What is equity?

Equity is everybody’s business. Everybody stands to benefit from increased diversity and breadth of opportunity.

In its simplest terms, equity means fairness and equality in everything we do. We aim to ensure that the population inside QUT mirrors the diversity of the community outside the university, and that all staff and students prosper, regardless their background.

Cultural diversity

We have a strong commitment to:

• developing a culturally diverse staff and student population
• eliminating racism on campus.

We recognise the importance of valuing diversity to create a vibrant, flexible and creative university culture, which:

• encourages innovative approaches
• enriches our work and study environment for everyone.

Cultural diversity and anti-racism in the Manual of Policy and Procedures

Disability

We have services in place to support staff and students with a disability, injury or health condition.

Disability services

Indigenous students

Our Oodgeroo unit is committed to developing better access to university education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We have also launched project u, a resource to help prospective students with issues including:

• study costs
• managing stress
• living away from home
• finding appropriate information about universities
• keeping their university options open.

Current students have shared their own personal experiences at university to give honest information to future students.

project u

We also offer several scholarships for Indigenous students with the Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships.

Low-income students

We welcome and support students from low-income backgrounds. We aim to reduce financial hardship as a barrier to achievement, allowing our students to realise they full potential and succeed.

Equity Scholarships Scheme

We have joined with The Smith Family to provide financial assistance to students in their Learning for Life program, including:

• a career advice session
• 3 bonus OP ranks (or equivalent)
• a guaranteed scholarship and free computer.

Learning for Life program (The Smith Family)

Parents and carers

We have an on-going commitment to addressing work and family issues and helping staff and students achieve a greater balance between their work, study and personal lives.

Our children on campus policy supports staff and students who may need to occasionally bring a child or children on campus. Each campus library has private study spaces for parents who need to study with their children. There are also parenting rooms and accessible toilets with baby change facilities on all campuses.

Parenting rooms, baby change facilities and accessible toilets

To find a child care centre near QUT visit the Department of Early Childhood Education and Care.

Religion

We embrace cultural diversity in all its forms including the freedom to worship and observe individual spiritual and religious customs and rituals. Any kind of harassment or discrimination on religious grounds contravenes both state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

We have chaplaincy centres and services for people of all faiths for quiet prayer, worship services and prayer meetings. There are chapels and Muslim prayer rooms at our Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses.

Chaplaincy services

Rural students

We encourage students from rural and isolated backgrounds to create opportunities for employment and education that may not exist in their home towns.

We understand that rural students may experience difficulties when moving to a large city for study, including:

• financial costs of relocation
• losing family support
• getting used to a new environment.

Read our guide to studying and living in Brisbane for more information on how to make the moving to Brisbane easier.

Studying and living in Brisbane: how to make it work (PDF file, 293.87 KB)

Sexuality

We are committed to providing an environment which values each member of its diverse community, and protects staff and students from bullying, harassment and unlawful discrimination. This includes staff and students who identify as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, intersex or queer (LGBTIQ).

Our Ally Network members are trained to understand sexuality and gender issues, and to provide 'safe zones', support and referral for staff and students who identify as LGBTIQ. Allies are not identified as any particular sexuality or gender identity but represent a commitment to promoting QUT as a safe, inclusive and diverse university.

Women

We are an equal opportunity employer, promoting equal employment opportunities for all staff, and eliminating all discrimination, including that based on gender. We have received the Equal Opportunity in the Workplace Agency "Employer of Choice for Women" award since 2002.