Sexual harassment
and sexual assault
There is no place for sexual assault or sexual harassment at Flinders University.
Need emergency support?
If you have an emergency or have experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault; call:
000 for immediate police or ambulance assistance
Flinders Security on 8201 2880 or use one of the 12 security hotlines phones.
Report an incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault
Making a report does not initiate a complaint, it is the first step to offer you support and a chance to talk through your options.
After-hours security escort
Flinders security provides an after-hours security escort service to get people safely to their car or on-campus residence.
Everyone has the right to be safe on campus
Flinders University is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning environment. There is no place for sexual assault or sexual harassment at our University.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment, or you are concerned about an incident or behaviour, contact us. We will be there to listen, provide information about options available to you and support you through the process.
Sexual harassment is unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature that makes a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated, and which a reasonable person having regard to all the circumstances would have anticipated as likely to cause offence, humiliate or intimidate.
Examples of sexual harassment include:
- non-consensual physical contact, such as pinching, touching, grabbing, kissing or hugging
- sexual assault
- staring or leering at a person or at parts of their body
- persistent requests to go on dates that are refused
- suggestive comments about a person’s body or appearance
- sexual jokes or comments and sexually explicit conversations
- displays of offensive material for e.g. showing pornographic materials
- accessing or downloading sexually explicit or inappropriate material from the internet
- sending rude or offensive emails, attachments or text messages (including pictures of body parts)
- advances via online platforms
- intrusive questions about a person's private life or physical appearance
- disclosure of a person’s private personal information without their permission
- sexually explicit gifts
- conduct that creates a sexually inappropriate workplace or study environment.
Sexual assault is a crime which carries serious penalties. It covers a range of sexual acts which take place without a person's consent, or where their consent has been obtained through deception or coercion, or where their consent is withdrawn.
This includes:
- rape
- indecent assault (sexual acts that involve touching)
- any sexual contact with a child
- sexual servitude
- forcing someone to witness a sex act.
Sexual consent is free and voluntary agreement to engage in the specific sexual activity. A person can agree to one form of sexual activity, but not another. It is an ongoing process.
Consent does not exist when:
- The person is under the lawful age of consent
- There is force, a threat of force, or threat of humiliation
- The person is asleep or unconscious
- The person is unlawfully detained
- The person is intoxicated to the point of being unable to give meaningful consent
- The person is incapable of understanding the nature of the activity
- The person has a mistaken belief about the identity of the other person
- The person is mistaken about the nature of the activity
To learn more about consent, please visit the Consent Matters module through FLO or Let's talk about consent.
You can also visit 'The Line', a national campaign run by 'OurWatch'.
'The Line' helps young people to understand what’s ok and what’s not when it comes to intimate relationships and encourages them to call out behaviors that hurt and disrespect others.
The video below might also help to explain what is meant by consent.
Affirmative consent
Affirmative consent is when the verbal and physical cues a person is giving you show that they are comfortable, consenting and keen to continue. It’s all about the proactive asking and giving of consent between people. A “no” is still a ‘no’, but the absence of an enthusiastic and ongoing “yes” is a ‘no’ as well.
Every person has the right to choose to have sex the way they want, and to make that choice freely every time without feeling pressured due to their circumstances or out of fear of repercussions. Saying “yes” to a kiss or allowing your partner to touch you, caress you, take your top off etc. does not imply a yes to everything.
The most basic thing to remember is that consent is voluntary, enthusiastic and continuous.
Cyber abuse is behaviour that uses technology to threaten, intimidate, harass or humiliate someone with the intent to hurt them socially, psychologically or even physically.
It can take place in online classrooms, chat and messaging services, social media, text messages, emails, message boards and online forums.
It can include cyber-stalking, image-based abuse, trolling, online hate, creating fake accounts to impersonate someone, doxing and sextortion.
If you experience any of these behaviours at Flinders, we encourage you to make a confidential online report so we can offer you support and assistance asap.
For cyber abuse that happens outside of Flinders, you can make a report to the eSafety Commissioner.
You can also report cyber abuse experienced at Flinders to the eSafety Commissioner in addition to reporting it to Flinders.
View the eSafety Toolkit for University Students for more information about the types of online abuse you could encounter and how to take action to prevent and respond to online safety incidents. The information is useful at uni, at home, in the workplace and while hanging out.
Reporting an incident
If you need to report an incident, you can:
- Make a report online
- Make a report in person to our qualified counsellors and student equal opportunity advisors in the Health, Counselling and Disability Service. Call them on 8201 2118 or send an email to studenteo@flinders.edu.au.
Making a report does not initiate a complaint, it is the first step to offer you support and a chance to talk through your options.
Sexual harassment is unlawful, and can be reported to the Equal Opportunity Commission within 12 months of an incident occurring. You can call 8207 1977 or visit the Equal Opportunity Commission website for more information on this process.
Sexual assault is a criminal offence, and can be reported directly to police, with or without informing the University. Reports to police can be made for both recent and historical sexual assault. Call 131 444, or 000 in case of emergencies.
Contact Yarrow Place Rape and Sexual Assault Service on 1800 817 421. It provides a 24/7 crisis response service (medical and counselling services for recent sexual assault). This includes the option of a free forensic medical service for people considering making a report to police.
Yarrow Place also offers professional counselling and therapeutic support groups for recent and past sexual assault.
If you experience cyber abuse (including cyber-stalking, image-based abuse, trolling, online hate, creating fake accounts to impersonate someone, doxing and sextortion), you can report it to the eSafety Comissioner.
For urgent matters:
Life threatening and criminal incidents can be reported to the police by dialling 000
For on-campus incidents, Flinders security staff are available 24/7 on 8201 2880
If you have indicated that you would like to be contacted, we will discuss with you the support services available within and outside of the University and the options available to you. The choice of how to proceed with the report remains yours, for example you may request the University take protective or supportive action, and/or make a formal report to the University, and/or make an external report eg a police report, or you may decide to take no further action. A report is not a complaint, and making a report does not automatically initiate an investigation.
If you choose to remain anonymous, we may be limited in our ability to contact you or offer support.
If you submit a report online, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement including a report number. If you have provided an email address, this will also be emailed to you.
If you decide to make a formal complaint to the University, complaints will be managed in accordance with section 3.4 of the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Response Procedures.
In case the University believes that your safety or the safety of the University community is at risk, it may initiate action. The action and the reasons for it will be explained to you.
Flinders University reports and reviews de-identified information about incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault in order to reduce such incidents and improve our response.
Getting support
- Monday-Friday 8.45am - 5pm : Contact the free and confidential Counselling service on 8201 2118.
- Weekdays 5 pm – 9 am, 24 hours on weekends and public holidays: Call the out of hours crisis support line 1300 512 409 or text 0488 884 103.
Our counsellors have qualifications in psychology and social work and are highly experienced in a broad range of areas including sexual harassment, sexual assault, family and relationship issues, sexual diversity, drugs and alcohol, trauma, education, mental health, cross cultural counselling, and disability.
External support is also available:
- Yarrow Place offers counselling, information and a forensic medical service. You can contact them on 1800 817 421.
- 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) is a national 24/7 sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It is free and confidential.
Supporting someone else
Supporting someone who has disclosed sexual assault or sexual harassment can have a significant impact on their recovery and willingness to access support services. Some people who experience sexual assault or sexual harassment may choose to disclose their experience while others may avoid talking about it.
Your role is to listen and provide support. Acknowledge how difficult it is for them to talk about what they’ve been through. Check that they are safe.
Ensure that you give full attention to them and avoid any external interruptions. You can show that you understand their situation and are there to support by nodding and using words like ‘I understand’, “This wasn’t your fault”.
Let the person share as much as they are comfortable sharing. Use phrases like, I’m here with you or Thank you for telling me to show support for them. It is important that they feel their story has been heard and that you aren’t passing judgement on their experience.
The best thing you can do is to provide the options for support services that are available to them so that they can decide their next steps. You could also offer to accompany them.
Students can be directed to contact the Student Equal Opportunity Advisors and Counsellors in the Health, Counselling and Disability Services.
Flinders encourages staff and students to report incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment so the person who experienced the incident can be offered appropriate support and options as soon as possible.
It is important to note that an online report will not automatically trigger an investigation. It will only alert the University to make contact, if contact details are provided.
Anonymous reports can be made, however this may limit the action the University may be able to take.
If you have the consent of the person, you can make an online report and include their contact details, so that we can make contact as soon as possible, in order to offer support.
If you do not have the consent of the person, you may lodge an anonymous report that does not include any identifying information or contact details for the person.
It is important to look after your own emotional and mental well being, as offering support to an individual who has experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault can be emotionally stressful.
It may be helpful to talk to a counsellor.
- Please contact the counselling service.
- You can also call 1800 RESPECT – National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service (1800 737 732). This is a confidential counselling and information service which also offers support to friends, relatives colleagues and professionals.
Bystander behaviour
An active bystander is someone who, when noticing a situation that concerns them, does something about it – they are everyday superheroes.
For more information on bystander behaviour click here.
Universities Australia asked the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) to investigate the nature and scale of university student experiences of sexual assault and sexual harassment through Australia’s first such national survey.
Until now, Australia has not had comprehensive information about how and where university students encounter sexual harassment or sexual assault, and from whom.
The survey findings have been published by the AHRC in a national results report.
Universities will draw on the national and institutional statistics to plan methodically how they can best allocate their resources for prevention, to support survivors, and to respond to incidents of sexual violence.
Flinders University’s institutional results are available.
In February 2016, Australia's universities launched a ground-breaking initiative called Respect. Now. Always. to prevent and address sexual assault and harassment across the sector.
It builds on work done by individual universities in Australia over many years to develop policies, reporting procedures and support services.
The initiative aims to:
- raise awareness of sexual assault and sexual harassment and lift the visibility of support services for students
- obtain data to guide further improvement in university policies and services
- assist universities in sharing global best practice resources across the sector.
Across Australian society, we know that one in five women will experience some sort of sexual violence during their lifetime. Young women aged between 18 and 24 are at particular risk of sexual violence. Research also confirms that men and members of the LGBTQI community experience sexual violence.
There are now 1.3 million people studying in Australia’s universities. More than one in three young people in Australia will attend university.
Universities seek to create a safe environment for students, to reduce and eliminate sexual harassment and sexual assault, and to support those who experience it.
Universities also see that any actions they can take to change unacceptable attitudes and behaviours will contribute to the broader health and wellbeing of Australian society.
Universities Australia has released its 10-Point Plan which outlines the commitment all universities have made to continue to improve respect and safety for our students. Flinders accepts the recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
Sexual harassment is unlawful, and can be reported to the Equal Opportunity Commission within 12 months of an incident occurring. You can call 8207 1977 or visit the Equal Opportunity Commission website for more information on this process.
Sexual assault is a crime and can be reported to the police. If you are over 18 years old, it is your choice whether you do this.
There is no timeframe for reports of sexual assault to be made, though reports made closer to the incident can improve the possible outcome of an investigation.
You can make a report at your local police station. You have the right to make a report to the police, but choose not to proceed with an investigation. You can also choose to restart an investigation in the future.
View the 'What choices do I have booklet' for more information about legal processes, definitions and your options.
Yes. You can make an anonymous report online when you want to ensure that the university is aware that an incident happened, but you don’t want to reveal your identity. You can provide as little or as much information as you are comfortable sharing.
The University may be limited in its ability to respond to an incident e.g. we may require additional information for an investigation and may not be able to contact you. If a number of anonymous reports identify specific areas of risk, the University may take steps to reduce the risk of further incidents occurring.
Any information shared with the University is kept confidential and only shared with those who need to know in order to respond to the incident. This may include investigating the incident or providing you with support. You can also view the Privacy Policy for more details.
There may be times when the University may need to make a further report such as:
- A person aged under 18 is involved
- When we believe you or a member of the University community is in danger
- When state or federal law requires it
You can withdraw your report at any time by emailing studenteo@flinders.edu.au . Please provide your report number if you have it. When we receive your email we will close the report with no further action.
Support at Flinders
Flinders University students can contact our support services from anywhere they may be studying.
To report an incident and/or get information about your options, you can call (08) 8201 2118 or email studenteo@flinders.edu.au.
For counselling support you can call (08) 8201 2118 or email counselling@flinders.edu.au. Phone and skype appointments are available.
Within Australia, you can also call our Out of Hours Crisis Line – 1300 512 409 (call) or 0488 884 103 (text) from 5pm-9am weekdays, and 24hrs on weekends & public holidays.
Support outside of Flinders
Nationally
1800 737 732 (1800 RESPECT) – National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service for 24/7 confidential counselling support
State-specific
Flinders University has campuses in the Northern Territory and Victoria, here are the sexual assault support services in these regions:
Northern Territory
- Visit NT Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) website
- Darwin*: (08) 8922 6472
- Katherine: (08) 8973 8524
- Tennant Creek: (08) 8962 4361
- Alice Springs*: (08) 8955 4500 (Mon-Fri, 8am to 4.21pm)
0401 114 181 (after hours)
*Darwin and Alice Springs sites offer 24-hour access to medical, legal and counselling information.
Victoria
- Visit VIC Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASA):
- Sexual Assault Crisis Line: 1800 806 292 (state-wide afterhours crisis response and counselling service)
- Closest CASA to Hamilton campus – The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre (Wimmera): (03) 5381 1211
For a comprehensive list of services in each state, please visit the link below:
There is no place for sexual assault or sexual harassment at Flinders University. If a formal complaint is made against you, you will be informed of the details of the complaint and offered the right of reply as part of the investigation process. You can:
- Access support
- Monday - Friday, 8.45am - 5pm – Contact the free and confidential Counselling service on 8201 2118.
- Weekdays 5pm - 9am, 24 hours on weekends and public holidays – Call the out of hours crisis support line 1300 512 409 or text 0488 884 103.
- Find out about the investigation process
- Asking questions about the investigation process will never be linked to an assumption of wrongdoing. You are entitled to understand your rights and the process of a university investigation.
- Find out more about the complaints process.
- Access information about Flinders policy and procedures.
- During an investigation, there may be circumstances where Flinders needs to limit your contact with the University for safety reasons. If this is the case, you will be advised in writing and given the opportunity to appeal this decision.
- If an external investigation is also initiated by either Police, Equal Opportunity Commission or another agency, Flinders will cooperate fully with the external inquiry and may pause any internal action if it could compromise the external investigation.
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