On this page: Purpose | Scope | Principles | Policy statements | Roles and responsibilities | Definitions | Policy information

1. Purpose

1.1 The Staff and Students with Carer Responsibilities Policy (the policy) sets out the support and options available to staff and students with carer responsibilities.

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to staff and students with carer responsibilities.

3. Principles

3.1 It is acknowledged that carer responsibilities can impact employment opportunities for staff and educational opportunities for students.

3.2 UTS is committed to providing an accessible, supportive and flexible environment for all staff and students, including those with carer responsibilities. UTS recognises that:

  1. carer responsibilities affect both women and men
  2. care relationships are diverse 
  3. students and staff should have access to the same educational and employment conditions regardless of their carer responsibilities
  4. leave and benefits should be reasonably provided to accommodate students and staff with carer responsibilities.

4. Policy statements

Provisions for staff who have carer responsibilities

4.1 UTS recognises that staff with carer responsibilities may require flexibility in their work arrangements (refer Work/life balance (SharePoint)). The degree of care needed may vary according to circumstances, for example whether looking after an elderly parent or looking after a child. 

4.2 Carer responsibilities may be short term, for example if a child is temporarily unwell then the staff member may need to take time off work, work shorter hours or work from home.

4.3 The People Unit provides information on UTS support for staff with carer responsibilities. Supervisors may need to approve care arrangements.

Provisions for students who have carer responsibilities

4.4 Students come from all age groups, backgrounds and stages in life. Some students have carer responsibilities that have the potential to impact their ability to fully participate in their studies, for example carer responsibilities that may impact the student’s ability to complete field trips and practicums. 

4.5 If a student’s carer responsibilities are likely to detrimentally affect their ability to deal with study in the same way as other students, they can consult an academic liaison officer (ALO) in their faculty, preferably at the start of the session (refer Information for student parents/carers). The ALO may be able to assist, for example, in making alternative arrangements for assignments or exams.

4.6 UTS also recognises that, in unforeseen circumstances, a student’s carer responsibilities may warrant a request for special consideration in the assessment of a subject or assessment task (refer Special consideration).

Provisions for children on campus

4.7 The provisions for children on campus are part of UTS’s commitment to flexible arrangements to support staff and students with carer responsibilities. UTS aims to:

  1. support and provide affordable childcare facilities, such as long day care and temporary care for babies and pre-school aged children, for all students and staff
  2. provide facilities that 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 toilets (refer Maps: Access and amenities).

4.8 UTS recognises the occasional need for staff and students to bring children to campus. Staff must seek approval from their supervisor to bring children to work and students must seek permission from their lecturer to bring children to class. Reasonable requests should be granted.

4.9 Children will not be permitted to enter some areas of the university, such as workshops and laboratories, which are hazardous (refer also Campus Policy).

5. Roles and responsibilities

5.1 Policy owner: The Chief People Officer and the Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion share joint responsibility for enforcement of and compliance with this policy, ensuring that its principles and statements are observed. 

5.2 Others: Supervisors have discretion to approve the presence of children on campus in accordance with the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy, the Campus Policy and associated procedures and guidelines.

6. Definitions

The following definitions apply for this policy and all associated procedures and guidelines. Definitions in the singular also include the plural meaning of the word.

Care relationship is defined by the university and federal and state legislation in an inclusive way, and includes same sex, de facto partners and former partners, as well as parental and other familial relationships. Under federal and state legislation a carer relationship may exist with:

  1. your child
  2. the child of your current or former partner
  3. any adult of whom you are the legal guardian
  4. your partner (or your former partner)
  5. your grandchild (or the grandchild of your current or former partner)
  6. your parent (or the parent of your current or former partner)
  7. your grandparent (or the grandparent of your current or former partner)
  8. your brother (or the brother of your current or former partner)
  9. your sister (or the sister of your current or former partner).

Partner means husband, wife, de facto opposite sex partner or de facto same-sex partner.

Policy information