Disability and long-term medical conditions
UniSA
has a commitment to providing an accessible learning environment for
students with disabilities. The University recognises that students
with disabilities or long-term medical conditions may require
individual arrangements to ensure that they have fair access to the
supervision and research environment.
We ask all higher degree by research (HDR) students to inform us if they have a disability or long-term medical condition, as we are required to report to the Federal Government on this and other access issues. The information you provide on the Disability and long-term medical conditions form will enable the Graduate Studies Office to update your student record and will allow us to provide you with the appropriate assistance and support available to undertake your research program.
- Access Plans
- Confidentiality of disability or health information
- Disability and long-term medical conditions form - higher degree by research students only
Access Plans
UniSA students requiring particular equipment or services should have an Access Plan provided by the Disability Service located within the Learning and Teaching Unit. The Access Plan documents services to be provided and is a mechanism for students who need to alert staff regarding the impact of their disability or medical conditions.
Services can include equipment loan, interpreting and notetaking services. Disability Service staff can also provide advice and assistance to University staff in meeting the needs of students with disabilities. The services are provided on the basis of the student's individual access requirements. Services are available on each campus by contacting a Disability Adviser at the Learning and Teaching Unit.
The Access Plan is prerequisite for HDR students to apply for an Ability Grant. These grants recognise that HDR students with a disability may face additional research-related costs, such as the need for specialised equipment, transport or other support to enable them to complete their research project. They may also have limited ability to earn additional income whilst studying.
Grants of up to $3,000 are available to help fund mobility, special equipment at home or other types of assistance during the conduct of the research.
Further information on students with disabilities or medical conditions
Confidentiality of disability or health information
Releasing information:
- within the University: information a student decides to provide University staff regarding their disability or health status is of a personal nature. The student maintains control over access to the information and determines what information they choose to make available to relevant University staff. Students can inform staff of disability or health issues impacting on their study with the assistance of the Disability Service. An Access Plan can be used as a means of providing relevant information.
- outside the University: information students provide the University regarding their disability or health status is strictly confidential. It can not be passed on to other parties or organisations outside the University without the student's explicit agreement, nor can University staff compel a student to release this information.
Limits to confidentiality
Information may be disclosed without the student's consent when:
- the University reasonably believes that the disclosure will lessen
or prevent a serious and imminent threat to the health, life or safety
of the student or others
OR - there exists a legal obligation to do so. Legal obligation includes circumstances such as a court subpoena, a valid search warrant, or other legislated requirements as may be in force at any given time.