Disability is a normal part of the human experience. Some form of disability affects 20 per cent of the population.
Disability Research Network
Find out more about our network of experts from across UTS working towards making the world a more accessible place through research and practice.
UTS actively fosters an inclusive environment for people with diverse abilities working or studying at UTS. This is supported by our Access and Inclusion Plan 2020–2024 (Accessible PDF, 454KB).
Accessibility is not something you can set and forget. Technologies change, new facilities are built, and staff and students with different access requirements join our university. This means accessibility is an ongoing agenda and something we constantly think about and update.
An individual may not know the specific access requirements of staff and students they work with, which is why we focus on universal access, safety and respect at UTS.
Support for students
UTS has legal responsibilities as an employer and education provider. We must ensure that students with disability can access and participate in education on the same basis as other students. But we aim to go much further than that. Inclusive education is characterised at UTS by a positive stance towards diversity and difference that anticipates learner variability, recognises diverse strengths, and employs multiple ways of engaging with students.
An inclusive learning environment refers to the ways in which the UTS creates a meaningful, welcoming and engaging environment for all our students, to facilitate equitable and successful participation.
If you are a current or future student, you may want to check out:
- The Accessibility Service, the university’s central contact point for all students living with disability, medical or mental health conditions
- Faculty academic liaison officers (ALOs), academic staff who assist students with disabilities, ongoing health conditions, carer responsibilities or who are pregnant
Support for staff
UTS is the first Australian university to sign the Mindful Employer Charter – a voluntary agreement by Australian employers who care about improving mental health in the workplace. The Charter is a statement of broad principles for employers to work towards, and a demonstration of commitment to best-practice mental health and safety in the workplace.
Work environments
If you have a disability or illness, the university will assist you to carry out your work efficiently by making reasonable changes to the job itself, your work environment or even your work conditions. This is known as ‘workplace adjustment’.
UTS is required under Disability Discrimination Act 1992 to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate your disability in order to avoid direct or indirect discrimination.
Making your work environment accessible may involve a number of environmental considerations, flexibility of work practices, and specific access requirements addressed in team systems and processes.
Workplace adjustments can be permanent or temporary. They may include:
- provision of adaptive or modified equipment
- job redesign
- modification of a work area or common areas
- training or retraining (yourself or your colleagues)
- changes to a staff member’s work hours
Detailed information on workplace adjustment is available on the UTS intranet, Staff Connect. Refer also the Workplace Adjustment Procedure.
If you would like to discuss your needs or questions, you can contact the Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion.
Accessible facilities at UTS
Access ramps, accessible parking and accessible toilets can be found on the UTS campus map (select the ‘Access and amenities’ tab).
The UTS accessible environments policy ensures that all new facilities are designed to be accessible, and remedial works are carried out where required. This includes:
- Design, construction and maintenance of physical facilities
- Access, egress and circulation, continuous accessible pathways of travel, and satisfactory linkages with transport
- Amenities, such as toilets, furniture and equipment
- Communications, including hearing augmentation, lighting and signage
Accessible parking permits
To park in accessible parking at UTS you need to get a UTS accessible parking permit. To get a UTS accessible parking permit:
- UTS staff should fill out a parking permit form and send it to the Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion at equity@uts.edu.au. You can also call them on (02) 9514 1084.
- UTS students should contact the Accessibility Services in Student Services Unit. Email accessibility@uts.edu.au or phone 9514 1177
- Visitors should contact the Security Office. Email security.general@uts.edu.au or phone 1800 249 559.
Mental health
Nearly half (45%) of all Australians will experience a mental illness sometime in their life. In any one year, 20% of Australians aged 16 to 85 years will experience a mental illness.
UTS aims to support staff and students to participate fully in university life and realise their full potential in work and study. When we are mentally healthy we can fully enjoy and appreciate our day-to-day life, our environment and relationships, and we are able to deal with life’s challenges.
Mental health support at UTS
The UTS Counselling Service offers a confidential counselling service to help with a wide range of personal, psychological, study-related and administrative difficulties.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to all UTS staff and their immediate family members. It provides a free, professional and confidential wellbeing coaching service.
UTS Student Mental Health Strategy outlines UTS's commitment to creating a community and environment that contributes to strengthening and supporting the mental health of our students.
Free training for staff is available. This includes:
- Mental health for supervisors – designed specifically for supervisors,with an introduction to the impact mental health problems have in the workplace, recognising the signs and symptoms of mental health problems and how to respond to emerging mental health problems.
- Mental health awareness – course covers introductory information about mental illness and explores mental health in the UTS context, and is particularly relevant to academic staff. This course can also be tailored to meet the specific needs of your area
- Mental health first aid – a multi-award winning program, delivered across Australia and internationally. The 12-hour program teaches people how to confidently and effectively support others experiencing mental health problems or crises until medical or other professional support arrives. Staff can complete the course in two full-day or four half day sessions.
Upcoming courses are listed online, and are periodically advertised on staff notices. If you would like to inquire about tailoring a course, contact the Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion.
More help is available
There are a wide range of services available to help you manage any health concerns.
Community health centres aim to improve health and wellbeing through a range of health assessment, management, counselling and education services. They are open to the community through direct walk-ins, telephone contact or via referral. Specific services include mental health, alcohol and drug services, health therapies, community nursing, family and child health, aged assessment and rehabilitation and health education programs. There is also counselling and support and treatment for anyone who may have social, emotional, psychiatric or relationship problems.
Your doctor, or General Practitioner (GP), can give you advice and if necessary, refer you to specialised health professionals. The Beyond Blue directory has a list of local doctors who have specialist training in mental health issues.
Community mental health centres are found in every area of Sydney. These teams consist of a number of health professionals (psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, psychologists and occupational therapists) who provide services to mentally ill clients such as assessment, support, case management and crisis response teams.
Telephone counselling services
- Lifeline
Counselling and support available 24/7. Face to face counselling is available in some areas. Call them on 13 11 14. - Salvation Army Careline
Counselling and support is available 24/7. Call them on 1300 36 36 22. - Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline care and will listen any time, for any reason. Call them on 1800 551 800. - Mensline Australia
Supporting men and their families. Call them on 1300 78 99 78. - Family Drug Support
Family drug support is available 24 hours a day. Call them on 1300 368 186. - Alcohol and Drug Information Services (ADIS)
Available across Australia, 24 hours a day. They try to answer any questions about alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. Call them on 1800 422 599. - QLife
Australia’s first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people. Counselling services will be available 7 days a week, 365 days a year between the hours of 3pm – 12am Australia wide.
Call them on 1800 184 527.