Equal Employment Opportunity

Intent

James Cook University undertakes to adopt structures and human resources policies, procedures and practices that are consistent with the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity. In the areas of recruitment, selection, promotion, staff training and development, and conditions of service, James Cook University aims to ensure both the absence of discrimination based on any personal characteristic irrelevant to the work to be performed, and the provision, where appropriate, of programs to overcome past disadvantage.

Scope

All staff, academic, research, professional and technical, are included in this policy, which exemplifies the University's commitment to members of all equity groups. Staff and their associations and industrial unions make an essential contribution to policy development and implementation.

Policy and Procedures

1. Legislative Obligations

The Commonwealth Government's Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 requires certain employers, including universities, to adopt a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and a program of Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace. James Cook University's program aims to increase the range of occupations open to women, to give women access to higher status positions in all career paths and to ensure that the work undertaken by female employees is fairly valued.

2. Responsibility

Overall responsibility for Equal Employment Opportunity has been vested in the Vice-Chancellor, to whom Council has given the additional title of Director of Equal Employment Opportunity. Implementation of the program is undertaken within Human Resources area by staff working in specialist areas of equal opportunity.

It is the responsibility of all managers and supervisors to ensure that:

• They are fully aware of possible forms of discrimination that may occur in employment and of their obligations under legislation;

• They take steps to educate their staff in the elimination of discrimination and harassment;

• All new staff are aware of their rights and responsibilities in relation to Equal Employment Opportunity;

• No discrimination or harassment occurs in the workplace;

• Staff are selected, advanced and treated consistently with the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity.

Each college and division of the University is responsible for the demonstrable advancement of Equal Employment Opportunity and Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace, and for ensuring that the units under their control are aware of their responsibilities.

3. Monitoring and Reporting

The legally required Annual Report to the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency is available at EO Publications.

James Cook University expects all staff, students and members of the University community to act in accordance with this policy.

Related Documents, Legislation or JCU Statutes

Approval Details

Modification History