as alleviating student poverty or supporting students and staff who identify as lesbian; gay; bisexual; transgender; intersex; queer or questioning; asexual, agender or aromantic; or other diverse genders and sexualities (LGBTIQA+).

(14) Training and awareness-raising programs and appropriate resourcing will be available to inspire and enable staff and students to engage with social justice activities and contribute to a culture which is safe, respectful and inclusive. Reward and recognition schemes will acknowledge the equity-related achievements of staff and students.

Section 8 - Delegations

(15) There are no delegations made under this Policy.

Section 9 - Definitions