Further Enquiries

Dr Peter Backhouse
Coordinator, Student Policy and Appeals
Student Administrative Services
Wills Building
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
SA 5005
AUSTRALIA
Email

Telephone: +61 8 8313 7503

Student Care
Adelaide University Union
Ground Floor, Lady Symon Building
North Terrace Campus
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
SA 5005
AUSTRALIA
Email

Telephone: +61 8 8313 5430

Procedural fairness

Decisions can have considerable impact on a student or on staff. The decision-makers must therefore ensure a fair and proper procedure takes place in reaching a decision. This is known as procedural fairness or 'natural justice'.

Key elements of procedural fairness are:

a hearing appropriate to the circumstances, including the opportunity for support and representation
a lack of bias
decisions supported by evidence and communicated with reasons
inquiry into disputed matters

[source: Ombudsman Western Australia, Procedural Fairness (Natural Justice), fact sheet]

More information

The following links provide further information about procedural fairness:

Ombudsman Western Australia, Procedural Fairness (Natural Justice), fact sheet
NSW Ombudsman, Public Sector Agencies, Natural Justice/Procedural Fairness, fact sheet no. 14