Equitable learning and disability

Additional support is available to ensure equal opportunities for students with a disability, long-term illness or mental health condition, and primary carers of individuals with a disability.

Equitable Learning Services – How RMIT supports students

The Equitable Learning Services team (ELS team) supports and creates equal opportunities for students with a disability, long-term illness and/or mental health condition. We also support primary carers.  

ELS works in partnership with students to create an Equitable Learning Plan. Your plan is tailored to you, supports your needs and establishes how RMIT can provide ongoing assistance so you can access and participate in your studies. The ELS team can assist you to manage your Equitable Learning Plan.

We ensure that students are included in all aspects of university life and we value students’ input to continuously improve our services. 

The ELS team have been super helpful in putting together my Equitable Learning Plan, sharing it with the relevant teachers, and continually assisting me during assignments to ensure that I can do my best.

– Melissa Gissara, RMIT Alumni

Eligibility and available assistance


Who does ELS support? 

Equitable Learning Services are available to RMIT students with the following:

  • A mental health condition
  • Neurodivergence and neurological conditions
  • Long-term illness
  • Physical disability
  • Sensory conditions
  • Intellectual disability
  • Primary caring responsibilities for other people with a disability, long-term illness and/or mental health condition

You are welcome to contact ELS for a confidential discussion if you are unsure if you meet the criteria above.

The ELS team does not provide support to students who:

  • Have short-term conditions or injuries for less than 6 months
  • Are pregnant, unless they have a pregnancy complication or another condition that makes them eligible for ELS
  • Are parents or carers of people, unless the person requiring care has a disability, long term illness and/or mental health condition

Ineligible students can apply for extensions or special consideration if they require assessment support.

ELS can only support current students who are enrolled in a program. If you are a prospective student, we can provide general information only.

 

How can ELS support me?

We work with you in developing an individual Equitable Learning Plan that provides reasonable adjustments to ensure you can participate in your studies. This could include:

  • Study adjustments (e.g. more time in assessments, considerations around attendance, WIL adjustments, other reasonable adjustments in line with disability standards for education)
  • Course materials and assessment papers in more accessible formats
  • Assistive technology such as dictation, screen reading and note-taking software (e.g. Read&Write, ZoomText, JAWS) and tools to help with time and task management
  • Enabling support staff (e.g. Auslan interpreters, notetakers and participation assistants).

Your teachers and educators will be provided with a copy of your Equitable Learning Plan and reasonable adjustments to make the study accommodations outlined in your plan.

 

What can’t ELS support me with?

ELS are unable to support students with the following matters:

If we cannot assist you, we will explain why and provide you with information about other student services available to you.

Text And Media Video

Connecting with ELS and getting support

RMIT Communications Student Timothy Winning, talks about his experience with RMIT's Equitable Learning Services and explain how other students can access support.

Register for an Equitable Learning Plan

It’s important that you contact the ELS team and make an appointment as soon as you are enrolled in your program so an Equitable Learning Plan can be put in place as soon as possible. To register, follow the steps below.
 

Step 1. Download and complete the relevant registration form

Step 2. Have your healthcare professional complete the form

Ask your healthcare professional (eg. doctor, psychiatrist, etc) to complete Section B of the registration form. If there is other supporting documentation that relates to your condition/disability (e.g. Learning Assessment Report or Vision/Hearing Report), please obtain this from your healthcare professional as well.

Alternatively, ELS can accept a signed and dated report or letter from your healthcare professional that includes the following:

  • A diagnosed condition
  • Indication of the time frame that this condition is likely to impact on your study
  • The healthcare professional's name, credentials and contact information

All supporting documentation must be in English. If you require any medical documents to be translated into English, please request a certified translation through NAATI.
 

Step 3. Email your completed form to ELS

Email your completed form and any supporting documentation to els@rmit.edu.au. Please note, you will not be granted an Equitable Learning Plan until you have provided a completed form and/or supporting documentation.
 

Step 4. Book an appointment with ELS

Book an appointment with an ELS Advisor. At the appointment, ELS will assess your documentation and work with you to develop your individual Equitable Learning Plan.


At and after your appointment

During your ELS appointment, an Advisor will discuss your condition, learning impacts and support you to develop an Equitable Learning Plan.

After your appointment, a PDF copy of your plan will be sent to your RMIT student email. The email will be sent from 'RMIT Connect'. You will also be sent emails with information about how to implement your adjustments, useful links and resources, and ELS contact details so you can request further support from the ELS team, as needed.

A copy of your plan will also be sent to your School for distribution to your teachers each semester, so they are aware of your plan and any required adjustments.

Update or renew your Equitable Learning Plan

If your circumstances change during your studies, it's your responsibility to contact ELS so that your Equitable Learning Plan can be updated. Changes to your circumstances might include:

  • A change to your study plans, such as taking a leave of absence, changing or withdrawing from a course/subject, changing your program/degree
  • A change to your disability, long term illness and/or mental health condition, such as additional diagnosed conditions or a change to your condition duration

If your Equitable Learning Plan expires, you can contact ELS to renew it. You may need to provide documentation that confirms your disability/condition is ongoing and/or continues to impact your studies.

Student wearing a beanie smiling

ELS FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about Equitable Learning Plans, extensions and special consideration for students with a Plan, and more via the link below.

Contact the ELS team

Book an appointment with ELS

Book an appointment if you:

  • Need an Equitable Learning Plan (ELP)
  • Need to add to or change your ELP
  • Need to add adjustments for a WIL placement or internship
  • Are experiencing problems/barriers in your learning environment

To book, click the button below and select the service "Equitable Learning Services (disability)"

Appointments are available 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, excluding public holidays. Students can select appointments via phone, online or face-to-face.

Download How To Book ELS Appointments (PDF, 89KB)

If you need help booking an appointment, phone Student Connect on +61 3 9925 5000 (9am-5pm Mon-Thu, 10am-5pm Fri, excluding public holidays) and a staff member can book your appointment for you.

Send an enquiry

Email the ELS team at els@rmit.edu.au, if you:

  • Need to renew/extend your ELP
  • Need to make a minor update to your ELP
  • Have questions about our services
  • Have immediate support needs

Our inbox is monitored from 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, excluding public holidays. Please note, it may take us longer to reply to your email during busy times like the start of semester and assessment periods.

ELS consult rooms

Consult rooms are open by appointment only. You must book an appointment (see above) if you wish to meet with an ELS team member face-to-face. Consult rooms are not staffed by ELS team members outside appointment times.

Locations and wayfinding

ELS consult rooms are located at RMIT City campus:

Buildings 8 and 10 are connected at ground level. Both can be accessed from Bowen Street (mobility access) or from Swanston Street.

For detailed access information, download the relevant PDF below:

ELS newsletter

Want to find out about the latest ELS updates? Sign up for the ELS newsletter.


The RMIT logo with rainbow colours, trans pride colours and black and brown stripes.

We’re committed to inclusivity 

Equitable Learning Services values diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds and is affirming of identities that intersect lived experience of disability. We are committed to offering inclusive, respectful, and safe spaces both online and physically and we encourage everyone to bring their whole selves to RMIT. Learn more about RMIT's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
 

The language of disability

RMIT acknowledges that language concerning identity continues to evolve. In accordance with guidance provided by the Australian Network on Disability, RMIT uses ‘person first’ language to describe people with disability, while acknowledging many people with disability prefer to use identity-first language. Identity-first language puts a person’s disability identity before the person – for example, ‘disabled person’ or ‘Autistic’ – instead of ‘person with autism’; ‘Deaf’ – instead of ‘person who is deaf’. Many prefer to use identity-first language as they regard their disability as a key part of their identity. They use identity-first language to show their connection to the disability community, demonstrate disability pride and emphasise that it is society that is disabling. Of course, when interacting directly with people or describing them, we respect and use their preferred way of describing themselves.


This service receives funding from SSAF

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torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.