Statement: ACL forum

RMIT was recently notified about a forum being held by the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) in which an RMIT academic was listed as a speaker.

Since notification, the ACL updated its advertising for the forum and the academic clarified they would be speaking in a personal capacity – not as an RMIT academic. We understand references to RMIT were also removed from updated advertising and introductory materials.

As RMIT has had no involvement in the forum, any requests for further detail, including the agenda, content or views of its speakers are best directed to the ACL.

Intellectual freedom at RMIT

A fundamental and underlying RMIT principle is that academics do not speak for, or on behalf of the University. Unless an academic is speaking in an official capacity as an RMIT spokesperson, their views are not an indication of the University’s position.

Similarly, and in line with RMIT’s intellectual freedom policy, the University cannot speak for its academic community in the sense of asserting an institutional position or perspective to which academics must adhere.

This environment makes RMIT a unique and interesting place to work and study, however on the occasions when academic free enquiry covers topics which impact the RMIT community, we can find ourselves in challenging situations which organisations outside the education sector do not have to face.

As always, if this is having an impact on you, and you need to talk to someone, we encourage our community members to please reach out via the support services available. Support is available for both RMIT staff and students.

We genuinely believe, through open and informed debate, academic dialogue and even protest, we have the opportunity to find truth and understanding.

DGSS inclusion at RMIT

While we acknowledge how important it is for us, as a university, to allow the free expression of ideas; with our values guiding the way, we also recognise the diversity of experiences, views and identities of our community members.

We remain as committed as ever to providing an inclusive, safe and respectful environment to work and study and we are extremely proud of the work being undertaken by so many of our passionate people to achieve this goal.

In 2019, RMIT was recognised as employer of the year for LGBTIQA+ inclusion. The awards, based on the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) run by Pride in Diversity, are the national benchmark on LGBTIQA+ inclusion and recognise organisations around the country fostering and supporting diverse communities.

We actively support staff and students within our community who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning or asexual/agender and, reflecting the diversity of our community beyond the LGBTIQA+ label, we refer to people of ‘diverse genders, sexes, and sexualities’ (DGSS).

We aim to be a place where diverse genders, sexes, and sexualities are recognised and welcomed, everyone is free to be themselves, and where staff and students benefit from our diversity.

RMIT’s Ally network promotes equality and inclusion for staff and students who identify as DGSS. A strong network of Allies and identifying staff drive this work and all RMIT counselling staff participate in Ally training. Our Ally network has grown to over 300 staff of active advocates for the DGSS community, and we are continuing to expand by building a student RMIT Ally Network.

A DGSS working party for students and staff also monitors and oversees the implementation of RMIT’s DGSS Action Plan which was launched in 2016 as part of RMIT’s Diversity and Inclusion Framework.

Volunteers from our DGSS network also published a new online learning opportunity – DGSS introduction – designed for RMIT staff to learn more about how to truly live our value of inclusion (staff login required).

We’re also supporting our trans and gender diverse staff and students by celebrating the International Day of Trans Visibility, launching the new Trans Ally Guide and a dedicated website with supporting resources.

RMIT is a proud member of the Diversity Council of Australia (DCA) and Pride in Diversity (PID) and demonstrates its ongoing support for young people who identify as DGSS through RMIT University Student Union (RUSU) Queer, partnerships with Minus 18, the Melbourne Queer Film Festival and Out for Australia, to support mentoring opportunities for DGSS professionals.The Medical Hub @ RMIT is also an LGBTIQA+ inclusive service provider.

RMIT actively participates in the Midsumma Pride March and has committed to pride in sport. RMIT Sport has taken the pledge of pride to stand against homophobia in sport so that all our sporting opportunities can celebrate the DGSS community, and we have submitted our first ever Pride in Sport index. The Pride in Sport Index is the first and only benchmarking instrument specifically designed to assess the inclusion of LGBTIQA+ people within Australian sport and sporting organisations. Participating in the index allows organisations to not only assess their own practice, but determine what constitutes good practice, along with the ability to benchmark initiatives against an external measure and other sporting organisations.

RMIT also holds its own pride week in May every year. During last month’s RMIT Pride Week, Vice-Chancellor Martin Bean spoke to the RMIT community about RMIT’s ongoing commitment to people of diverse genders, sexes and sexualities.

Building our community

We believe that when members of our community are supported and able to express themselves, they can freely speak out and when members of our community are included in the discussion, what we will discover will always have greater impact.

By including diverse perspectives, our insights and discoveries will be enriched, we will solve problems, overcome challenges and build the communities we want to see.

- ends

For media enquiries, contact RMIT Communications: 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au

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09 June 2020

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Statement: ACL forum