People with Carers´ Responsibilities
In Australia today it is increasingly acknowledged that carers' responsibilities directly impact on employment and educational opportunities. Within the context of higher education, it is clear that such responsibilities have a significant impact on the educational opportunities of students and the employment opportunities of staff.
The University of Technology Sydney, is committed to providing an accessible, supportive and flexible environment for all staff and students, including those with carers' responsibilities. UTS recognises that:
- The responsibilities of a carer impacts on all aspects of their life and are not confined to the "private" sphere. The ways in which such responsibilities impact on work and education mean that they are the concern of the University as a whole.
- Carers' responsibilities affect both women and men.
- Care relationships are diverse. "Care relationship" is defined by the University and the law in an inclusive way, and includes same sex, de facto partners and former partners, as well as parental and other familial relationships. The University also recognises the wide kinship and family networks of many cultures, and attempts to give sensitive consideration to cultural difference in the implementation of its family-friendly policies.
- Students and staff should have access to the same educational and employment conditions regardless of their carers' responsibilities.
- Leave and benefits should be reasonably provided to accommodate students and employees with respect to carers' responsibilities.
Provisions for Staff who have carers' responsibilities
Provisions for students who have carers' responsibilities
Provisions for children on campus
Which of the people I care for are included in the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act?
UTS Contact list
Provisions for Staff who have carers' responsibilities
UTS recognises that staff with carers' responsibilities may require flexibility in their work arrangements, and that care relationships are not static. The degree of care needed may vary according to circumstances.
For example, you may be the carer for a frail parent who spends some time in respite care or with another family member. This may mean that you are able to spend more time at work during periods where you are not caring for your parent. Yet you also need great flexibility at times when you are providing care.
Carers' responsibilities may be short term.
For example, you may have a child who falls ill and requires greater attention than usual. This could mean that you have to take some time off work, work shorter hours temporarily or work from home.
A range of strategies support the needs of staff with carers' responsibilities, including:
- Personal Leave. UTS provides up to 7 days personal leave per year (non-cumulative) to assist staff in achieving a work life balance. This leave can be accessed to cover a range of circumstances, including carers' responsibilities. For further information refer to the personal leave clause of the relevant agreement.
- Sick Leave. In addition to personal leave, staff are entitled to access their sick leave to provide care and support for a relative or member of their household when they are ill. For further information refer to the sick and personal leave clause of the relevant agreement.
- Parental leave. Parental leave enables both male and female staff to care for a child (biological or adopted) during the first year of its life. Parental leave incorporates maternity, paternity, partner's and adoption leave. Maternity, partner's and adoption leave provide various periods of paid leave.
- Temporary transfer to fractional employment. Staff can request temporary transfer to part-time employment for a period of up to two years, with the right of return to full-time work.
- Flexi-time and alternative hours arrangements. Flexible working patterns including flexible starting, finishing times, meal breaks and accrued flexi-time can provide staff with the flexibility to accommodate carer's commitments.
Some conditions outlined in these strategies are subject to the authorisation of the relevant manager or supervisor in your work area. See the list of contacts for more information.
Provisions for students who have carers' responsibilities
University students come from all age groups, backgrounds and stages in life. Some students have carers' responsibilities which have the potential to impact on their ability to fully participate in their studies. Such factors may be the degree of care required in their carers' relationships, the requirements of the course they are studying including the number of hours or timing of classes and study groups, requirements to complete field trips and practicums, the need to access University labs,etc.
If you are the carer for:
- a dependent child, OR
- partner, parent or other family member who is disabled or ill or otherwise requires your care or support,
- AND this is likely to detrimentally affect your ability to deal with study in the same way as other students,
you can consult an Academic Liaison Officer (ALO) in your faculty to make arrangements to help cope with your studies. You should do this preferably at the start of semester.
For example, your partner may fall seriously ill and require your personal care. Your ALO may be able to assist in making alternative arrangements for assignments or exams.
The University also recognises that, in unforeseen circumstances, your carers' responsibilities may warrant a Request for Special Consideration in the assessment of a subject or assessment task on the grounds of misadventure.
Provisions for children on campus
The provisions for children on campus are part of the University's Affirmative Action Plan for Women and are aligned to its broader obligations in relation to carers' responsibilities.
The University of Technology, Sydney aims to:
- Support and provide easily affordable child care facilities for all students and staff to meet a range of needs, such as vacation care, long day care, temporary or emergency care, and evening care for babies, pre-school aged and school aged children.
- Provide facilities which are accessible to those who are accompanied by children, such as stroller entrances in buildings and ramps throughout the campus, parents rooms, and baby change facilities in selected male and female toilets. For change room locations, phone the Concierge Desk on 9514 9953 / 9954 or the UTS Switchboard on 9514 2000.
The University recognises the occasional need for staff and students to bring children onto the university campus, subject to any regulations which may apply in those areas:
For example, you may have a young baby, child care arrangements or plans may have fallen through, or it may be a "pupil-free day" in schools.
Students must seek permission from the relevant lecturer to bring children to class. You must consider the size of the classroom, and whether you can ensure that the class is not unduly disrupted by the child. Permission to bring children to class is at the discretion of the lecturer, though any reasonable request should be granted.
Staff must seek approval from the relevant supervisor to bring children to work, but such requests should be treated sympathetically.
- You should not expect or request staff employed by the University to take care of children.
- Children will not be permitted to enter some areas of the University, such as workshops and laboratories, which are intrinsically hazardous.
Which of the people I care for are included in the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act?
Only those listed below are included in the law on carers' responsibilities:
- Your child
- The child of your current or former partner*
- Any adult of whom you are the legal guardian
- Any immediate family member:
-
- your partner
- your former partner
- your grandchild
- the grandchild of your current or former partner
- your parent
- the parent of your current or former partner
- your grandparent
- the grandparent of your current or former partner
- your brother
- the brother of your current or former partner
- your sister
- the sister of your current or former partner
*'Partner' means husband, wife, de facto opposite sex partner or de facto same sex partner.
UTS Contact list
- your supervisor (staff)
- your Faculty Academic Liaison Officer (students)
- Human Resources Unit
- Equity & Diversity Unit
