Academy of Advanced Hair Design - Equity and Fairness Policy

EQUITY AND FAIRNESS POLICY

ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD

ABN: 66 088 173 433 ACN: 088 173 433

POLICY INTENT AND APPLICABILITY

ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD seeks to be an organisation that reflects the rich diversity and supports the social values of the community in which we exist. We are committed to providing a stimulating environment free of discrimination and harassment in which staff and students have equal opportunity of access, participation and advancement in employment and education.

We aim to maximise the opportunity for each individual to learn and grow in accordance with their abilities and effort. Our decision making seeks to be fair, equitable, transparent, and open to critique and review.

Higher Education Support Act 2003

While this policy applies to all people with whom ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD deals, to provide clarity for the purpose of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) the following statements apply.

1. ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD will treat fairly, through the application of this policy:

a) all students who are, or would be, entitled to VET FEE-HELP assistance under Clause 43 of Schedule 1A of the Higher Education Support Act 2003;and

b) all persons seeking to enroll with ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD in a VET unit of study that meets the course requirements under sub clause 45(1) of Schedule 1A of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and who are, or would be, entitled to VET FEE-HELP assistance under clause 43 of Schedule 1A of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 2.

ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD has open, fair and transparent procedures that in our reasonable view, are based upon merit for making decisions about:

a) The selection, from among the persons who are or would be entitled to VETFEE-HELP assistance under Clause 43 of Schedule 1A of the Higher Education Support Act 2003, and who seek to enroll with ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD in a VET unit of study that meets the requirements under sub clause 45(1) of Schedule 1A of the Higher Education Support Act 2003; and

b) The treatment of students who are, or would be entitled to VET FEE-HELP assistance under Clause 43 of Schedule 1A of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 undertaking a VET course of study.

PUBLISHING, DISTRIBUTION AND PROMOTION

Information about our Equity and Fairness Policy, is published on the ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD website (www.aahd.com.au) in accordance with the timelines and manner required by applicable state and federal legislation. All students have access to the Equity and Fairness Policy and a copy is distributed with the Student Handbook on the first day of a course. Students are encouraged to contact ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD should they wish to obtain further information or seek clarification about this Equity and Fairness Policy. Staffs are made aware of this Equity and Fairness Policy during their induction, ongoing operational procedures and periodic refresher training.

EQUITY AND FAIRNESS PRINCIPLES

In our dealings with all people (including Staff, Students, Clients and the Community) ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD applies the following fundamental equity and fairness principles. These principles are used as both objective and subjective measures for assessing how we have either made a decision or dealt with a situation.

(a) Merit-based decision making

While ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD has internal procedures to provide administrative guidance to decision making, each decision we make takes into account the individual situation and associated issues known or provided to us at the time. By adopting a case-by-case approach, we aim to assess the relative merits of each situation to ensure that an equitable and fair outcome is consistently and transparently achieved. In making our merit-based decisions, we ask ourselves two simple but important questions to confirm we have met our objectives:

1. Has the decision applied all our equity and fairness principles to this particular case?

2. Would this also seem to be true if the decision was reviewed by an independent party? Merit-based decision making is specifically applied to ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD ‘s staff recruitment and student intake processes.

(b) Inclusivity and Human Rights

Simply expressed, ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD aims to be an organisation that reflects and represents the community in which we exist. Just as our community is made up of individuals of different gender, age, abilities, language, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, religious belief and family responsibilities, ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD aims to remove any barriers that would prevent our organisation from reflecting a similar cross-section.

While respecting an individual’s privacy, all decisions we make and actions we take will support and encourage both an inclusive and diverse workforce and student body. ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD believes that the same basic human rights apply to all people. These rights include:

receiving genuine respect for human worth and dignity as individuals
having the opportunity to realise personal capacities for physical, social, emotional and intellectual development
receiving services that support attaining a reasonable quality of life in a way that supports an individual’s family situation and full participation in society
being informed about and able to participate actively in the decisions that affect anindividual’s life
receiving information and services in a way that results in the minimum restriction of an individual’s rights and opportunities, and
being able (and supported) to pursue a grievance without fear of recrimination ordisadvantage. Decisions ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD makes and actions we take regarding all staff and students will uphold these human rights.

(c) Recognition of disadvantage

In dealing with staff and students, ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD recognises that some groups face particular disadvantages that may reduce their access to, or participation in, employment or study opportunities. These groups include:

Indigenous Australians
people with disabilities
people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
people from rural and geographically isolated areas of Australia,„Fƒnpeople from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and
women in non-traditional areas of work or study.

ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD will not make assumptions about whether an individual belonging to, or identifying with, one of these groups has faced, or will face, a disadvantage. We will assess each individual or situation on a case-by-case basis to consider the particular circumstances before making a decision about whether any disadvantage exists and how it should be addressed. Where ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD believes an individual has faced, or will face, a disadvantage, we will make all reasonable adjustments to remove or compensate for the disadvantage in the decisions we make and actions we take regarding the individual.

(d) Respect for privacy

ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD will only ask for information about an individual that is necessary to make fair and equitable decisions about that individual or discharge our legal obligations as an organisation. We respect an individual’s right to not share information outside of these requirements and will not base any decision or action on such a refusal. Private information we obtain will be treated confidentially and respectfully in accordance with our Privacy Management Policy.

(e) Right of Review

ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD believes a good decision should also be seen to be a good decision. That is, our decision making process should incorporate transparency and accountability. We support the right of an individual to have any of our decisions or assessments affecting them (academic or non-academic) reviewed by an independent party. We believe any such review should be available at little or no cost to the individual. Our decisions or assessments will be made and recorded in such a manner as to allow effective review, should this be requested, in accordance with our Grievance and ReviewPolicy.

(f) Right of Complaint

ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD accepts the right of an individual to make a formal complaint if they feel aggrieved about any decision, process, activity or outcome. We believe that lodging a complaint or grievance should be a straight-forward process at no cost to the individual. We undertake to promptly investigate grievances without prejudice and respond to the in a timely manner in accordance with our Grievance and Review Policy.

STAFF RECRUITMENT

In applying our equity and fairness principles to individuals applying to work for ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD we will assess applications and make selections and decisions by following a consistent process:

1. A suitably qualified staff member of ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD will assess each application separately, considering each application on a case-by-case basis.

2. Each application will be assessed on merit, seeking to ascertain the extent to which the applicant will be able to fulfil the role as described in the applicable Role Statement.

3. Each application will be assessed to determine if it seems likely that the applicant has faced, or is likely to face, employment disadvantages because of their specific circumstances. Where it is believed that disadvantages may exist, the ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD will consider any reasonable adjustment to remove or compensate for the disadvantage when assessing the application.

4. The assessor will seek to obtain additional information or clarify any part of the application to ensure all aspects of the applicant’s specific circumstances (necessary to make an equitable and fair decision) have been obtained.

SELECTION AND STUDENT INTAKE

In applying our equity and fairness principles to all individuals applying to undertake a course, unit of study or VET unit of study provided by ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD we will assess applications and make selections and decisions in the following manners:

1. A suitably qualified staff member of ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD will assess each application separately, considering each application on a case-by-case basis.

2. Each application will be assessed on merit, seeking to ascertain the extent to which the applicant is likely to achieve the stated competency standards and outcomes of the course, unit of study, or VET unit of study, based on the applicant’s qualifications, skills and proficiencies.

3. Each application will be assessed to determine if it seems likely that the applicant has faced, or is likely to face, educational disadvantage/s because of their specific circumstances. Where it is believed that disadvantage/s may exist, the ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD assessor will consider any reasonable adjustment to remove or compensate for the disadvantage/s when assessing the application.

5. In making a decision about any student undertaking, or an individual applying to undertake a course, unit of study, or VET unit of study, ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD will not apply an income test or similar financial assessment. Should an applicant be dissatisfied with the outcome of their application assessment, they may submit a request for the decision to be reviewed, in accordance with our Grievance andReview Policy.

CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT

ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD recognises the importance of equity and fairness during the development and delivery of the curriculum and within the assessment process. All courses, units of study, or VET units of study are planned, designed, developed and presented in accordance with our equity and fairness principles. In particular, care is taken with written material to ensure ease of understanding by all students. Where it has been recognised that a student has faced, or is likely to face an educational disadvantage for a course, unit of study, or VET unit of study, ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD will ensure reasonable adjustments are made to enable the Student to fully participate in the course, unit of study, or VET unit of study to the best of their ability. Assessments are planned, designed, developed and presented in accordance with our equity and fairness principles. Each assessment undergoes a validation process that includes reviewing the language and structure of the assessment to ensure that it can be readily understood by all Students. Should a student be dissatisfied with any aspect of the curriculum or assessment, they may lodge their concerns or request a review in accordance with our Grievance and Review Policy.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information or clarification regarding this policy can be obtained by contacting theACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD CEO/ Director.

RELATED LEGISLATION

In formulating our Equity and Fairness Policy, ACADEMY OF ADVANCED HAIR DESIGN PTY LTD has made reference to the following legislation. Commonwealth

Racial Discrimination Act 1975„FƒnSex Discrimination Act 1984
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986
Equal Opportunity (Commonwealth Authorities) Act 1987
Disability Discrimination Act 1972„FƒnRacial Hatred Act 1995
Workplace Relations Act 1996
Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999
Age Discrimination Act 2004 Queensland State
Anti-Discrimination Act 1991
Public Sector Ethics Act 1994
Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995