Diversity and Safety on Campus @ Western

• In Event: LGBTQ Students and School Safety

Abstract

The Ally Network at Western Sydney University has become increasingly concerned about the environmental conditions for sexuality and gender diverse (SGD) students and staff on campus. Anecdotal evidence points to high levels of discrimination and violence, which was further evidenced in 2015 and 2016 by the criminal damage of Queer Spaces on four of the University’s eight campuses. Additionally, Network members have anecdotally identified a link between SGD student retention, safety on campus, and heteronormative and cisnormative learning experiences and material. In response, the DSC@Western project was created by the Ally Network to investigate the experiences of SGD staff and students, and develop an evidence base to create more inclusive and safe campuses for all staff and students. In addition to documenting the results of focus groups with Ally Network and Queer Collective members and interviews with key institutional stakeholders, this paper will discuss the research findings from a survey of all staff and students. A critical component of the research findings relate to the capacity of all staff and students’ to recognise the advantages of SGD inclusion and acceptance, and their capacity to intervene in instances of exclusion, marginalisation, discrimination and violence of SGD staff and students.

Author

• Nicole Lisa Asquith, Western Sydney University