Gender-based Violence, Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment | CHS

Gender-based Violence, Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment

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This page discusses violence and harassment. Read only what you feel comfortable with.

Everyone should feel safe and respected while studying or working with us. If something has happened to you, or you are concerned about someone else, you can talk to us.

You do not need to know what to call the behaviour, have evidence ready or make a formal report to ask for help. We will listen, explain your options and talk through what happens next. Your wishes matter, and so does everyone’s safety.

If you need help now

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000. If you need urgent medical care, call 000 or go to an emergency department.

You can also speak to a specialist service at any time:

  • 1800RESPECT — 24-hour support for domestic, family and sexual violence. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or chat online.
  • Full Stop Australia — free, 24-hour specialist counselling and support. Call 1800 385 578 or visit fullstop.org.au.

Urgent safety concern after hours? Contact Ms Lena Shifrina on 0420 309 633. This number is for urgent safety matters only, not general student enquiries. If there is immediate danger, call 000 instead.

You do not need to contact police before asking the College for support.

Talk to us

You can speak with someone in Student Services, People, Engagement and Culture, or a staff member you trust. If your concern involves the person you would normally contact, please choose someone else from the list below.

You can keep your first message simple: “I’d like to speak privately about a safety or wellbeing concern.” You do not need to describe what happened in an email.

Student and campus contacts

Sydney:  Pia Pohankar  |  (02) 8766 3645  |  [email protected]

Brisbane:  Darsha Pathirage  |  (07) 3210 7407  |  [email protected]

Staff and contractor contact

People, Engagement and Culture:  Leigh Skene (ECA HR Manager)  |  (02) 8265 3200  |  [email protected]

Online reporting

You can also use our online reporting channels, which includes anonymous reporting options:

Students, staff, witnesses, friends, family members and other members of the public can use these contact and reporting options. If you are unsure where to start, just get in touch. We can help you find the right pathway.

What would you like to do?

There is no single right way to start. You can ask questions first, and you do not have to make every decision straight away.

I just want support

We can help you access counselling, practical assistance or safety measures without asking you to make a formal report. You can speak privately with a staff member or support service.

I want to tell the College what happened (a disclosure)

A disclosure is when you tell us about something you experienced, witnessed or became aware of. It does not automatically begin an investigation. We will check for safety risks, discuss support and explain whether any further action may be needed.

I want the College to formally consider what happened (a formal report)

You can make a formal report through our dedicated reporting channel. If the report concerns a College student or staff member, the College will investigate it, even if the incident happened outside College activities. We will explain the process and available support before and throughout it.

I would prefer not to give my name

You can make an anonymous disclosure or formal report. We will consider the information and any safety risks. Not having your contact details may limit what we can clarify, how much we can investigate or what support we can offer you directly.

I am worried about someone else

You can share a concern on someone else’s behalf. Where the person reported is a College student or staff member, you may also submit a formal report. We will handle the information carefully, involve the person affected where appropriate and not require them to participate against their wishes.

What happens after you contact us?

First, we check what you need to feel safe

We will listen and ask whether there are any immediate safety or wellbeing concerns. We will not expect you to keep telling your story to different people or to confront the person involved. We assess safety risks when a disclosure or report is received and keep them under review.

We help with practical support

A staff member with relevant training can talk through a support plan with you. Depending on your circumstances, this might include:

  • Counselling, specialist sexual violence services, medical care or help contacting police or another service.
  • Support with classes, extensions, special consideration, attendance, placements, supervision or other study arrangements.
  • Changes to timetables, locations, contact arrangements or access to facilities where needed for safety.
  • Work adjustments, changes to duties or leave, where appropriate.
  • Interpreters, translated information, disability adjustments, culturally safe support or another person to contact.

Support can continue for as long as reasonably needed. You can receive support even if you decide not to make a formal report.

We talk through the next steps

If you have made a disclosure, we will explain the options. These may include agreed steps to resolve a concern, safety arrangements without an investigation, a decision not to investigate, or an investigation.

We will ask for your views and take them seriously before deciding to investigate a disclosure. Sometimes we may need to act to protect students or staff, even if that is not what you would prefer. Where it is safe and lawful to do so, we will explain why and what happens next.

If you make a formal report

The College investigates formal reports that concern a student or staff member. The people conducting the investigation and making any disciplinary decisions will be appropriately trained and impartial. We will decide how the investigation should proceed with safety and wellbeing in mind.

When an investigation begins, we will notify the person who made the disclosure and the person responding to the allegation in writing on the same day, with the discloser notified first. Both people can have a support person when asked about the matter. You do not have to provide physical evidence to make a report or take part in the process.

The outcome will depend on the information available and what the investigation finds. It may involve safety measures, an agreed resolution, no disciplinary action, or a separate disciplinary process. If misconduct is substantiated, an appropriate sanction may be imposed. Unless you ask us not to, we will let you know the outcome of an investigation in writing, including whether disciplinary action will follow. If there is a disciplinary decision, we will explain the outcome, the reasons for the decision, any sanctions imposed and your options for making an internal or external complaint, including to the National Student Ombudsman.

You will receive this information on the same day as the person responding to the report, unless you request otherwise. If they appeal a disciplinary decision, we will let you know in writing within two business days and explain what could happen next.

How long does it take?

We aim to acknowledge disclosures and formal reports promptly, usually on the same business day or by the end of the next business day.

The formal report process, including any disciplinary process, is designed to finish within 45 business days of the report being lodged. An appeal is designed to finish within 20 business days of the appeal being lodged.

An extension is only possible where the circumstances require it and the Higher Education Principal Executive Officer (HEPEO) is satisfied that it is necessary. We will explain the revised timeframe to the people affected, as far as privacy and the law allow.

Your privacy, safety and choices

Who will know about what I tell you?

We handle personal information sensitively and store it securely. Only authorised people who need the information to provide support, assess risks, follow a fair process or meet legal and reporting obligations will have access.

We cannot promise complete secrecy. Information may need to be shared, for example because of a serious safety risk, child protection or another mandatory reporting duty, a legal order, or because the person responding to an allegation must know enough to answer it fairly. Where practicable, we will explain this before information is shared. You can read more in our Privacy Policy.

Can I have someone with me?

Yes. You can ask a trusted person, advocate or other support person to help you. If you need an interpreter, information in another language, disability adjustments or a different way to communicate, please tell us.

Will I be disadvantaged for speaking up?

No one should be threatened, pressured or treated unfairly for seeking help, making or supporting a disclosure or report, being a support person, taking part in a process or being named in a report. We do not tolerate retaliation or intimidation. If this is happening, please contact us so we can consider your safety and support needs.

Will I have to sign a confidentiality agreement?

No. We will not require someone who has disclosed gender-based violence to sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of a settlement. Such an agreement may only be considered if the person who made the disclosure asks for it voluntarily. It cannot prevent you from seeking advice or support or prevent legal or regulatory reporting. We will not use non-disparagement terms in a settlement to silence someone about their experience.

You can seek legal or professional advice, talk to a trusted person, make an external complaint or contact police. We may ask everyone to respect other people’s personal information, but that does not prevent you speaking about your own experience or seeking help.

If someone has made a report about you

Being named in a report can be upsetting. You will be treated fairly and respectfully. A report is not, on its own, a finding of misconduct.

We will explain the process, any safety arrangements that affect you and how you can respond. You will have a reasonable opportunity to respond to information that may be relied on in a disciplinary decision. You can have a support person when asked about the matter, and you do not have to provide physical evidence.

You can also access your own support contact and a support plan, including counselling, interpreters or study and work adjustments as appropriate. We will not assign the same staff member to support both the discloser and the respondent. We will explain any review or appeal options available to you.

Please do not contact or pressure anyone about their involvement in the process. If you are unsure about appropriate contact or communication, ask your support person or the College.

You can also seek help outside the College

You can speak with police, an independent service or an external complaints body. You do not need the College’s permission, and you do not have to make a police report to receive support from us. An external report does not stop us from considering necessary safety measures.

  • National Student Ombudsman — a free, independent complaints service for higher education students, including former students. It can consider complaints about student safety, discrimination, gender-based violence and how a provider handled a matter. Although we encourage students to raise concerns with us first, you can contact the National Student Ombudsman directly. You do not need to make a complaint to the College beforehand, particularly if you do not feel safe or comfortable doing so. Make a complaint.
  • Australian Human Rights Commission — for discrimination and sexual harassment complaints. How to complain.
  • eSafety Commissioner — for image-based abuse and some other forms of online abuse. Report online abuse.
  • Work-related concerns — the Fair Work Commission, workplace safety bodies or relevant anti-discrimination authorities may be able to help, depending on the issue.

To report sexual violence to police, contact the police service in your state or territory. In an emergency, call 000. If you are unsure which independent service is suitable, we can help you find one.

What is gender-based violence?

Gender-based violence can include physical harm, threats, harassment, abuse or controlling behaviour linked to gender. It can happen to anyone. It may be a single serious incident or behaviour that happens over time.

Examples include:

  • Sexual assault: sexual activity or contact without free and voluntary consent.
  • Sexual harassment: unwelcome sexual advances, requests or other sexual conduct where a reasonable person would anticipate possible offence, humiliation or intimidation.
  • Sex-based harassment: unwelcome, seriously demeaning behaviour because of someone’s sex in circumstances where a reasonable person would anticipate possible offence, humiliation or intimidation.
  • Family or domestic violence: including coercive control, stalking, intimidation or financial abuse.
  • Online abuse: including sexual extortion, threats to share intimate images or sharing intimate images without consent, including digitally altered images.
  • Abuse of power: for example, pressure or threats connected with grades, work, placements, supervision, money or study opportunities.

Not sure whether something counts? You can still contact us. You do not need to label your experience before asking for help.

A word about consent

Consent means freely and voluntarily agreeing to sexual activity. It must be informed, specific and ongoing, and it can be withdrawn at any time. Being silent, not resisting, being in a relationship or having agreed before does not by itself mean someone has consented. A person cannot freely consent if they are forced, threatened, coerced or unable to make a voluntary decision.

Does it matter where something happened?

Our GBV/SASH Policy covers college life and activities connected to study or work. This includes campuses, online classes, research, placements and practicums, events, study-related travel, and activities delivered by partners or contractors.

You can still ask the College for support if something happened elsewhere or involved someone who is not connected with us. We will consider any risks to our students and staff. If a formal report concerns a College student or staff member, we will investigate regardless of where the incident happened. What we can investigate or do about someone outside the College may be more limited.

If you are worried about accommodation promoted or arranged in connection with the College, please contact us. We can help you work through the safety, support and reporting options.

How we work to prevent harm

We want respectful relationships and safe learning and working environments to be part of everyday college life. Our education and prevention work covers consent, gender equality, power imbalances, speaking up safely as a bystander, and where to find help.

We use two online courses from Epigeum to help students and staff understand respectful behaviour, recognise harmful conduct and know how to support others:

Consent Matters – explores sexual consent, boundaries, communication and respectful relationships, and how to look out for others or step in safely when something is not right.

Respect Matters – helps students and staff understand gender-based violence and its impact, respond supportively when someone seeks help, and contribute to a safer, more inclusive College community. The course includes content tailored to students and staff.

Students and staff can access the training through the College’s Learning Management System. Staff who receive disclosures or have other responsibilities for responding to GBV/SASH receive additional training relevant to their roles.

We aim to make information and training accessible to domestic and international students and staff. Please ask if you need translated information, an interpreter or a different format.

Who oversees this work?

Our GBV/SASH Committee reports to the Board of Directors. It looks at how well our prevention activities, support services, reporting arrangements, safety measures and training are working, and recommends improvements. It does not investigate individual reports, make disciplinary decisions or hear appeals.

The Committee generally works with aggregated or de-identified information. Student and staff representatives are not given identifiable details about individual cases.

Committee membership

We publish the names of office-holders, but not the names of the independent specialist or student representatives. More information on the Committee is available in our Governance Charter.

  • Independent Chair: Emeritus Professor Anne Cummins
  • Chief Executive Officer / Higher Education Principal Executive Officer: Dr Scott Dickson.
  • General Manager, Higher Education Quality: Matthew Farago.
  • Registrar / Director, Student Services: Melinda McLeod.
  • Dean or senior academic representative: Professor Michelle Cavaleri (Dean, Academic).
  • Senior representative: People, Engagement and Culture.
  • Other members: an independent GBV/SASH or safety and wellbeing representative, a staff representative, and student representative(s).

Prevention and Response Plan and Outcomes Framework

Our Prevention and Response Plan sets out what we will do to prevent harm, support students and staff, respond to reports and improve our services. Our Outcomes Framework helps us see what is working and where we need to do better. The Committee reviews progress and reports to the Board without disclosing identifiable personal information.

Policies and further information

You can find more detail about our commitments and processes on the College’s website. The relevant documents are:

If what happened has also affected a grade, assessment, enrolment decision or another college matter, the relevant student grievance or appeal process may apply to that decision. We will help you work out which process is appropriate and, where possible, coordinate things so you do not have to repeat sensitive information.

You do not have to work out the process on your own. If you need help, please get in touch.