| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.44 |
| Liaison | William Van Ausdal |
| Submission Date | July 9, 2024 |
Flinders University
PA-6: Institutional Climate
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 3.00 |
6.1 Support for students from underrepresented groups
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s programs, initiatives, and networks for students with disabilities:
This is an overview of some of our programs, initiatives and networks for students with disabilities:
Disability Services
Disability Support is a free, confidential service for students who have a disability. Support includes help with access plans, equipment/software access, alternative exam arrangements and parking permits.
https://students.flinders.edu.au/support/hcd/disability
Dylan Alcott Foundation
Flinders is partnering with the Dylan Alcott Foundation to provide financial support to students with a disability.
https://www.flinders.edu.au/scholarships/dylan-alcott-foundation-scholarship
https://blogs.flinders.edu.au/student-health-and-well-being/2024/04/18/the-dylan-alcott-foundation-scholarship-at-flinders-university/
Career advice
Flinders has a longstanding partnership with Community Bridging Services (CBS) to provide specialist employment advice for students – and this service has been expanded in 2024.
For students who might need a little extra support, the University Specialist Employment Partnership (USEP) is available to provide one-on-one employment advice that will empower students who identify with disabilities, chronic illness, injuries, mental health conditions and neurodiversity.
In 2024, the service has been expanded to include two advisors providing in-person and on-line support – and students can be directed to the newly-created student site on CareerHub for more information about the service or to book a 30-minute appointment.
https://blogs.flinders.edu.au/fit/2024/05/21/specialist-employment-advice-for-students-with-disabilities/
Does the institution support one or more programs, initiatives, or networks designed to address the specific needs of students that identify as members of marginalized racial, ethnic, and/or Indigenous groups?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s programs, initiatives, and networks for students that identify as members of marginalized racial, ethnic, and/or Indigenous groups:
This is an overview of some of our programs, initiatives and networks for students from Indigenous groups:
Indigenous Students Support
Support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are offered by Yungkurrinthi Student Engagement. These services include:
- Tjibruke Student Lounge
- Individual Support
- Academic Skills Development
- Yungkurrinthi Tutorial Program
- Financial Support (accommodation scholarships, education scholarships, cadetships and internships, emergency funding)
Scholarships for Indigenous students
- Business, Government and Law Honours Scholarship for Indigenous Students: https://www.flinders.edu.au/scholarships/bgl-honours-scholarship-for-indigenous-students
- Indigenous Education Placement Scholarship:
https://www.flinders.edu.au/scholarships/indigenous-education-placement-scholarship
- Indigenous Rural Nursing Scholarship
https://www.flinders.edu.au/scholarships/indigenous-rural-nursing-scholarship
- Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship
https://www.flinders.edu.au/scholarships/indigenous-commonwealth-accom-scholarship-
https://students.flinders.edu.au/support/indigenous-student-support
Does the institution support one or more programs, initiatives, or networks designed to address the specific needs of LGBTQ+ students?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s programs, initiatives, and networks for LGBTQ+ students:
This is an overview of some of our programs, initiatives and networks for LGBTQ+ students :
The Pride Network
The Pride Network is an initiative designed to enhance the University’s culture by creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment for members of the Flinders community who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer/questioning, asexual, as well as other expressions of gender, sex, sexuality, and identity (LGBTIQA+). This network is comprised of staff and students who are knowledgeable in and receptive to and understanding of LGBTIQA+ issues. It also provides a safe place to talk for members of the Flinders community who seek support in a confidential environment.
https://students.flinders.edu.au/feedback-rights-policy/eo/sexual-and-gender-diversity
Does the institution support one or more programs, initiatives, or networks designed to address the specific needs of low-income and/or first-generation students?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s programs, initiatives, and networks for low-income and/or first-generation students:
This is an overview of some of our programs, initiatives and networks for low income and/or first generation students:
Scholarships
The University has established the Flinders University Student Access Scholarships to provide financial support students from low SES backgrounds who are commencing their first year of undergraduate study at Flinders University.
https://www.flinders.edu.au/scholarships/flinders-university-student-access-scholarships
Financial Counselling
Students experiencing financial difficulty can apply for assistance in the form of supermarket vouchers, food parcels, and metro cards.
https://fusa.edu.au/financial-advocacy/
Does the institution support one or more programs, initiatives, or networks designed to address the specific needs of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced, and/or undocumented students?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s programs, initiatives, and networks for refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced, and/or undocumented students:
This is an overview of some of our programs, initiatives and networks for refugee students:
Humanitarian Refugee Scholarships
The Humanitarian Refugee Scholarships for international undergraduate students is a way for the university to support students from a refugee background to pursue their career goals by easing the financial challenges of university study. Recipients of the Scholarship will have 100% of their International Tuition Fees waived for the duration of their study.
https://www.flinders.edu.au/international/apply/scholarships/humanitarian-scholarship
Humanitarian Visa students
Up to 4 places are available in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) for applicants who currently hold or have held a Humanitarian Visa issued by the Australian Government (https://www.flinders.edu.au/content/dam/documents/study/domestic/apply/md-admissions-guide.pdf)
Does the institution support one or more programs, initiatives, or networks designed to address the specific needs of students from additional underrepresented groups?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s programs, initiatives, and networks for students from additional underrepresented groups:
This is an overview of some of our programs, initiatives and networks for students from other underrepresented groups:
STEM Women Branching Out
STEM Women Branching Out is for women in STEM at our university, aiming to support their choice of researching and teaching in STEM and to provide greater awareness of what STEM study and work involves, thereby improving their confidence. Our programs involve an array of online, networking, mentoring/inspirational events and resources to ensure female STEM students remain engaged during their study, form meaningful contacts and build useful networks facilitating their transition to work in STEM fields after graduation.
https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/schools-teachers/stem-women
STEM Enrichment academy
The STEM Enrichment Academy is for year 9 girls. It aims to inspire Year 9 girls to explore STEM topics through monthly skill enrichment workshops that include mentorship by female STEM role models, intensive hands-on STEM workshops, and lab tours. Our workshops allow students to perform hands-on experiments on science, computing, mathematics, chemistry, and engineering topics at Flinders University facilities. We will also be catering to rural schools by delivering hands-on workshops through STEM Day incursions in 2024.
https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/schools-teachers/stem-enrichment-academy
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
6.2 Support for employees from underrepresented groups
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s programs, initiatives, and networks for employees with disabilities:
Flinders University has a number of support options in place for staff with a disability. This includes operational support like special car parking allocation, but also training and flexibility with regards to changes or accommodations that can be made to enable a staff member to perform the inherent requirements of the role. https://staff.flinders.edu.au/employee-resources/working-at-flinders/staff-with-a-disability
Our Disability Policy affirms Flinders University’s commitment to providing an environment where students and staff with a disability are valued, supported and encouraged, and are able to, as far as practicably possible, participate fully and independently in the life of the University (a copy of the policy is uploaded below).
Does the institution support one or more programs, initiatives, or networks designed to address the specific needs of employees that identify as members of marginalized racial, ethnic, and/or Indigenous groups?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s programs, initiatives, and networks for employees that identify as members of marginalized racial, ethnic, and/or Indigenous groups:
Flinders University has an Indigenous Workforce Strategy, with the aim to increase the employment of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to promote equity, inclusion, and social responsibility
https://www.flinders.edu.au/content/dam/documents/jobs/indigenous-workforce-strategy.pdf
Our Reconciliation Action Plan 2023-2025 (RAP) has a series of actions and deliverables to further support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees and peoples. This includes Action 4. Promote positive race relations through anti-discrimination strategies; Action 8. Improve employment outcomes by increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment, retention, and professional development and action 10. Implement the University’s Indigenous Research Strategy 2023 – 2025 to enhance research capacity, engagement and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students.https://www.flinders.edu.au/reconciliation-action-plan/view
One network as a result of the RAP is the First Nations Researchers Collective (https://staff.flinders.edu.au/research/development/development, halfway on the page).
Does the institution support one or more programs, initiatives, or networks designed to address the specific needs of LGBTQ+ employees?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s support for LGBTQ+ employees:
The Pride Network comprises staff and students who are knowledgeable in, receptive to and understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues. Pride Network members provide a safe place to talk for members of the Flinders community who seek support in a confidential environment. They act as a contact point for staff or students and are able to discuss LGBTQIA+ issues in essays, curriculum, finding information, resources, support, coming out and other life issues.
Does the institution support one or more programs, initiatives, or networks designed to address the specific needs of employees from additional underrepresented groups?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s programs, initiatives, and networks for employees from additional underrepresented groups:
STEM Women Branching Out
STEM Women Branching Out is for women in STEM at our university, aiming to support their choice of researching and teaching in STEM and to provide greater awareness of what STEM study and work involves, thereby improving their confidence. Our programs involve an array of online, networking, mentoring/inspirational events and resources to ensure female STEM students remain engaged during their study, form meaningful contacts and build useful networks facilitating their transition to work in STEM fields after graduation.
Flinders University is committed to achieving gender equity, diversity and inclusion and identifying and removing barriers to attraction, retention and progression for staff and students. This includes recognising support for women. https://staff.flinders.edu.au/employee-resources/working-at-flinders/equal-opportunity/woman-on-campus including for example additional support for pregnant and breastfeeding women https://staff.flinders.edu.au/employee-resources/working-at-flinders/equal-opportunity/woman-on-campus/pregnancy-and-work/.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
6.3 Institutional climate assessment
Description of the methodology used to assess institutional climate:
Does the institution publish the results of its institutional climate assessments?:
Published results of the institution’s most recently finalized institutional climate assessment:
Online resource where the results of the institution’s institutional climate assessments are publicly available:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.