Study Group Leaders- Equity Perspective
Tina Donaghy
Student Equity Services
Student Services
Overview
1. Who are students who identify with an
equity background?
2. Student Services
3. Challenges and strategies
4. Tips
Equity
• Low Socio Economic (low SES) is not a homogenous
group
• Each student has different circumstances with different
needs
• Equity = does not mean treating everyone the same
Eg: A hearing impaired person may require
captioning, subtitles and an interpreter
Recurring features of highly disadvantaged areas:
•
Limited computer use / internet access.
•
Low family income.
•
Unemployment / long-term unemployment.
•
Disability / sickness support.
•
Early school leaving / Year 12 incomplete / lack qualifications.
•
Criminal convictions / imprisonment.
Tony Vinson- Dropping off the Edge, 2007
Quote
• Access Without Support is Not Opportunity
Vincent Tinto
Why provide support?
• Legal
• Economic
• Moral
• Social justice
Who are students who identify with an equity background?
• Students from language backgrounds other than English (domestic
students)
• Students of Indigenous Australian descent
• Students with a disability
• Low income students
• Students from rural and isolated areas
• First in family
• Women studying in non-traditional areas
Creating inclusive learning environments
Avoid any language that is discriminatory or derogatory.
This can relate to:
•
•
•
•
•
Age
Disability
Ethnicity
Gender
Sexuality
Non discriminatory language, University of Sydney
http://www.usyd.edu.au/digital_print_media/writing_editing/grammar_style/non-discriminatory.shtml#age
QLD’s Cultural Diversity
How diverse are Queenslanders?
Queensland is a culturally and linguistically diverse state
• Four in 10 Queenslanders are migrants or the children of migrants.
• Almost one in five Queenslanders was born overseas.
• Queensland contains more than 200 nationalities.
• 10 per cent of Queenslanders were born overseas in non-English
speaking countries
Education QLD-http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/inclusive/cultural/index.html
Cultural diversity
Language backgrounds other than English- Uni-Key
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Ethnicity
•
‘Language background other than English’ or Culturally and Linguistically
diverse background (CALD) is preferred to 'non-English-speaking
background’ (NESB)
•
Australian citizens- Domestic students (not international)
Eg: “Where are you from? No, where are you really from?”
Avoid
•
Referring to ethnicity unless there is a valid reason for doing so
•
Stereotyping by race
•
Assuming particular religions are synonymous with certain ethnic groups
(for example, not all Lebanese people in Australia are Muslims, and not all
Muslims are Arabs).
English Help
Aims- To help students develop:
• confidence and clarity in written and spoken English communication
• discipline specific vocabulary and English language forms
• provides individual language tuition for international
and non-English-speaking-background students.
• ONE free 45 minute appointment /wk on any campus.
Can help with:
• Help with deconstructing exams questions
http://www.griffith.edu.au/griffith-english-language-institute/university-initiatives/englishhelp
Student Services
• Careers and Employment Service
• Chaplaincy
• Counselling Service
• Health Service
• Student Equity Services
• Welfare and Student Liaison Office
Careers and
Chaplaincy
Employment Service
Counselling
Service
 Part-time jobs, graduate
 Prayer
 Personal and
relationship issues
 Spirituality/community
building
 Settling into University
 Ecumenical approach
jobs
 Job search assistance
 Industry contacts and
mentoring
 Career counselling
 Social justice issues
 Staying on track
 Mental health
 Maintaining a balance
Not all services are available at all campuses, but students and staff may access services at any Griffith campus where available.
Health Service
Student Equity
Services
Welfare and Student
Liaison Office
Disabilities Service
 Student loans
 Emergency treatment
Equity Programs
 Centrelink payments
 Needle availability and
support program
Uni-Key (transition)
 Money management
Uni-Reach (outreach)
 Tenancy issues
 Doctor/Nurse
appointments
 Preventative health
 First Aid
 Grievances/complaints
 Appeals
 University/Community
liaison
Not all services are available at all campuses, but students and staff may access services at any Griffith campus where available.
Disability
• It is not compulsory for students to disclose they have a disability
unless they require reasonable adjustments to be made or specialised
support
Eg: access to an interpreter or additional time in an exam for students
who read braille
Tips
• Don’t assume what people can or cannot do
• Speak to the person with a disability, not through their carer,
assistant or interpreter
Types of Disabilities/ Medical Conditions
1. Psychiatric
•
Severe depression, anxiety, schizophrenia
2. Physical
•
Use of a wheelchair, body pain, unable to use hand
3. Learning
•
Dyslexia, information processing difficulties
4. Sensory
•
Vision, deafness
5. Medical conditions
•
Heart, fatigue
6. Neurological
•
Acquired brain injury
Student Services Quiz
Where would you refer:
•
A student is applying for graduate positions and needs help with their
resume.
•
A student’s Centrelink payments have been cut unexpectedly and can only
afford the next two weeks of rent.
•
A student bursts into tears and says everything is becoming too much.
•
A student mentions she has learning disability but has not seen anyone at
the uni. You wonder if her grades could be better if she seeks some help.
Individual reflections
• What challenges would students who identify with an equity
background be likely to face at university?
• From your experience, what strategies or support services
can you suggest to assist students to manage these
challenges?
Challenges
Strategies or support
services
Challenges
Low income – may affect :
•Time availability for study- may work
more than 15hrs /week
•Ability to buy text books
•Computer access at home
•Proximity to uni
•Public transport
English language- may affect :
•Written expression
Strategies or Support
•Centrelink (if eligible)
•Student loans
•Part time job
•Second hand text books
•Check eligibility for scholarships
•Bring a packed lunch
•Car pooling
•English Help
•Learning Services
Challenges
Significant child minding
responsibilities - may affect :
•Attendance
•Unexplained absences from group
meetings
•Time availability for study
Religious commitments- may
affect :
•Time availability for study
•Time availability for exams Eg:
Saturday exams
Strategies or Support
•Study longer at uni
•Assistance with time management
(if applicable)
•Alternate exams arrangements
Tips
• Be conscious of the language you use.
• The use of poor, under privileged or low socio economic
is inappropriate when working with students. Low income
or eligible for Centrelink is more appropriate.
• Most people want to fit in and don’t want to be singled
out. Focus on similarities between people instead of
differences
• Good luck 
Uni-Key Coordinators
Jo Merley- Gold Coast
j.merley@griffith.edu.au
07 5552 8989
Tina Donaghy- Nathan, Mt Gravatt and South Bank
(07) 3735 6638
m.donaghy@griffith.edu.au
Trish Gillan- Logan
t.gillan@griffith.edu.au
(07) 3382 1263