Need emergency assistance?

If you or someone you know is hurt or in immediate danger: 

  • call the emergency services on 000
  • call Swinburne Security on +61 3 9214 3333 for 24-hour assistance including non-life-threatening incidences.
  • for additional assistance outside business hours, refer to our After hours support page
Report it to Safer Community (non-emergency support)

If you, or someone you know, is being affected by inappropriate, concerning or threatening behaviour, Safer Community wants to know. Report an incident online or email safercommunity@swinburne.edu.au. 

Report it

Preventing harm. Promoting respect.

Swinburne is proud to be part of the national initiative, Respect. Now. Always. alongside other Australian universities. This initiative aims to prevent the disrespect and inequalities that drive sexual harm and gender-based violence, and empower victim-survivors to seek help and support.  

Here’s what we’re doing at Swinburne to bring  Respect. Now. Always. to life.

Respect Week at Swinburne

23–27 March

Respect Week at Swinburne is our shared campaign – bringing together Respect at Uni week and Respect and Equality at TAFE week into a single, inclusive event that reflects our identity as a dual-sector university.

Across Victoria, universities and TAFEs are joining forces to promote respect, equality and inclusion in learning and working environments, both on campus and online.

We all deserve to learn and work in environments that are safe, respectful and free from harm. Findings from the National Student Safety Survey show there’s still important work to do to prevent and respond to sexual harm and gender-based violence in tertiary education. Respect Week is part of Swinburne’s primary prevention approach — stopping harm before it occurs by addressing its underlying drivers.

This year’s theme: "Being an Ethical Bystander."

Being an ethical bystander means noticing when something doesn’t feel right, and choosing safe, respectful ways to step in, check in, or seek help. It’s about looking out for one another and contributing to a culture where harmful behaviour is less likely to occur.

We know violence doesn’t happen in isolation. It is linked to attitudes, norms and inequalities in our communities. That’s why prevention matters.

Everyone at Swinburne has a role to play in creating safer environments where disrespect and harm are less likely to happen.

A Place for Everyone

We invite all students and staff to get involved in Respect Week at Swinburne. Preventing sexual harm and gender-based violence starts with a culture of respect – now and always. This week supports our commitment to making Swinburne A Place for Everyone — a place where everyone feels safe, heard and respected.

Join us for a series of  free events, learning opportunities and conversations designed to build knowledge, spark reflection and strengthen our shared values. We’ll also share information about support services and reporting options, so our community knows where to turn if something isn’t okay.

Follow the campaign and share your support online with #RespectAtSwin on social media. 

During Respect Week at Swinburne, we want you to:

Think

think what respect at Swinburne means to you

Feel

feel safe and supported at Swinburne

Do

do your part - be an ethical bystander and help create a respectful Swinburne

Explore Respect events

Student and staff events

  • Respect Fair

    Hawthorn campus

    This event is for staff and students.

    Join us for a lively and engaging on-campus fair to celebrate Respect Week! Connect with support services and community partners through interactive stalls, free food and giveaways.

    📍 Hawthorn campus, Wednesday 25 March, 11am – 2pm

    Register now (Respect Fair)

  • Respect Fair

    Wantirna campus

    This event is for staff and students.

    Join us for a lively and engaging on-campus fair to celebrate Respect Week! Connect with support services and community partners through interactive stalls, free food and giveaways.

    📍 Wantirna campus, Tuesday 24 March, 11am – 2pm

    Register now (Respect Fair)

  • Respect Fair

    Croydon campus

    This event is for staff and students.

    Join us for a lively and engaging on-campus fair to celebrate Respect Week! Connect with support services and community partners through interactive stalls, free food and giveaways.

    📍 Croydon campus, Thursday 26 March, 11am – 2pm

    Register now (Respect Fair)

  • Safer Community webinar

    This event is for staff and students.

    Join the Safer Community webinar to learn what our service does, walk through a real-life case scenario of what happens after a referral, and gain practical strategies to be an ethical bystander in our Swinburne community. 

    📍 Online via Microsoft teams, Friday 27 March 11.30am-12pm (Registration link TBA)

  • Talking about Consent

    For students. Developed by Swinburne.

    All students are expected to complete this interactive online course which seeks to provide an introduction into sexual consent, sexually harmful behaviours, consent conversations and support and report pathways.  

    Location: Canvas  

    Login to Canvas (Talking about Consent)

  • For residential students: Sex in the know Q&A

    Delivered by Swinburne.

    A no-judgement, anonymous Q&A session with an expert panel designed just for students living in on-campus residences. Come and ask questions (or just listen!) as we unpack sex, consent, relationships, and where to get help or advice.

    Check posters in Residences for details

    Get in touch via email (For residential students: Sex in the know Q&A )

  • Building Respectful Classrooms: Embedding Equality in Teaching and Learning

    For staff. Delivered by Our Watch - external. 

    Join this national webinar to explore practical strategies for embedding gender equality, inclusion and safety into teaching practice, and learn how educators can create respectful, trauma-informed classrooms that help prevent gender-based violence. 

    📍Online, Thursday 26 March 12.30pm-2pm (Registration link TBA)

  • Safer Community module

    For staff. Delivered by Swinburne.

    This self-paced online module introduces the Safer Community service. Learn how to recognise and respond to student behaviour of concern and provide appropriate support.

    Access the course (Safer Community module)

  • Training for Respect e-learn

    For staff. Developed by WorkWell - external.

    This self-paced e-learn explores work-related gendered violence in a TAFE setting and how to prevent it.

    📍 Online (free with account creation)

    Complete the training (Training for Respect e-learn )

  • Are you Safe at Home? E-learn

    For staff. Developed by Safe+Equal - external.

    A 20-minute self-paced e-learn to help staff understand family violence and how to have safe, supportive conversations.

    📍 Online (free with account creation)

    Access the e-learn module (Are you Safe at Home? E-learn)

  • Family violence foundations

    For staff. Developed by Safe+Equal - external.

    A self-paced 80min e-learn that provides foundational knowledge about preventing and responding to family violence and gender-based violence.

    📍 Online (free with account creation)

    Access the course (Family violence foundations)

Learn about Respect Week key terms

Understanding key terms helps us build a shared language around respect, safety and inclusion. This helps us recognise when something isn't okay and how to respond.

If any of these topics raise concerns for you, support is available.

Respect: means valuing other people’s boundaries, identities and experiences — even when they are different from your own.

Consent: is a voluntary, informed and ongoing agreement. It can be withdrawn at any time and cannot be assumed.

Active or ethical bystander: describes someone who notices a concerning situation and chooses to respond in a safe and respectful way. This might include checking in with someone, interrupting a situation, seeking help, or reporting a concern — either in the moment or afterwards.

Gender-based violence: describes harm or abuse that is rooted in gender-based power, inequality and discrimination. It can include physical, sexual, psychological or financial harm. People of all genders can experience gender-based violence, and some groups face higher risk because of discrimination or inequality.

Sexual harm: is an all-encompassing, non-legal, umbrella term that refers to all forms of unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature. It includes sexual assault and sexual harassment, image-based abuse, coercion and other behaviours that make someone feel unsafe, pressured or violated.

These definitions are simplified for learning purposes. Language and experiences may vary across communities.

Explore the digital toolkit for students and staff

Want to go further? Our Respect Week Digital Toolkit is designed to help you learn more, take action, and support others — whether you’re a student or a staff member.

  • Student digital toolkit and campaign collateral: Enrol in the Safer Community Canvas shell and click on the Respect Week tile (student login required).
  • Staff digital toolkit and campaign collateral: Visit the Safer Community wiki page under Prevention Initiatives (staff login required).

Learn more about respect and safety at Swinburne

Content warning

We understand that conversations about the National Student Safety Survey (NSSS) and its results can be distressing for members of our university and wider community. The NSSS report contains discussion and descriptions of sexual harassment and sexual assault. It also contains mentions of self-harm, drug use and suicide ideation. If you would like to speak to somebody for support, a range of confidential resources are available to you.

What is the National Student Safety Survey?

Australian universities commissioned and funded the National Student Safety Survey (the NSSS) to collect data on the prevalence and nature of university student experiences of sexual assault and sexual harassment in 2021. This survey builds on a foundational survey undertaken in 2016 and will provide a national picture of accurate information to universities about what is happening in our student communities. 

More detail on survey results specific to Swinburne can be found here. A total of 43,819 students participated in the survey across Australia, and of those 1,054 Swinburne students responded to the survey. Swinburne thanks all students who chose to participate in the NSSS. Their contributions help us make positive change.

Learn more about the National Student Safety Survey

Swinburne will act on these results, engage with our community and determine the best way forward. We will immediately ensure that our students are aware of the support that is available to them, should they need it, and continue to provide education and prevention initiatives to ensure our students feel safe and that any form of disrespect, sexual harm and gender-based violence is unacceptable.

Summary of 2021 survey results

Of the 1,054 Swinburne students who participated in the survey:

12.9%

have experienced sexual harassment since starting university

3.3%

have experienced sexual assault since starting university

19.2%

of students who were sexually harassed sought support or assistance

43.9% to 47.8%

of students know nothing or very little about where to seek support or assistance for sexual harassment or assault

Download the results summary infographic [PDF 316KB]

1,054 students participated in the survey

Prevalence in a university context

Sexual harassment

  • 12.9% since starting university
  • 3.7% in the past 12 months
     
Experience of sexual harassment in the past 12 months:
  • Female 4.0%
  • Male 2.5% *
  • Differently-described gender 10.1% *
     

Sexual assault

  • 3.3% since starting university
  • ** in the past 12 months
Experiences of sexual assault in the past 12 months:
  • Female **
  • Male **
  • Differently-described gender **
     

Context of most impactful incident

Sexual harassment

Asked of students who experienced sexual harassment in an Australian university context.

Location: 
  • General campus areas 47.3%
  • University lecture theatres, computer labs 23.6%
  • Clubs and societies, events and spaces 16.1%
     
Perpetrator: 
  • 61.1% knew some or all of the perpetrators involved
     

Reporting and support seeking

Asked of students who experienced sexual harassment in an Australian university context.

Formal complaints made to the university: 
  • ** of students who were sexually harassed made a formal complaint
     
Seeking support from the university: 
  • 19.2% of students who were sexually harassed sought support or assistance

Knowledge of university support and reporting channels: 

Asked of all students.

  • 52.3% know nothing or very little about where to go to make a complaint about sexual harassment
  • 47.8% know nothing or very little about where to seek support or  assistance for harassment
  • 54.5% know nothing or very little about where to go to make a complaint about sexual assault
  • 43.9% know nothing or very little about where to seek support or assistance for assault

Relative standard errors (RSE) were calculated for survey estimates. If the RSE was between 25% and 50% an * appears next to the estimate that indicates caution should be used with the associated estimate. If the RSE was above 50% an ** appears meaning the estimate is unreliable and not reportable. Differently described gender includes students whose gender identity was not classified as female or male. Gender identity was derived using the 'two-step method' of cross-classifying responses to sex assigned at birth and current gender. Context of most impactful incident. Students who had been sexually harassed in a university context were asked questions about the context of the most impactful (or significant) incident they had experienced. This incident was self-identified by the student.

Preventing and Addressing Disrespect, Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence at Swinburne

Swinburne is committed to preventing and responding to disrespect, sexual harm and gender-based violence by fostering a university culture grounded in respect, inclusivity, and support. Below, you’ll find key initiatives and support resources that reflect our commitment to creating a safer community.

Policies and procedures

To understand our approach and services, we encourage you to read Swinburne’s:


Staying Safe feature

Staying Safe is a feature available on the  Swinburne App. It provides contact details for emergency services, Swinburne security, the 24/7 Student Wellbeing & Support Line, counselling services as well as links to report concerning behaviour (including sexual harm and gender-based violence) through Safer Community.

Awareness campaigns

Swinburne runs ongoing awareness campaigns to promote respectful relationships and safe behaviours. These include:

  • Respect Week at Swinburne – our annual flagship campaign bringing together staff and students across university and TAFE.
  • Unlearn It – a social change initiative that harnesses the student voice to challenging learned attitudes, unconscious biases and harmful social norms that contribute to a culture of disrespect.
  • Orientation and Swinburne Student Association activations – early engagement opportunities to connect new and existing students with respect and safety messages from day one.
     

These initiatives aim to enhance staff and student awareness about respect, recognising harmful behaviours, support and report pathways, and safe ways to take action as an active and ethical bystander.

Student training

Swinburne provides training to help students build knowledge, skills and confidence to contribute to safe and respectful university community.

Talking about consent

Talking about Consent is an interactive online module designed to reflect the Swinburne student experience and provide additional resources to build on the understanding of respect and consent. It explores:

  • The nature and meaning of sexual consent
  • Situations where consent can’t be given
  • Healthy communication in relationships
  • Bystander intervention strategies
  • Support and reporting pathways
     

All students are expected to complete Talking about Consent which is available on Canvas.

Additional training opportunities

Students and student leaders can also participate in face-to-face workshops and online learning that focus on respectful relationships, conflict management, being an ethical bystander, boundaries, safety and inclusion. These include:

  • Respectful relationships workshops: Learn more about consent, concerning behaviours, inclusive communication, conflict management, fostering a culture of respect, responding to disclosures, and navigating tricky situations.
  • Active and ethical bystander workshops: Learn how to safely step in when you witness harmful or inappropriate behaviour and support others.
  • Bite-size e-learns on Canvas: Access short, focused e-learning modules on a variety of concerning behaviours and how to respond. Available via the Safer Community Canvas shell (student login required).
  • Tailored training: Want to learn about something not listed here? Contact Safer Community: safercommunity@swinburne.edu.au to request tailored training for your group or club.
     

Many of these sessions are available around Respect Week, and throughout the academic year. Enrol in the Safer Community Canvas shell (student login required) to stay updated.

Staff training

All staff are encouraged to complete training that builds confidence in responding to disrespect, sexual harm and gender-based violence, and fostering a respectful and inclusive workplace. This includes:

  • Mandatory training for professional conduct and respectful workplaces via People and Culture.
  • Internal workshops and training delivered by Safer Community, Health, Safety and Wellbeing, and Diversity & Inclusion teams on topics such as: recognising harm and disrespect, supporting students and colleagues, responding to disclosures, practicing self-care and promoting gender equity and respect in the workplace and learning environments.
  • External training on gender-based violence prevention and response including free training through Training for Respect and Safe+Equal.
     

Stay up to date on training offerings for staff via ELMO, Viva Engage and On Course. Email safercommunity@swinburne.edu.au to request a session for student-facing staff.

Respectful research training

At Swinburne, we’re committed to fostering a respectful and well-defined research training culture. Therefore, we use respectful research training resources developed by the Australian Council of Graduate Research to educate our PhD candidates and supervisors on how to maintain a safe and respectful research environment.

Transparency and accountability

Swinburne is dedicated to transparency and accountability by publishing data on reports of gender-based violence and sexual harm and sharing our action plans. We seek to continue identifying areas of improvement and demonstrate ongoing progress towards creating a safer, more respectful community.

Supporting you

We acknowledge that some of the information shared on this page may be distressing or triggering, particularly those with lived experiences of harm. Free and confidential support services are available at Swinburne and across Australia for people who would like to seek assistance.

Swinburne’s support services

In an emergency, call 000. For 24/7 on-campus security assistance: +61 3 9214 3333. For additional assistance outside business hours, refer to our 24/7 supports page.

For students

  • Access student counselling via the Swinburne Health service: +61 3 9214 8483
  • 24/7 Student Wellbeing and Support Line provides crisis counselling 24 hours, 7 days a week, all year round: Call 1300 854 144 or Text 0488 884 145
  • Seek advice from or report concerning behaviour (including sexual harm and gender-based violence) to Safer Community (anonymous reporting available).
     

View full list of student support services.

For staff

Staff Members who have experienced, witnesses or become aware of an incident/s of Gender-based violence can make a Disclosure or Formal Report (including anonymously) through the following options: 

  • Manager or People & Culture Business Partners: Staff Members can raise concerns with their direct manager or People & Culture Business Partner (in person, by email or by phone), who will provide guidance on the process, available support options, and ensure the issue is managed in accordance with University procedures.
  • SwinHelp : Staff Members may choose to make a Disclosure or Formal Report using SwinHelp.
  • Online Incident System – SwinRisk: Staff Members can report an incident through the University’s health and safety incident system, SwinRisk.
  • Anonymous Reporting: Staff Members may choose to make an anonymous Disclosure or Formal Report using the designated University online form. However, anonymity may limit the University’s ability to take formal action or provide tailored support.
  • Whistleblower: Staff Members may choose to make an anonymous Disclosure or Formal Report using the Whistleblowers hotline: Improper Conduct and Whistleblowing.
  • Seek advice or report concerning behaviour displayed by students to Safer Community.
  • Access health, safety and wellbeing support (including counselling) through Sonder (for eligible staff; staff login required).

View full list of staff support services.

Australia-wide support services and helplines

Got a question?

If you're curious to know more about any of our programs or training that we offer, please don't hesitate to send us an email. Get in touch with the team at safercommunity@swinburne.edu.au.
 

Email us