'At QUT, we are committed to creating an environment where every person who attends university has the right to feel and be safe, and to be treated with respect, dignity and fairness.

As an institution, QUT is deeply concerned about and condemns the prevalence of all forms of intimidation, harassment and violence, including gender-based violence in Australian society and in university communities. We are committed to addressing these issues and empowering QUT staff and students. As a signatory to the 2024 Universities Australia (UA) Charter Against Sexual Harm, QUT acknowledges the significant role that universities will continue to perform in:

  • creating and maintaining safe environments which set an example for society
  • researching
  • sharing effective practice in prevention and support services for staff and students.’

Professor Margaret Sheil AO
Vice-Chancellor QUT

Gender-based violence

QUT is actively implementing the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence, which, alongside the Educating for Equality model, informs our organisation-wide approach for preventing and responding to gender-based violence and creating inclusive, respectful environments free from discrimination and harm.

Under the guidance of QUT Council, QUT has developed and is implementing and reviewing targeted action plans focused on gender equality and gender-based violence prevention and response.

Gender-equality and gender-based violence prevention and response plan (PDF file, 2.0 MB)

Reporting, disclosures and complaints

If a member of the QUT community has experienced or witnessed gender-based violence (which refers to many behaviours including sexual harassment, sexual assault) or problematic behaviour there is support available.

In this context, disclosure means telling another person about an incident you have witnessed. 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.

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

To seek information or make a disclosure or complaint:

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 respectandsafety@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 respectandsafety@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

Respect and Safety Partners

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

Respect and Safety Partners

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

Staff training

Responding to disclosures of sexual harassment or assault

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

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 engaged the Social Research Centre to conduct a follow up survey called the National Student Safety Survey.

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

The NSSS was conducted from 3 September to 6 October 2021 with 10,000 QUT students randomly invited to participate.

View an infographic of QUT's survey results (PDF file, 319.3 KB)

Contact Equity