Safety first at UON

The University of Newcastle says it has the goal of becoming the safest and healthiest university in Australia and has underpinned this ambition with the release of the first UON Health and Safety Charter.

The safety of staff and students has been placed at the forefront of the university’s priorities with the recent co-signing of the charter by Chancellor Paul Jeans and Vice-Chancellor Professor Caroline McMillen. 

“Creating a culture of safety requires shared values and, most importantly, sustained collective effort,” the Chancellor said.

“Every single person who sets foot on one of our campuses has a right to safety, and with that comes responsibility.

“The UON Health and Safety Charter should eliminate any ambiguity around expectations for our staff, students and visitors.”

The charter has been labelled “a commitment to continuous improvement in health and safety”.

McMillen said placing health and safety in the university’s strategic plan ensures that it becomes the responsiblity of everyone.

“Our goal over the next 10 years is to be the safest and healthiest university in Australia for staff and students,” McMillen said.

“Safety comes down to many things — the way we lead, the resources we commit and the systems and processes we have in place.

“Above all, it is about each and every one of us being smart, alert and prepared to act.”

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