Privacy notice: reporting incidents of intimidation and harassment when exercising academic freedom

UTS aims to provide staff and students with a safe and confidential way to report any incidents of intimidation or harassment related to the suppression of academic freedom.  If you see or experience intimidation or harassment related to the suppression of academic freedom you are encouraged to report it to UTS. 

Reports regarding intimidation and harassment related to the suppression of academic freedom can be made by:

Further guidance is available on the Academic freedom at UTS webpage.

Information collected

The online report to UTS provides a safe and confidential way to report an incident. When making a report, the following information is collected:

  • Who you are
  • What happened
  • When did it happen
  • Where did it happen
  • Any known person of interest

It is up to you how much detail you include in your report. Please include as much relevant information as you can. UTS will need as much information as possible to investigate the incident. See also Your rights.

If you have any concerns about making a report, or questions about how your information will be used and managed, contact the Head of Counselling (students) or the Manager, Workplace Relations (staff) (refer Contacts).

How the information will be used

Your report will go to Student Services (including UTS Counselling Service) and, where staff are involved, the Human Resources Unit (HRU). UTS Counselling or HRU may follow-up with the person who made a report.

The information provided will be used to:

  • provide you with help and support
  • assess the type and nature of the issue
  • decide any further actions needed, such as investigating breaches of UTS Rules or employment contracts, making referrals within or beyond UTS

A summary report will be created about all reported incidents. This summary report includes information about the incident(s), some demographic information (age, identified gender etc) and may also include any relevant UTS file numbers or Police event numbers. To maintain privacy, the initials of the person who has experienced the incident(s) will be included. This helps UTS to identify any duplicate reports.

Summaries are used to develop statistical reports. These will be used for quality improvement and planning activities. No one will be identified in statistical reports about intimidation and harassment.

Disclosing information

Personal information provided in a report or an investigation will not be disclosed outside UTS without your express consent unless:

  • there is a legal or safety requirement to do so,
  • if it is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of an individual, or a serious threat to public health and safety,
  • required or permitted by law, or
  • if a disclosure is required as part of investigating the incident or litigation.

UTS may also be required by law to report an alleged incident to the police if an indictable offence is suspected to have occurred. You can have input into this decision.

Your rights

You have the right to:

  • request access to the information held about you
  • ask that inaccurate information be corrected or updated (this may only be possible if your information can be identified).

To request to access or correct your information students should contact Student Services and staff should contact HRU (refer Contacts).

These requirements comply with our obligations under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW). Further information is available at Privacy at UTS and Your privacy at UTS.

Contacts

If you have any concerns about reporting an incident of harassment or intimidation when exercising their academic freedom, or any further questions about how your information will be used and managed, contact the Head of Counselling (Student Services Unit) on 9514 1177 orstudent.services@uts.edu.au, or the Manager, Workplace Relations (Human resources Unit) on 95141079 or HRClientServices@uts.edu.au (for staff).

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.