At QUT, we are fully committed to ensuring we continue to offer effective prevention strategies and reporting procedures, as well as the provision of support for our students and staff.

We must always remember the importance of respectful relationships.

There is no place for sexual assault and sexual harassment anywhere, including in our university communities.

Professor Margaret Sheil AO, Vice-Chancellor QUT

Respect and safety at QUT

We acknowledge that there is no place for sexual assault or harassment in universities or the broader community. At QUT we are committed to addressing these issues and working together to empower our students and staff while making QUT a safer space to study and work.

QUT is part of the national Respect.Now.Always campaign to prevent and address sexual harassment and assault. The campaign 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.

Reporting, disclosures and complaints

If a member of the QUT community has experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, assault or problematic behaviour there is support available.

In this context, disclosure means telling another person about an incident of sexual assault, sexual harassment or discrimination. The incident can be recent, have occurred in the past, or be ongoing. Disclosure is about support-seeking, and you may not necessarily be seeking investigation or other action by the university. The university will assist you to access support services, take steps to keep you safe on campus, and support you to make an informed choice about further actions you wish to take, if any.

You can make a disclosure to any QUT staff member. QUT also has Counsellors provide free, confidential support. You can also make a disclosure to QUT’s Harassment and Discrimination Advisers, who are specifically trained in this area and can also refer you to counselling and other support services. To talk to a Harassment and Discrimination Adviser:

A complaint is a formal option available to a person seeking access to support, advice about options and assistance to intervene or resolve the matter.

A Harassment and Discrimination Adviser can provide you with information around the formal complaints process.

For more information or to make a formal complaint contact a Harassment and Discrimination Adviser:

You may also consider other options to report a concern.

QUT has a two stage complaints process: an early resolution process, and an investigative process. Where possible we will try to resolve a situation early, but in some cases due to the serious nature of the allegations we will proceed directly to an investigative process.

Outcomes from the complaint vary from case to case.

A person who makes a complaint has certain rights. These include:

  • natural justice – to be treated with respect and impartiality at all stages
  • confidentiality
  • safety and wellbeing
  • presence of a support person if wanted
  • timely resolution
  • choice of how to proceed (where possible).

For more information contact discriminationadviser@qut.edu.au

A person about whom the complaint is made also has certain rights in the process, including:

  • natural justice – to be treated with respect and impartiality at all stages
  • confidentiality
  • opportunity to respond to allegations
  • procedural fairness.

For more information contact discriminationadviser@qut.edu.au

Information for students and staff

More information about QUT initiatives and where to report or find support can be found on our staff and student sites.

Students

Respect and safety at QUT

Harassment and Discrimination Advisers

Student Counselling

After-hours counselling and support services

Safety and security on campus

Staff

Support for staff experiencing domestic or family violence

Student sexual harassment – staff roles and responsibilities

Responding to student disclosures of sexual harassment or assault

Harassment and Discrimination Advisers

Employee Assistance program

Prevention

As part of our strategy to raise awareness and prevent instances of sexual harassment and assault within the QUT community we have implemented a series of training opportunities for both students and staff. The modules are used as prevention tool for reducing sexual harassment on and outside of QUT campuses.

Participants are equipped with knowledge of what QUT expects of their behaviour and the behaviour of others, and how they can be empowered bystanders or provide support to survivors of trauma, harassment or assault.

Student training

Respect and safety at QUT online module

MATE Bystander training sessions

Staff training

Responding to disclosures of sexual harassment or assault

Sexual Harassment and Sexual  Assault: What are the  drivers and how can staff respond?

MATE Bystander

National surveys

Australian Human Rights Commission survey

In 2016, QUT students participated in the anonymous and confidential national Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) survey about sexual assault and harassment. The results of this survey were released on 1 August 2017 in the profile of QUT respondents (PDF file, 228.8 KB).

Following the survey, AHRC released the Change the Course report, which included nine recommendations.

See the recommendations, and how QUT is addressing them

National Student Safety Survey 2021

In 2021 Universities Australia has engaged the Social Research Centre to conduct a follow up survey called the National Student Safety Survey.

The National Student Safety Survey (NSSS) is being conducted as part of the Respect. Now. Always. Initiative. The aim of the survey is to measure the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment experiences among university students at Australian universities. It will also measure broader perceptions of safety and views towards student campus life.

The NSSS will be conducted from 3 September to 6 October 2021 and will randomly invite 10,000 QUT students to participate.  If you are not randomly selected, you can still have your say by sharing your views through the National Student Safety Survey – Your Story initiative.

More information for QUT students

Respect and safety at QUT

We acknowledge that there is no place for sexual assault or harassment in universities or the broader community. At QUT we are committed to addressing these issues and working together to empower our students and staff while making QUT a safer space to study and work.

QUT is part of the national Respect.Now.Always campaign to prevent and address sexual harassment and assault. The campaign 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; and
  • assist universities in sharing global best practice resources across the sector.

Make a disclosure or complaint -> link to new making a disclosure or complaint page

Australian Human Rights Commission survey

In 2016, QUT students participated in the anonymous and confidential national Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) survey about sexual assault and harassment. The results of this survey were released on 1 August 2017 in the profile of QUT respondents (PDF file, 228.8 KB).

Following the survey, AHRC released the Change the Course report, which included nine recommendations. See the recommendations, and how QUT is addressing them.

Prevention

As part of our strategy to raise awareness and prevent instances of sexual harassment and assault within the QUT community we have implemented a series of training opportunities for both students and staff. The modules are used as prevention tool for reducing sexual harassment on and outside of QUT campuses.

Participants are equipped with knowledge of what QUT expects of their behaviour and the behaviour of others, and how they can be empowered bystanders or provide support to survivors of trauma, harassment or assault.

Student training

Staff training

Reporting, disclosures and complaints

If a member of the QUT community has experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, assault or problematic behaviour there is support available.

What is a disclosure?

In this context, disclosure means telling another person about an incident of sexual assault, sexual harassment or discrimination. The incident can be recent, have occurred in the past, or be ongoing.
Disclosure is about support-seeking, and you may not necessarily be seeking investigation or other action by the university. The university will assist you to access support services, take steps to keep you safe on campus, and support you to make an informed choice about further actions you wish to take, if any.

Who can I make a disclosure to?

You can make a disclosure to any QUT staff member, many have been trained to provide advice and support. Our counsellors provide free, confidential support or you can also contact QUT’s Harassment and Discrimination Advisers, who are specifically trained in this area.

What is a complaint?

A complaint is a formal option available to a person seeking access to support, advice about options and assistance to intervene or resolve the matter.

A Harassment and Discrimination Adviser can provide you with information around the formal complaints process.

How do I make a complaint?

Contact QUT Equity Services on 07 3138 5601 and ask to speak to a Harassment and Discrimination Adviser, or email discriminationadviser@qut.edu.au

The complaints process at QUT

QUT has a two stage complaints process: an early resolution process, and an investigative process. Where possible we will try to resolve a situation early, but in some cases due to the serious nature of the allegations we will proceed directly to an investigative process.

Outcomes from the complaint vary from case to case.

What are the rights of a complainant?

A person who makes a complaint has certain rights. These include:-natural justice – to be treated with respect and impartiality at all stages-confidentiality-safety and wellbeing-presence of a support person if wanted-timely resolution-choice of how to proceed (where possible).

What are the rights of the respondent?

A person about whom the complaint is made also has certain rights in the process, including:

  • natural justice – to be treated with respect and impartiality at all stages.
  • confidentiality
  • opportunity to respond to allegations
  • procedural fairness

To make a disclosure, complaint, or formally report an incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault contact QUT’s Harassment and Discrimination Advisers on email at discriminationadviser@qut.edu.au

Information for students and staff


More information about QUT initiatives and where to report or find support can be found on our staff and student sites.

Students:

Staff:

Contact Equity