Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022C00105:reg:2:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022C00105
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2 (pt 1/2)
Character Range: 19883–23284

2              Learning Environment

2.1            Facilities and Infrastructure

1.         Facilities, including facilities where external placements are undertaken, are fit for their educational and research purposes, and accommodate the numbers and educational and research activities of the students and staff who use them.

2.         Secure access to electronic information and adequate electronic communication services is available continuously (allowing for reasonable outages for maintenance) to students and staff during periods of authorised access, except for locations and circumstances that are not under the direct control of the provider.

3.         The learning environment, whether physical, virtual or blended, and associated learning activities support academic interactions among students outside of formal teaching.

2.2            Diversity and Equity

1.         Institutional policies, practices and approaches to teaching and learning are designed to accommodate student diversity, including the under-representation and/or disadvantage experienced by identified groups, and create equivalent opportunities for academic success regardless of students' backgrounds.

2.         Specific consideration is given to the recruitment, admission, participation and completion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

3.         Participation, progress, and completion by identified student subgroups are monitored and the findings are used to inform admission policies and improvement of teaching, learning and support strategies for those subgroups.

2.3            Wellbeing and Safety

1.         All students are advised of the actions they can take, the staff they may contact and the support services that are accessible if their personal circumstances are having an adverse effect on their education.

2.         Timely, accurate advice on access to personal support services is available, including for access to emergency services, health services, counselling, legal advice, advocacy, and accommodation and welfare services.

3.         The nature and extent of support services that are available for students are informed by the needs of student cohorts, including mental health, disability and wellbeing needs.

4.         A safe environment is promoted and fostered, including by advising students and staff on actions they can take to enhance safety and security on campus and online.

5.         There is a critical-incident policy together with readily accessible procedures that cover the immediate actions to be taken in the event of a critical incident and any follow-up required.

2.4            Student Grievances and Complaints

1.         Current and prospective students have access to mechanisms that are capable of resolving grievances about any aspect of their experience with the higher education provider, its agents or related parties.

2.         There are policies and processes that deliver timely resolution of formal complaints and appeals against academic and administrative decisions without charge or at reasonable cost to students, and these are applied consistently, fairly and without reprisal.

3.         Institutional complaints-handling and appeals processes for formal complaints include provision for confidentiality, independent professional advice, advocacy and other support for the complainant or appellant, and