Equality Champions

Roles and functions of ECs
Equality Champions: transforming spaces through dialogue

Meet the team

The role of the Equality Champions team is to create and facilitate listening spaces in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dialogue and courageous conversations as constructive engagement between individuals or groups are encouraged. The aim of creating and nurturing listening spaces is part of the equality, diversity and human rights strategy of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science. Courageous conversations may focus on local issues that may enable or hamper students, faculty members, support staff and contractors of the university to contribute to an inclusive environment. Specific responsibilities of Equality Champions team are:

To provide a safe space where all voices will be listened to with empathy and appreciation for context;
To capture and reflect on the evolving themes and other issues raised and consult with faculty members, students, support staff and relevant stakeholders on how to address issues.
To offer recommendations when appropriate;
To provide an opportunity and a space where students and staff can clarify their concerns, and consider various options to address those concerns where possible;
To guide members of the Tygerberg campus community on where they can obtain further assistance from SU resources. The team will therefore also serve as a referral source.
The team shall provide a safe listening space and where necessary, refer students and staff to appropriate services.

The Equality Champions are committed to:

Equipping themselves through training and self-development that will enable an enhanced understanding of equality and diversity issues by accessing the relevant on-line training and other externally relevant sources.
Ensuring that their knowledge and skills are up to date with developments in the equality and diversity field through the Equality Unit and Transformation office.
Acknowledging their skills and expertise, but also identifying the need for seeking assistance and guidance from other relevant resources at the university.