The University does not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment by staff or students.

According to the UWA Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics ‘all forms of harassment and discrimination are serious issues that undermine morale and can adversely affect the ability of staff and students to feel included within the University’.

UWA sets a high standard for conduct on campus. The University is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for its students and staff and as such, does not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination.

All forms of harassment – discrimination, bullying, disability, racial and sexual - are condemned by the University and strict disciplinary action is imposed if any student or staff member is found to have harassed another member of the University community. In addition to University policies, the University is bound by legislation which makes harassment and discrimination unlawful.

Currently UWA is reviewing and reconstructing all of its policies concerning discrimination and harrassment. In particular the Guidelines for Conduct in the Workplace will be replaced with an updated policy intended to empower and support staff more effectively. If you have any questions concerning this, contact the Equity and Diversity Office.

In accordance with the University’s values, the Codes clearly define areas of harassment as:

1. Discrimination
2. Bullying
3. Sexual harassment
4. Racial harassment
5. Disability harassment

Discrimination

Under equal opportunity legislation, discrimination occurs when a person, or a group of people, are treated less favourably than another person or group, in the same or similar circumstances, because of irrelevant attributes such as their age; race (including colour, descent, national or ethnic origin); sex; marital status, pregnancy or family responsibilities; disability; political or religious conviction; and sexual orientation or gender history. Discrimination can be direct or indirect.

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Bullying

The University acknowledges that all employees have the right to dignity at work in an environment free from bullying. The University has a duty of care to all members of its community, and violence, aggression and bullying are unacceptable.

Bullying is a focus of the Inclusive Campus Culture stategy in 2011.

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Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is unwelcome, unsolicited and unreciprocated conduct with a sexual component which offends, intimidates, embarrasses or humiliates a person. It has nothing to do with mutual attraction, consensual romantic involvement or friendship. Such conduct can be in the form of words or actions, including circulating or displaying written or pictorial material that is sexually offensive or belittling in any form, including print, email, text messaging and, where specifically directed toward a person, on social networking websites.

Sexual harassment involving a physically violent and / or coercive component such as physical molestation or assault, persistent following or stalking, indecent exposure, and obscene communications in any media, may be considered sexual assault and possibly a criminal offence according to the WA Equal Opportunity Act 1984.  Established cases of sexual harassment will be considered serious misconduct.

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Racial harassment

Racial harassment is any verbal, physical or written act which is based on a person’s colour, physical characteristics, descent, country of origin, ethnic background or nationality, and is unwanted, unacceptable and offensive to the person, or those related to, or closely associated with, that person.

The WA Equal Opportunity Act 1984 and Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act 1975 make racial harassment in employment and education unlawful. Racial harassment conflicts with the University’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy and with the rights of all staff and students to receive fair and equitable treatment.

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Disability harassment

Disability harassment is any verbal, physical or written act taken in relation to a person with a disability that is reasonably likely to humiliate, offend or distress the person, or an associate of the person with a disability, such as a relative or carer. For more detail see the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

A complete version of this section of the codes and the associated resources is available at UWA Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct.

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