Respect Now Always

Content Warning: This webpage contains information about gender‑based violence, which may be distressing. Please engage in a way that feels safe for you, and seek support if needed. 

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Respect Now Always

Our goal

We are committed to building an environment where students and staff are free from the threat of gender-based violence. This means empowering individuals to recognise its root causes and take proactive steps to prevent it on campus, in the workplace, and in their personal lives. 

What is Gender Based Violence?

Gender-based violence is violence directed at someone because of their gender, rooted in power imbalances, rigid gender norms, and discrimination. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual, financial, technology-facilitated (including image-based abuse), and stalking. While most cases target women, the term also includes violence against LGBTIQA+ people and men. Violence against LGBTIQA+ people shares drivers with gender-based violence but is also fuelled by rigid, hierarchical ideas about sex, gender, and sexuality.

Where to get support

If you have been affected by violence of any type, please know that it is not your fault, and you are not alone. UC offers confidential, trauma-informed support to help you feel safe and supported. From wellbeing services to counselling and guidance on reporting, we’re here for you and on your terms.

Gender based violence resources

Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or has experienced any type of violence, support is available. Our resources provide confidential help, practical guidance, and tools to prevent harm and promote a culture of respect. Explore services, reporting options, and educational programs designed to empower our community and drive meaningful change.

Learn about Respectful Relationships and Consent

In Respect Matters, you’ll learn how to build healthy, respectful relationships and contribute to a safe campus community.

The course covers understanding gender-based violence, consent and communication skills, supporting others, and promoting inclusion, equipping you with practical strategies to engage confidently and compassionately.

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Get involved

There are many ways you can be part of the RNA. initiative and help us create cultural change within the University and the wider community.

  • Apply to join our Lived Experience Group, a community of Lived Experience Advocates helping shape our approach.

  • Attend our events and learn more about preventing gender-based violence.

  • Support our campaigns to raise awareness and drive change. 

  • Join our fortnightly Picnic Pals for connection and conversation.

  • Collaborate with UC Thrive Mentors to promote respect and inclusion across campus.

Your involvement makes a difference. Together, we can create a safer, more respectful community.

Join UC Thrive

FAQ

The Respect at Work Amendment Act has defined sexual harassment under 

the Fair Work Act as “ an unwelcome sexual advance, an unwelcome request for sexual favours, other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature in relation to another person”.  To be considered sexual harassment, it must be reasonable to expect that the person being harassed would be offended, humiliated, or intimidated by the behaviour. 

See Respect at Work - Fair Work Ombudsman for more information.

Sexual harassment can take various forms. It can involve:

  • unwelcome touching, hugging or kissing;

  • staring or leering;

  • suggestive comments or jokes;

  • sexually explicit pictures, screen savers or posters;

  • unwanted invitations to go out on dates or requests for sex;

  • intrusive questions about an employee's private life or body;

  • unnecessary familiarity; 

  • insults or taunts based on your sex;

  • sexually explicit emails or SMS messages;

  • accessing sexually explicit internet sites;

Sexual harassment can take place in a workplace, in a university setting or anywhere else.

The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032,  defines sexual violence as sexual activity that happens where consent is not freely given or obtained, is withdrawn or the person is unable to consent due to their age or other factors. Sexual violence occurs any time a person is forced, coerced or manipulated into any sexual activity. 

Such activity can be sexualised touching, sexual abuse, sexual assault, rape, sexual harassment and intimidation, and forced or coerced watching or engaging in pornography. Sexual violence can be non-physical and include unwanted sexualised comments, intrusive sexualised questions or harassment of a sexual nature. Forms of modern slavery, such as forced marriage, servitude or human trafficking (DSS 2022).

Coercive control is a persistent pattern of behaviours used to dominate, control, and isolate a person.

It is a core dynamic of domestic, family, and sexual violence.

It is just as harmful as physical violence, even though it often leaves no visible physical injuries (Coercive Control | 1800RESPECT)

Learn about coercive control.

In Australia, we use  a “Primary Prevention” approach to preventing Gender-based Violence. A primary prevention approach works to change the underlying social conditions that produce and drive violence against women, and that excuse, justify or even promote it. It works across the whole population to address the attitudes, norms, practices, structures and power imbalances that drive violence against women. (Change the Story, Our Watch, 2021)  

At UC, our prevention strategy includes promoting respect, equality, consent, and healthy relationships. Challenging harmful stereotypes, supporting others and empowering bystanders, educating ourselves and peers to build a safe, inclusive community that values fairness, communication, and nonviolence. To learn more about what you can do, visit our Get Involved section and explore the Gender-based Violence Resources page. 

If you or someone you know have been affected by gender-based violence, your safety and wellbeing come first.

Take time to care for yourself and seek support. You can reach out to University Services such as Student Wellbeing Team, for confidential help and guidance.

So that the University knows how it can work towards preventing similar incidents from happening in the future,   we do ask that you make a report about the incident  
(though you can choose to do this anonymously if you don’t require or want support from the University). 

You can access support without making a formal report. If you do choose to report, the Wellbeing Team can walk alongside you throughout the process.

What happens if you make a report depends on what options you choose while making a report. The three main options are:

  1. Report using your name and request support. You can make a decision about formalising the report at a later time.
  2. Report with the intention of making a Formal Report- in which case the University will investigate your case which may lead to a non-academic inquiry. You can choose to do this with or without support.
  3. Report anonymously- you choose if you want to be contacted. We may reach out via a secure anonymous chat to offer you support.

If you request support, a  trained staff member from the University will contact you as soon as possible. 

They can provide confidential support, and connect you with additional support if you choose, including medical help, specialist counselling and police if you want to report to police.

Students may also be eligible to access equity adjustments, so that your studies are not disadvantaged by what has been experienced. More information can be found here:  Equity Adjustment Plan Guidelines.

Making a Formal Report means the University may conduct an investigation.

If the respondent (the person who caused harm) is a student, the evidence gathered will be submitted to a Student Conduct Committee. 

If the respondent (person who caused harm) is a staff member, an independent panel will consider  the evidence and decide what actions will result. 

Making a formal report will not affect your academic standing or your visa status. 

A University support team can offer guidance and assistance throughout this process if you would like this.

Gender-based violence and gender inequality are deeply connected. Inequality creates power imbalances that normalises control and discrimination, making violence more likely. Harmful social norms, economic dependence, and gaps in legal protections all reinforce this cycle. In fact, global research shows that societies with higher gender inequality experience higher rates of Gender Based Violence, making equality essential to prevention. 

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