Safety through prevention
Safer Community supports, and is involved in, a range of awareness and training initiatives aimed at strengthening the prevention of all forms of unacceptable behaviour and creating a safe and respectful university for all.
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 that drives 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
5–9 May
Respect Week at Swinburne is our share 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 and free from disrespect and 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.
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. Follow the campaign and share your support online with #RespectAtUni, #RETweek and #RespectAtSwinburne 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 active bystander and help create a respectul Swinburne
Explore Respect events
Student and staff events
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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, Tuesday 6 May, 11am – 2pm
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Respect Fair
Wantirna campus
This event it 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, Wednesday 7 May, 11am – 2pm
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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 8 May, 11am – 2pm
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Respect Art Competition
Open to staff and students.
Express what respect means to you—through art! Submit a creative piece that reflects themes of inclusion, safety, equality, or consent.
First prize: $250 gift card | Runner-up: $100 gift card; open to staff and students.
Submissions due 23 May 2025.
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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
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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.
📍 14 April 2025 | Check posters in Residences to register or send us an email.
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Let’s talk respect, equality and relationships workshop
For students. Delivered by FVREE - external.
A 90-min interactive workshop designed to build skills, knowledWWge and capability to understand and respond to intimate partner violence, a form of gender-based violence.
📍 in person or online I available by request to student groups/classes (min. 10 students)
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Being an active bystander
For student leaders; delivered by Swinburne.
Learn how to recognise harmful behaviour and respond safely and effectively. This interactive workshop is designed for student leaders who want to make a positive impact on their communities and lead by example.
📍 In person or online – tailored for student leadership roles
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Lunch and Learn showcase
For staff. Delivered by Swinburne.
Grab your lunch and join us for a mini showcase of key initiatives Swinburne is implementing to prevent harm and promote respect. Hear from colleagues, ask questions and get inspired.
📍 Online session - stay tuned through Safer Community’s Viva Engage for session details.
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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.
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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)
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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)
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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)
Learn about Respect Week key terms
Understanding key terms helps us build a shared language around respect, safety and inclusion.
Active bystander describes a person who witnesses a concerning event or incident and chooses to act by calling out the behaviour or engaging others to address the behaviour, in the moment or afterwards.
Gender-based violence describes violence that is rooted in gender-based power, inequality and discrimination. It causes or can cause physical, sexual, psychological or financial harm. People of all genders can experience gender-based violence.
Sexual harm is an all-encompassing, non-legal term that refers to all forms of unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature. It includes sexual assault and sexual harassment.
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.
- Access the student digital toolkit (coming soon! Student login required)
- Access the staff digital toolkit (coming soon! 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.
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
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:
Sexual assault
- 3.3% since starting university
- ** in the past 12 months
Experiences of sexual assault in the past 12 months:
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
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:
- Prevention of Sexual Harm and Response Policy
- Sexual Harm Response and Prevention Procedure [Students]
- Sexual Harm Response and Prevention Procedure [Staff]
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 (see above) – our annual flagship campaign bringing together staff and students across university and TAFE.
- Unlearn It – a social change initiative that harnesses the student violence to challenging learned attitudes, unconscious biases and harmful social norms that contribute to a culture of disrespect.
- Orientation and Welcome week 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 bystander.
Student training
Swinburne provides training to help students building 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. First year, commencing students will receive a sanction (penalty) for not completing the course.
Additional training opportunities
Students and student leaders can also participate in workshops and online modules that focus on respectful relationships, boundaries, safety and inclusion. These include:
- Respectful relationships workshops: Learn more about consent, concerning behaviours, inclusive communication, responding to disclosures, and navigating tricky situations.
- Active 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 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 sexual harm and sharing out 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 shard 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 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 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 are expected to report concerning behaviour immediately to their manager or, if unavailable, to the next senior staff member. Incidents must be logged in RiskWare (staff login required) within 24 hours, and colleagues should assist with reports if a person is unable to do so themselves.
- Seek advice or report concerning behaviour displayed by students to Safer Community.
- Anonymously report sexual harm concerns that do not involve students (staff login required).
- Access health, safety and wellbeing support (including counselling) through Sonder (for eligible staff; staff login required).
View full list of staff support services.
National referral services
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.