Student Hub: Pride

Torrens University wants to inspire, ensure and support all staff and students to live their true selves, know they are included and welcomed in the Torrens Community.

Torrens aims to be a leader in the education sector in promoting inclusivity and diversity while adopting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Allied plus (LGBTQIA+) best practice. Torrens believes in cultivating diversity and inclusivity of its students, staff and curriculum. Torrens recognises the right of each lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex staff and student to live and work freely, without discrimination or fear. Torrens wants to celebrate, protect and similarly promote the rights of LGBTQIA+ as other members of the Torrens community.

Terms of Reference for Working Group

These terms of reference have been established to promote equality and inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, allied (LGBTQIA+) students and staff, and to value sexual and gender diversity within the Torrens University community.

1. To champion LGBTQIA+ equity and inclusion through the provision of introductory and ongoing training and education.
2. To provide support and networking for LGBTQIA+ students and staff.
3. To assist the University to provide a inclusive environment for students and staff irrespective of sexual or gender identity.
4. To organise social events that celebrate diversity and inclusion.
5. To promote positive attitudes towards LGBTQIA+ peoples and to increase visibility of LGBTQIA+ equality, including (but not limited to) promotional materials and awareness initiatives across the University and its campuses.
6. To establish a steering committee of student and staff representatives to act as an advisory group to Torrens University on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Purpose

This framework highlights the minimum requirements on how to support the inclusion of LGBTIQA+ University Community

Guiding Principles

The Framework Guiding Principles informs the decision making and actions.

Leadership

Ongoing commitment from the LANZ Leadership team to support and lead the LGBTIQA+ Framework across LANZ.

Policy and Procedures Inclusivity

LANZ’s Policies and Procedures reflect inclusivity and support of LGBTQIA+ staff and students including diversity and identity

Learning and Teaching Inclusivity

LGBTQIA+ inclusive language in curriculum, research and scholarship

LGBTQIA+ members’ visibility on Campus

Student and staff campus experience that includes LGBTQIA+ representation, visibility and understanding of issues affecting people identifying as LGBTQIA+.

Background

Why is an LGBTQIA+ Framework necessary?

Equality and freedom from discrimination are fundamental human rights that belong to all people.

According to the Australian Human Rights Commission:

• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender people are three times more likely to experience depression
• Six in ten experience verbal homophobic abuse
• Two in ten experience physical homophobic abuse
• One in ten experience other types of homophobia
• Transgender men and women experience significantly higher rates of non-physical and physical abuse compared with gay men and women
• Eighty per cent of homophobic bullying occurs at school
• Thirty-nine per cent of LGBTQIA+ people hide their sexuality or gender identity at a workplace
• Almost half of all LGBTQIA+ people hide their sexual orientation or gender identity in public for fear of violence or discrimination

Through this framework, Torrens University wants to be part of the change, and believe that even one abuse is one too many. The development of this framework is to support the LGBTQIA+ Community.

Responsibilities

Laureate Australia and New Zealand Executive Team are responsible for the implementation of the Framework.

2019 – 2022 Framework Action Plan

We are pleased to share our 2019-2022 Framework Action Plan and welcome any comments or feedback.  Our plan can be accessed below:

Coming Soon!

Through our membership with ACON, we are now able to undertake our training to become an Ally.  You don't need to be a member of the LGBTQI community to be an Ally.  What does it take?  A desire to support and ensure equity across our organisation.  If you're interested in providing this support to our students and staff who are part of this community, we'd love to hear from you.  You can learn more about how Pride in Diversity operates in the workplace in this video

​Please contact us if you'd like to volunteer or to find out more.

• Pride in Diversity present a full resource of Pride Inclusion Programs can be accessed here.

• QLife is a nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.  They can be accessed through their hotline operating from 3:00 pm to midnight every day at: 1 800 184 527 or through their Webchat option on their website: www.qlife.org.au

We value your feedback!  If you have any questions, comments, or events you'd like to share, please feel free to contact us at: pride@laureate.edu.au