Equal Opportunities Policy

Statement

Aussie Rules UK will work to ensure equal opportunities in all areas of its operation and is committed to highlighting discrimination and actively working to promote good practise.

Employment

Aussie Rules UK is committed to a policy of equal opportunities of employment. This policy aims to ensure that no employee or job applicant is:

Directly or indirectly discriminated against on the grounds of disability, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, gender, age, HIV status, mental health, political or religious belief, or social background.
Disadvantaged by conditions or requirements, which cannot be shown to be justified.

Procedures for selection, promotion and training will undergo regular reviews to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and treated fairly and equitably on the basis of criteria relevant to job performance and in compliance with the primary objectives of Aussie Rules UK.

Service Provision

Aussie Rules UK is committed to achieving equality in its service provision. This means the development of a service from which discrimination and prejudice have been eliminated so that Aussie Rules UK can respond fully to the needs of its service users and potential service users.

Aussie Rules UK will ensure training on equal opportunities and all other relevant legislation is made available to committee members, staff and volunteers as appropriate.

Aussie Rules UK is fully committed to the principles of this policy and is developing organisational and operational systems to ensure its implementation and effectiveness.

Aussie Rules UK acknowledges its role is encouraging and supporting other voluntary or statutory agencies to develop a policy and practise around equal opportunities.

Implementation

On a day to day basis it will be the responsibility of Aussie Rules UK at national level, and of Development Officers at regional level, to monitor the effectiveness and implementation of the policy. Overall responsibility for the policy's implementation and development will be that of the Executive Committee of Aussie Rules UK.

The policy will be subject to regular monitoring and review by Aussie Rules UK.

Definitions

In this policy direct discrimination means discrimination where a person is treated less favourably on grounds of either:

Sex or marital status as defined in the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and 1986 and the Equal Pay Act 1970.
Race as defined in the Race Relations Act 1976.
Disability, as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1996.
Sexual orientation, age, HIV status, mental health, political or religious belief or social background.

Direct discrimination consists of treating a person on any of these grounds less favourably than others are, or would be treated in the same or similar circumstances.

In this policy "indirect discrimination" means applying a condition or requirement which puts a particular person or group of people at a disadvantaged, i.e. adversely affecting one group more than another, and cannot be strictly justified in terms of the requirements for performing the job or delivering the service.