Inclusion and Diversity Policy (Includes Equal Opportunity and Sexual Harassment)

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand this policy, please contact Donald Eddington, Principal. Non-English speakers can also access Google translate at the bottom of this web page.

As valuable partners in promoting and maintaining child safety and wellbeing at William Ruthven Primary School, we welcome and encourage your feedback. If you have any suggestions, comments or questions in relation to our child safe policies and practices, please contact the Principal, Donald Eddington via email, donald.eddington@education.vic.gov.au.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to explain William Ruthven Primary School’s commitment to making sure every member of our school community, regardless of their background or personal attributes, is treated with respect and dignity. This policy should be read alongside the following Department of Education and Training policies:

Equal Opportunity and Human Rights - Students
For staff, the Respectful Workplaces policies (including Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Workplace Bullying) as these whole of Department policies apply to all staff at William Ruthven Primary School.

Policy

Definitions

Personal attribute: a personal characteristic that is protected by State or Commonwealth anti-discrimination legislation. These include race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious belief or activity, political belief or activity, age, intersex status, physical features, pregnancy, carer and parental status, breastfeeding, marital or relationship status, lawful sexual activity, employment activity, industrial activity, expunged homosexual conviction or personal association with anyone who is identified with reference to any protected attribute.
Direct discrimination: unfavourable treatment because of a person’s protected attribute.
Indirect discrimination: imposing an unreasonable requirement, condition or practice that disadvantages a person or group of people with a protected attribute.
Sexual harassment: unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature towards another person which could reasonably be expected to make that other person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. It may be physical, verbal, visual or written.
Disability harassment: an action taken in relation to the person’s disability that is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to humiliate, offend, intimidate or distress the person.
Vilification: conduct that incites hatred towards or revulsion or severe ridicule of a person or group of people on the basis of their race or religion.
Victimisation: subjecting a person or threatening to subject them to detrimental treatment because they (or their associate) have made an allegation of discrimination or harassment on the basis of a protected attribute (or asserted their rights under relevant policies or law).

Inclusion and diversity

William Ruthven strives to provide a safe, inclusive and supportive school environment which values the human rights of all students and staff.

William Ruthven Primary School is committed to creating a school community where all members of our school community are welcomed, accepted and treated equitably and with respect regardless of their backgrounds or personal attributes such as race, language, religious beliefs, gender identity, disability or sexual orientation so that they can participate, achieve and thrive at school.

William Ruthven Primary School acknowledges and celebrates the diversity of backgrounds and experiences in our school community, and we will not tolerate behaviours, language or practices that label, stereotype or demean others. At William Ruthven Primary School we value the human rights of every student, and we take our obligations under anti-discrimination laws and the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities seriously.

William Ruthven Primary School will:

Actively nurture and promote a culture where everyone is treated with respect and dignity
ensure that students are not discriminated against (directly or indirectly) and where necessary, are reasonably accommodated to participate in their education and school activities (e.g., schools sports, concerts) on the same basis as their peers
acknowledge and respond to the diverse needs, identities and strengths of all students
encourage empathy and fairness towards others
challenge stereotypes that promote prejudicial and biased behaviours and practices
contribute to positive learning, engagement and wellbeing outcomes for students
respond to complaints and allegations appropriately and ensure that students are not victimised.
School Council has unanimously endorsed William Ruthven Primary School becoming a Safe School. The Safe Schools program helps schools foster a safe environment that is supportive and inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning (LGBTIQ+) students. Creating this environment is key to tackling bullying, discrimination and harassment at school, particularly arising from homophobia and transphobia. Safe and inclusive schools benefit all students and are critical to students achieving their potential. Students who do not feel safe or included at school cannot learn effectively.

Bullying, unlawful discrimination, harassment, vilification and other forms of inappropriate behaviour targeting individuals or groups because of their personal attributes will not be tolerated at William Ruthven Primary School. We will take appropriate measures, consistent with our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy, and Bullying Prevention Policy to respond to students who demonstrate these behaviours at our school.

Students who may have experienced or witnessed this type of behaviour are encouraged to speak up and to let their teachers, parents or carers know about those behaviours to ensure that inappropriate behaviour can be addressed.

Students that are involved in bullying or harassing others on the basis of their personal attributes will be supported to understand the impact of their behaviour.

Reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities

William Ruthven Primary School also understands that it has a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate students with disabilities. A reasonable adjustment is a measure or action taken to assist students with disabilities to participate in their education on the same basis as their peers. Reasonable adjustments will be made for students with disabilities in consultation with the student, their parents or carers, their teachers and if appropriate, their treating practitioners.

Our school may consult through Student Support Group processes and in other less formal ways. For more information about support available for students with disabilities, and communicating with us in relation to a student’s disability, please refer to our school’s Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy or contact Gemma Albress, Program for Students with Disabilities Leader, gemma.albress@education.vic.gov.au for further information.

Communication

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

Available publicly on our school’s website.
Included in staff induction processes and staff training.
Included in our staff handbook.
Discussed at annual staff briefings/meetings.
Reminders in our school newsletter.
Hard copy available from school administration upon request.

Related policies and resources

For staff, please see the Department’s Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination Policy, Sexual Harassment Policy and Workplace Bullying Policy which apply to all staff working at our school.

Other relevant Department policies and resources on the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library are:

Policy review and approval

Policy last reviewed: April 2024
Consultation: School Council (15 April 2024)
Approved by: Principal
Next scheduled review date: April 2028