RMIT is committed to improving practices to better support diversity, safety and wellness for our staff, students and visitors.
Why accessibility matters
RMIT values the richness of diversity among our students and staff and recognises the contribution being made already by those living with disability.
An inclusive and accessible working and learning environment:
- widens participation from under-represented groups of students and staff, and taps into a wider talent pool
- encourages greater retention and supports success
- upholds the rights of people with disability
- demonstrates fairness and equal opportunity
Accessibility at RMIT
RMIT is among the top organisations for workplace accessibility. Commitment to an all flexibility model by 2020, the establishment of dedicated accessibility at work team, a flexible working plan, and mental health training for students and staff have all resulted in action and progress towards improving the experience of staff and students with a disability at RMIT. Watch Chrissy Beling, Amro Amputch and Alyssa Goodman talk about their accessibility journey at RMIT.
As part of our commitment to inclusion at RMIT, we aim to meet the diverse needs of our community, making sure everyone gets a first-rate experience when accessing our digital information and services, regardless of their requirements.
Chaminda Ranasinghe, Chief Experience Officer and RMIT Accessibility Champion
Accessibility action plan
In adopting and implementing this Accessibility Action Plan, RMIT demonstrates how it values the richness of diversity among students and staff, and recognises its responsibilities to take University-wide transformative actions to enhance inclusion for staff, students and visitors with disabilities.
Over seven focus areas, RMIT’s Accessibility Action Plan for staff students and visitors with disabilities is:
- Demonstrating visible leadership commitment to inclusion and diversity, and promoting awareness and appropriate behaviour among staff and students;
- Ensuring that our physical and digital environments are accessible, inclusive, and safe; and
- Providing an equitable and inclusive experience for all students and staff with disability.
Further, the plan will also provide focus on:
- Continuing to promote inclusive teaching and assessment practices as the standard to support all students
Disability Confident Recruitment
Dionne Higgins, COO and RMIT's Disability Champion, signed the Disability Confident Recruitment Charter, which outlines our commitments to providing fair and equitable treatment of candidates with a disability.
Actions are currently being implemented with a program of work due for completion in 2019.
Celebrating the International Day of People with Disability
Dionne Higgins, COO and RMIT’s Senior Executive Disability Champion celebrated the International Day of People with Disability in 2018 and progress of our 2016-2020 Accessibility Action Plan for staff and students.
Australian Network on Disability (AND) Access and Inclusion Index
RMIT is a member of the Australian Network on Disability participated in the inaugural AND Index and created a benchmark to accelerate actions to improve the experience of staff and students.
Work Adjustment Process and Accessibility at Work Team
RMIT has a Workplace Adjustment Process. This provides a streamlined service for staff and managers and is a direct response to staff feedback from the 2015 and 2017 Staff Survey. Find out more about accessibility at work.
Australian Network on Disability
RMIT are a Silver member of the Australian Network on Disability (AND), a national organisation that supports its members to create inclusive environments for people with disability. AND provide support, conduct training, share knowledge, best practice and facilitate networking opportunities. AND announced RMIT as one of the top five participating organisations benchmarked for workplace accessibility in 2017.
RMIT Support and Resources
Services for students
Equitable Learning Services (ELS) provides support and equal opportunities for students with a disability, long-term illness and/or mental health condition and primary carers of individuals with a disability.
Support for teachers of students with disability
See these guides to inclusive teaching practice for information on how to ensure your teaching is accessible for all students.
Equitable Learning Services provide support and equal opportunities for students with a disability, long-term illness and/or mental health condition and primary carers of individuals with a disability. The team ensures that all students are included in all aspects of university life.
Services and supports for students may include an individual learning plan with provision for:
- adjustments to study conditions e.g. more time in exams
- course materials in other formats
- enabling assistance staff
- assistive technology
Support for teachers of students with disability is available through the Teaching Life site Supporting students with accessibility (sharepoint.com) and the RMIT Inclusive Teaching Guides - view the Inclusive teaching web page (staff login required)
Services for staff with disability
The RMIT Accessibility at Work team consists of subject matter experts across People, ITS and Property Services. They focus on making work adjustments for staff requesting accessibility, due to disability, a streamlined and efficient process.
The Work Adjustment Process
The Accessibility at Work RMIT team consists of subject matter experts across People, ITS and Property Services. They focus on making work adjustments for staff requesting accessibility, due to disability, a streamlined and efficient process.
Contact them via emailing people.connect@rmit.edu.au, or find out more about accessibility at work (staff login).
RMIT’s Accessibility Working Group for students and staff
RMIT’s Accessibility Working Group monitors and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of RMIT’s Accessibility Action Plan.
RMIT’s Accessibility Working Group welcomes contribution from RMIT staff and students
Students can contact: inclusion@rmit.edu.au
Staff can contact: People Connect
Diversity Council of Australia
Australian Human Rights Commission
RMIT Disability & Neurodiversity Staff Network
Support - Celebrate - Explore - Advocate
Womenjika!
We are people who identify as disabled/people with disabilities (or similar) and neurodivergent staff leading a network at RMIT to:
- support each other,
- celebrate our strength, tenacity, courage and humour,
- explore best practise,
- and advocate for dignity and inclusion in the workplace.
The network holds regular meetings to provide mutual peer support by simply communicating and sharing stories with each other.
Join the network
Please fill out this form if you would like to be part of the network: https://forms.office.com/r/1Lqe6NjdNw
The meetings will be held in a hybrid mode: you can attend in person at a low sensory meeting space at the RMIT Melbourne campus or connect online via Teams. Please list any accessibility needs in the form. If you choose to not self-disclose at this stage, you can join the Teams meetings via a non-RMIT profile.
The meetings are not recorded and provide a safe and confidential space to listen/read and share amongst peers.
Note: Membership of this group will remain confidential and will not be shared with supervisors, other teams or RMIT service groups.
The aim of the Disability and Neurodiversity Staff Network
Support
- To develop a network of people who face similar challenges and misunderstandings and provide mutual peer support.
Celebrate
Increase staff engagement by:
- Building trust and facilitate a more supportive and empowering workplace culture.
- To reduce the taboo and stigma (often self-imposed) of being disabled, neurodivergent, having mental health or neurological conditions and / or a chronic illness or pain.
Explore
- To design potential workplace solutions to dealing with chronic pain flares & chronic illness flare ups, juggling medications, and / or issues arising from a person’s disability that impact work engagement and decrease feelings of security in employment.
- ‘Lift as you Rise’ is based on the concept that as you as a disabled employee grow and climb the ladder of achievement in your career, you help peers rise in the workplace by providing mentorship or training opportunities.
Advocate
- To create visibility and provide a voice which will contribute to a disability and neurodiversity inclusive workplace.
- To be a representative presence for students with disabilities and who identify as neurodivergent as this will increase their sense of belonging and contribute to more effective pathways and support.
