When Things Go Wrong

Dispute Resolution and Grievance Procedures

The material below represents an extract from the regulations about dispute resolution and grievance procedures as they pertain to HDR candidates.

Concerns and Complaints

Scope

These procedures apply to any situation where a higher degree by research candidate believes that he/she has a significant concern in relation to his or her research that is not covered by other procedures. The concern could be related to the Principal Supervisor, a Co-supervisor, or both; the provision of resources; or any other matter of concern to the candidate.

Concerns

The concerns that will be covered by these procedures include, but are not limited to:

  • a Supervisor who does not appear to have appropriate knowledge of a candidate'?s research area;
  • a Supervisor who fails to provide appropriate support for, or interest in, a candidate's work;
  • a Supervisor who fails to carry out necessary administrative responsibilities in an appropriate time;
  • a conflict between a candidate and a Supervisor over the direction in which the research should proceed;
  • a conflict between the candidate and the Supervisor regarding the authorship of a paper flowing from the research;
  • a candidate who believes that the Supervisor is requiring the candidate to carry out work that is not related to the research;
  • a Supervisor who frustrates a candidate's efforts;
  • a personality conflict between a candidate and a Supervisor;
  • a candidate who believes that he/she is not being provided with an appropriate level of physical resources.

Procedures

If a candidate has a concern that needs to be dealt with, he or she should take the following course of action: a) attempt initially to resolve the concern with the Supervisor. If the candidate does not believe that this is possible, or appropriate, the candidate may wish to progress the matter to the next step. b) discuss the concern with the Head of School, with the Faculty Associate or Sub-Dean for Graduate Studies, or with the Dean of the Faculty.

Complaints, Grievances & Appeals

If the procedures above fail to remedy the concern, a complaint may be lodged with the University Ombudsman. The University/s Complaints Policy and Procedures detail the policy basis and procedures for involving the University Ombudsman.

These Policy and Procedures also apply to grievances which fall into any of the following categories.

Academic Judgements

A student who is aggrieved by a decision of the University which is taken by a person or body of the University exercising an authority under the regulations and rules of the University, based essentially upon a question of academic judgement, may appeal against that decision.

Discrimination

A student who is aggrieved by a decision of the University or by action taken by the University which the student believes has or will result in him or her being treated less favourably than another student or students in the same or similar circumstances, may: a) have his or her complaint, problem or concern mediated; or b) lodge a formal grievance under the University's Complaints Policy and Procedures on the grounds of discrimination in respect of that decision or action. A student who invokes this clause in respect of a decision of the University is not prevented from exercising his or her rights of appeal against that decision.

Harassment

A student who is subject to uninvited and unwelcomed behaviour by a person exercising an authority under the regulations or a student of the University, which interferes with the student's right to study or live in a non-threatening environment, may: a) have his or her complaint, problem or concern mediated; or b) lodge a formal grievance under the University's Complaints Policy and Procedures on the grounds of harassment in respect of that behaviour.

Appeals

Students can appeal decisions, details about processes can be found in the academic manual.