• Section 1 - Purpose
• Section 2 - Objectives
• Section 3 - Committee Membership
• Membership
• Appointment procedure
• Chair
• In Attendance
• Term of Office
• Representative Objectives
• Section 4 - Functions of the Committee
• Section 5 - Authorities
• Section 6 - Conduct of Committee Business
• Meetings
• Business Papers
• Quorum
• Use of Technology
• Resolutions
• Minutes
• Self-Review
• Secretary to Committee
• Section 7 -  Definitions Specific to this Terms of Reference

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) The UNE Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (Equity Committee) is an open and safe space for staff and students to raise concerns, discuss equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives and programs and share ideas about EDI programs that UNE may run. This information will be shared with the Executive, and reported annually to the Audit and Risk Committee. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is the executive sponsor of the Equity Committee.

(2) The Equity Committee's role is to evaluate the embedding and effectiveness of relevant UNE strategies, action plans, policies and other activities relating to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and through the Chair, make recommendations to the COO, UNE Executive Team and UNE’s governance committees on matters relating to EDI that impact staff, students and the wider UNE community.

(3) In undertaking this role, the Equity Committee contributes to UNE meeting the compliance requirements of:

1. Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth)
2. Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW)
3. Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986(Cth)
4. Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 (NSW)
5. Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)
6. Disability Standards for Education 2005 (Cth)
7. Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)
8. Government Sector Employment Act 2013 (NSW)
9. Heritage Act 1977 (NSW)
10. Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (Cth)
11. Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth)
12. Higher Education Support Amendment Act 2023 (Cth)
13. Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth)
14. Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW)
15. Multicultural NSW Act 2000 (NSW)
16. Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)
17. Racial Hatred Act 1995 (Cth)
18. Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)
19. Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 Domain 2 Learning Environment: Standard 2.2 – Diversity and Equity) (Cth)
20. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
21. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
22. Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Cth).

(4) In addition to recommendations for UNE’s compliance in relation to obligations in Clause (3), the Equity Committee coordinates and supports equity, diversity and inclusion groups and networks at UNE.

Section 2 - Objectives

(5) The Equity Committee is to monitor and provide recommendations on UNE activities relating to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

(6) The Equity Committee's objectives align with the UNE Equity Diversity and Inclusion Rule principles:

1. UNE recognises that fostering diversity benefits the University community and results in a safe, innovative and prosperous environment. UNE strives to build a vibrant community which respects the inherent dignity of the individual and values the unique knowledge, skills, abilities, life skills and competencies that each person can contribute to learning and their workplace.
2. UNE is dedicated to providing an environment that upholds the principles of social justice without fear of discrimination, harassment or bullying, where all students, employees and others participating in our community are treated with dignity, courtesy and respect. 
3. UNE acknowledges that historic and ongoing disadvantage has created barriers to access and progression for some groups in the community and will work to become part of the solution to this inequality. The University is committed to our social and community responsibilities in line with the principles founded on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
4. UNE recognises that many members of its community experience multiple forms of prejudice and discrimination and that equity and diversity can only be achieved, if the intersectional lived experience of our staff and student cohorts are considered.
5. Each member of the UNE community is recognised and valued for their diversity. The significance of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders as Australia’s First Peoples is particularly acknowledged.

Section 3 - Committee Membership

Membership

(7) The members of the Equity Committee are:

1. Chief Operating Officer;
2. Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous (PVCI), or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander nominee (staff or student);
3. One staff member of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education (HASSE), ensuring equity representation;
4. One staff member of the Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law (SABL), ensuring equity representation;
5. One staff member of the Faculty of Medicine and Health (MAH), ensuring equity representation;
6. One staff member from an operational directorate of the University;
7. One staff member from a non-Armidale UNE campus;
8. Six (6) student members representing various equity and diversity groups at all levels and in any study mode. This includes students who are studying on campus (including in colleges), online, in under-, and postgraduate coursework and higher degree research programs, part- and full-time, as well as domestic and international students; and
9. Chairs of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion staff and student groups, committees and networks (see Clause 4).

(8) Two (2) representatives may elect to share one member position to reduce the commitments required as part of membership and to reduce the cultural and ‘participation’ load for staff and students representing one or more equity groups. Members who are sharing a role need to represent the same work area or study in the same mode and/or level.

Appointment procedure

(9) Prospective members of the Equity Committee, other than the COO and the PVCI, will be invited to self-nominate through a UNE-wide nomination process.

(10) Members may be appointed by the Chair, should insufficient prospective members be nominated for a position during a UNE-wide nomination process.

1. Calls for nominations are distributed by the Secretary and must include a criterion of equity and diversity representation.
2. Nominations are open for at least three (3) weeks.

(11) Students active in other UNE affiliated groups, such as the Student Council, and students on intermission are encouraged to participate, as long as they remain admitted in a UNE course of study. 

(12) Prospective members are appointed by existing members of the UNE Equity Committee through a simple majority at the next available meeting, with the Chair making the final determination. Members are to consider gaps in skills, lived experience and equity representation when appointing new members.

Chair

(13) The Chair will be elected annually by all members of the Equity Committee. Rotation of the Chair role, amongst members of the Committee, to occur in accordance with principles determined by the Equity Committee, with the aim of maximising the contribution of all Equity Committee members.

In Attendance

(14) The Equity Committee may seek input from any other members of the University community from time to time, or invite University officials and representatives of various stakeholder groups to meetings.

Term of Office

(15) Members will serve a term of 24 months, with the possibility of extension for a further 12 months or more, depending on the continuing requirement of the Equity Committee.

Representative Objectives

(16) Membership should comply with the Gender Representation on Decision Making and Advisory Committees Policy but more broadly, and to the greatest extent reasonably practicable, reflect other dimensions of the diversity of UNE staff and students. 

Section 4 - Functions of the Committee

(17) The following are the functions of the Equity Committee:

1. Through the Chair, provide recommendations to the COO, Executive Team and other relevant UNE committees about the development, promotion, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies, policies, action plans and programs that impact staff, students and community, in relation to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. This does not include compliance reporting in relation to the compliance drivers in Clause (3). While the Equity Committee may provide advice to the relevant member of the Senior Executive and VC&CEO, responsibility for compliance rests with the relevant Senior Executive and VC&CEO.
2. Provide an avenue for consultation and recommendations to the Executive Team and relevant Committees on issues concerning systemic gender, disability and accessibility, race, age and sex discrimination.
3. Make recommendations to the COO on the allocation of funds committed to the Equity Committee to support specific equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging events and activities.
4. Coordinate and provide support to other UNE equity, diversity and inclusion groups. The Equity Committee will provide advice and guidance where appropriate.
5. Ensure that, wherever possible, an intersectionality lens is applied to the work of the Committee. This ensures that work towards one equity group considers that many people belong to more than one equity group and their needs and experiences are influenced by the multiple disadvantages they may face.
6. Provide recommendation reports to the Executive Sponsor for the Senior Executive Team, as well as an annual report to the Audit and Risk Committee.
7. Develop and maintain strategic linkages with committees of the University that monitor staff and student policies and programs, in particular Academic Board and its Committees.

Section 5 - Authorities

(18) This Committee is established under the authority of the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, to perform the functions set out in these Terms of Reference, and all matters ancillary to those functions.

Section 6 - Conduct of Committee Business

Meetings

(19) The Committee will meet at least four (4) times per annum. The Chair may call additional meetings if required. Committee members should be given at least three (3) weeks notice in advance of the next meeting, or such shorter notice period as is practicable where the matter is urgent.

Business Papers

(20) Unless the Chair directs otherwise, Committee business papers, or "flying minutes" and explanatory documents accompanying them, will be distributed to Committee members electronically and in an accessible format not less than seven (7) days before the next meeting. Disclosure of business papers, minutes and other information received by the Committee should be made via the Secretary to the Committee.

(21) Business papers will not be tabled during Committee meetings, if they have not been distributed electronically prior to the meeting for equity reasons. Late papers may be distributed electronically in an accessible format by the Secretary, upon approval by the Chair.

Quorum

(22) A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the members of the Committee at the time the meeting is held.

Use of Technology

(23) Business papers and other documentation must be distributed in advance of each meeting in an accessible, online format. All meetings will be held online via video-conferencing and in person, where possible.

Resolutions

(24) The Committee may pass a resolution by "flying minute" provided that the resolution has been approved by a simple majority of the Committee members at the time the resolution is made.

Minutes

(25) Meeting notes will be kept to a minimum and circulated promptly following the meeting, including all action items. Minutes will be formally endorsed by the Committee at its next meeting.

(26) Minutes will be provided in an accessible electronic format by the Secretary.

(27) The Secretary to the Committee is responsible for ensuring all Committee business records are registered in the approved Records Management System (RMS) in accordance with the Records Management Rule.

Self-Review

(28) An annual self-review of the Committee will be conducted to ascertain the continuing requirement of the Committee.

Secretary to Committee

(29) The Director People and Culture will nominate an appropriate staff member to act as Secretary and provide administrative support to the Committee. Typically, this is the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant. 

Section 7 -  Definitions Specific to this Terms of Reference

(30) Intersectionality – refers to the ways in which different aspects of a person’s identity can expose them to overlapping forms of discrimination and marginalisation.