POLICY ON CHILDREN ON UNIVERSITY PREMISES

The University of Sydney Policy on Children on University Premises is intended to ensure:

• equal opportunity for scholarship and employment to those who are responsible for care of children, and
• the health and safety of children on University premises.

Background

In Australia today it is increasingly acknowledged that family responsibilities (especially those relating to dependent children) directly impinge on employment and educational opportunities. Within the context of higher education, it is clear that such responsibilities have significant impact on the educational opportunities of students and the employment opportunities of staff.

There is not precise information concerning the members of this University who are responsible for young children. However, the figure is likely to be high. It is known that within the Australian population at large more than half of the mothers of pre-school aged children and two-thirds of those with school age children are currently in the work force. Further, as women's levels of education increase, so does the likelihood that they will remain in paid employment after the birth of children. It is important, too, to note that over 95% of the fathers of young children in Australian Society are in paid employment.

The International Labor Organisation has recognised that many workers, both women and men, have domestic responsibilities and that these may, at time, impinge on workplace responsibilities (Convention No 156 and Recommendations 165, 1981). As an equal opportunity employer, the University has an interest in supporting its members to balance the various demands they face as workers and as people with family responsibilities.

Consistent with these observations, the University of Sydney recognises that:

1. family responsibilities impinge on all aspects of an individual's life and are not confined to be 'private' sphere. The ways in which such responsibilities impinge on work and education means that they are the concern of the University as a whole;
2. family responsibilities affect both women and men;
3. students and staff should have access to the same educational and employment conditions regardless of their status with respect to dependent children

The University of Sydney also recognises it has a responsibility, under Section 16(1) of the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1983, to provide premises that are free from risk to the health and safety of non-employees.


Policy

Following on from the recognition of these factors, the University of Sydney is committed to:

1. supporting the long-term aim of child care facilities for all students and employees who need them. This commitment includes an understanding that child care facilities should be readily available and easily affordable by those who want them.
2. providing premises which are accessible to those who are accompanied by children and which is, where practicable, compatible with children's use. This includes provision for pram/stroller entrances in buildings and ramps throughout the University's premises.
3. recognising its responsibilities under Section 16(1) of the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1983, for protecting non-employees, including children, from exposure to risks to their health or safety arising out of the University's activities. For this reason the University does not permit children in laboratories, workshops or storerooms, except for those occasions when public displays are mounted and supervised, when children are attending a clinic within the University, or other supervised children's activities take place, including work experience and Summer Schools. Other areas not listed above may also pose risks to children, and access to them should be restricted.
   The University also requires that children brought onto the University's premises be under the supervision of a parent or guardian at all times.
4. recognising the need for dependent children of students to attend classes occasionally. For example, a parent may have a babe in arms, child care arrangements or plans may have fallen through, or it may be a pupil free day in schools. Students should seek permission for a child or children to attend a class with them. When making such requests, students should bear in mind the size of the tutorial rooms. The student must ensure that the class is not disrupted by the child. Permission for children to attend classes with students is at the discretion of the lecturer or tutor concerned. While requests for students to bring their children to classes should be considered sympathetically, lecturers and tutors must bear in mind the University's legal obligations not to put at risk the health and safety of both the children and the students. Students' dependent children are not permitted in practical classes held in laboratories, workshops or clinics.
5. recognising the need for staff to bring their dependent children to work occasionally. For example, a parent may have a babe in arms, child care arrangements or plans may have fallen through, or it may be a pupil free day in schools. Staff members should seek permission from their Head of Department to bring a child or children into their workplace. While requests for staff to bring their children to work occasionally should be considered sympathetically, Heads of Departments must bear in mind the University's legal obligations not to put at risk the health and safety of both the children and staff.
6. allowing parents to take children into the Library occasionally, Union or any other non-teaching areas subject to any particular regulations which may apply in any particular area eg. the Bar of the Union. Parents who take childreninto a Library must ensure that other Library users are not inconvenienced.
7. providing leave and benefits which reasonably accommodate the competing roles of students and employees with respect to their family responsibilities.

Explanation of Terms

Premises covers all the University's campuses, field and research stations, buildings, grounds, vehicles, farms, commercial operations and other locations under the University's control.

Children is used in this policy to mean young people under the age of 18. The policy is not intended, however, to restrict the access of staff members and students of the University under the age of 18 to areas relevant to their work or studies. Note that the level of supervision and other health and safety precautions needed for staff and students under 18 would generally be greater than for staff and students 18 and older.

A laboratory is a place of specialised work, research, clinical or diagnostic evaluation, teaching and/or learning. Laboratories are commonly used in many scientific disciplines from chemistry, physics, botany and zoology to medicine, psychology, dentistry, chemical engineering, agriculture and veterinary science. The term laboratory may equate with workshop in engineering areas such as mechanical, electrical, aeronautical and civil engineering.

Computer laboratories which contain only terminals and/or personal computers should generally not be unsafe for children to be in, but issues of data security may arise if children are present.

Workshops cover not only engineering areas, but also art workshops and other areas where machinery and tools are used.


Approval

Revised policy approved by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor D. Anderson, 7/6/96

For further information contact Leanne Mumford at the Risk Management Office, ext 14176.

Last revised: Leanne Mumford, Risk Management Office 26/8/98.