The upcoming Referendum regarding a Voice to Parliament for First Nations Australians is intended to provide the opportunity to acknowledge and recognise First people's voices on all matters that affect them.
Cultural safety for First Nations students and staff
There is a diversity of views on the Voice to Parliament in the Australian community, including amongst First Nations peoples. This creates an environment where strong and conflicting views have been and will be expressed by many.
We seek to avoid this occurring in an aggressive or disrespectful manner, or in a way that creates a sense of unsafety for First Nations students, staff, guests to our university, and for students and staff generally.
Racism has a devastating impact on the health and wellbeing of our First Nations students and staff. It also impacts upon those who witness racism.
Our collective responsibility
We expect all members of our community to:
Make room for First Nations student and staff to speak up when they want to.
Recognise that not all First Nations people may want to speak up on this topic and should not be pressured to.
If there is any risk to your personal safety, call security – dial 6 from any UTS phone or call 1800 249 559.
Creating a supportive culture
UTS supports academic freedom and freedom of speech where it doesn’t infringe on the rights of other people, nor put undue pressure on First Nations members of our community. The UTS Equity, Inclusion and Respect Policy outlines the social, ethical and behavioural standards expected at UTS as part of our core values.
UTS is committed to an environment for Indigenous people that is welcoming, respectful, non-discriminatory and free of harassment, in line with Universities Australia’s Indigenous Education Strategy.
We also work towards providing a culturally safe environment. We have zero tolerance for hate advocacy, hate speech and racism and we take steps to ensure everyone’s safety and wellbeing at the university.
A culturally safe learning environment means that:
First Nations people feel safe.
First Nations people are treated with respect and their culture, identity, beliefs, and histories are acknowledged and valued.
If First Nations people are feeling unsafe, they can expect and receive allyship from other members of the UTS community. This means hearing their concerns or complaints and ensuring that they are not dismissed but taken seriously and responded to.
First Nations students, staff and guests feel comfortable to raise concerns and access support (see below) if they are experiencing racism either at the university, in the classroom or in other venues at UTS.
First Nations students, staff and guests can seek support from the university if they have experienced racism in the wider community.
If First Nations people don’t feel safe, they can express that to someone who can take action to assist them.
Freedom of speech does not mean that racist comments are appropriate behaviour. Academic freedom does not include racist comments. Racism causes injury and trauma; it is never acceptable.
Available support
There are several avenues of support available at UTS. You are welcome to seek assistance from one or several of the below options. If you have felt culturally unsafe, discriminated against, bullied or harassed – either at UTS or in the community – or have witnessed an incident that has impacted you, please reach out for support.
Contact security if in immediate danger – dial 6 from any UTS phone or call 1800 249 559.
Free counselling support is available for students at UTS.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers a free, confidential counselling and wellbeing service for staff and their immediate family members. The EAP provider TELUS Health can be contacted on 1300 361 008.
Equity-related complaints, including incidences of racism, can be raised with the UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion by emailing equity@uts.edu.au or calling 9514 1084.
The Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) team within the People Unit can guide staff through the process of accessing support or reporting an incident. Contact them at safetyandwellbeing@uts.edu.au.
Report any health, safety or wellbeing incident on UTS’s Safety Hazard Incident Reporting Online tool (HIRO) – there is also an option to report this confidentially, where these reports are only seen by the HSW team.
UTS also formally recognises the cultural and emotional load borne by First Nations staff, and additional person leave days are available as part of the Enterprise Agreements.
Call it Out is an Indigenous-led alternative to traditional complaints for reporting racism against First Nations people, developed by the Jumbunna Institute in collaboration with the National Justice Project.
Crisis support is available with 13YARN on 13 92 76 (24 hours/7 days). This crisis line is run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is a free and confidential service.
Anyone who experiences racial discrimination can also make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission. You can phone the Commission for advice on 1300 656 419 04 or (02) 9284 9600.
If you are facing online abuse or harassment, you can also access resources and report incidences of online harm via the eSafety Commissioner.
