As staff, our role in supporting students who may be impacted by sexual harm or gender-based violence is crucial. Staff should be familiar with the Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Policy and Student Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Response Procedures 2026.
For assistance in supporting a student who has experienced sexual harm or gender-based violence, please contact the Safer Communities Office, between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday, Sydney local time. You can speak to us or make an appointment by calling +61 2 8627 6808 or emailing [email protected].
Safer Communities Office staff are specialist staff experienced in providing an immediate response to people that have experienced sexual harm or gender-based violence. They can provide information regarding both internal and external reporting options, and can assist with creating a safety plan and making referrals to relevant services.
Appointments can be organised either for in person, Zoom or phone. Mandarin speaking staff and interpreters are available upon request.
The University implemented the Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Policy in 2026. This Policy details how the University supports victim-survivors, provides reporting options and protects confidentiality for students, staff and other members of the University community.
The Policy:
(a) makes clear that the University will not tolerate sexual harm and gender-based violence;
(b) protects the physical and psychological safety and wellbeing of our community, including students, staff, affiliates and others;
(c) prioritises the safety, dignity and agency of people who report sexual harm and gender-based violence;
(d) provides for safe, person-centred, trauma-informed and procedurally fair responses to reports;
(e) encourages safe ethical bystander intervention; and
(f) supports our values of trust, accountability and excellence.
The Gender-based Violence and Other Harmful Behaviour Online Reporting Form is a major component of our commitment to improved reporting and complaints processes that put the needs of victim-survivors first. This form allows students, staff and other members of the community to make a confidential disclosure of an incident without the need to make a formal complaint. It allows any student to bring an incident to our attention and be in control of next steps; whether it’s accessing support or initiating a formal reporting process.
As a staff member, you are also able to lodge a disclosure on behalf of a student or of an incident that you may have witnessed. If you are providing identifying details of a student, you must obtain their consent prior to submitting a disclosure on their behalf. The Safer Communities Office can also assist disclosers or complainants in completing this form.
Please note that reports lodged via the Gender-based Violence and Other Harmful Behaviour Online Reporting Form are only received by specialist staff in the Safer Communities Office.
The University is wholly committed to strengthening a framework of safety and support that operates with compassion and confidentiality. In August 2024, we launched our Strategic Actions for the Prevention of and Response to Sexual harm or gender-based violence 2024–2026 (pdf, 215KB), outlining a whole of institution approach for targeted action to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for the University community.
Our Strategic Actions are led by the University's Safer Communities Office and involve consultation with our key stakeholders, including our students and staff. These initiatives were endorsed by the University Executive's People and Culture Committee in August 2024.
If a student has experienced sexual harm or gender-based violence in the last 72 hours, it is important to advise them of the options of presenting to the hospital and/or reporting to the police about the incident (this is to preserve forensic evidence). Remember, this is an extremely distressing time for the student, and all decisions regarding forensics and reporting lie with the student. It is important that the student is supported to have control of this decision andhowever they decide to proceed.
Visit NSW Health Local Sexual Assault Services for a list of available services.
Responding to and supporting someone who has experienced sexual harm or gender-based violence can be complex, but chances are they have come to you because they trust you. They are the person who should decide what steps and supports are best for them, including if they want to report the incident to the University and/or the police. You can help them to access the support services and resources they need.
You will also find comprehensive information on supporting students in our Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Policy and Student Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Response Procedures.
A student should make a disclosure (rather than a complaint) of sexual harm or gender-based violence if they do not want the University to investigate or take any specific action in response to the incident. If a student chooses to make a disclosure of sexual harm or gender-based violence, they can make a complaint to the University about the same incident later, if they wish.
A student should make a complaint (rather than a disclosure) of sexual harm or gender-based violence if they want the University to investigate or to take specific action and the complaint is about University related conduct. The University cannot take disciplinary action against another student or a staff member unless the student makes a complaint. However, to minimise the potential for harm to the student or anyone else, the University may take interim measures against a student or staff member in response to the sexual harm or gender-based violence.
Staff can make a disclosure to the University on behalf of a student regarding sexual harm or gender-based violence by completing the Gender-based Violence and Other Harmful Behaviour Online Reporting Form.
However, if the student wishes to make a complaint rather than a disclosure, then the student will need to do so themselves using the Online Reporting Form. You can also refer them to the Safer Communities Office who can assist them to log their complaint on the online form.
Making a disclosure or a complaint to the University using the Gender-based Violence and Other Harmful Behaviour Online Reporting Form is voluntary.
The information provided will assist the Safer Communities Office to understand the student's needs and provide support. Please note that in some limited circumstances we may need to retrieve the student’s Unikey to ensure their immediate safety, or that of other members of the University community, or to meet our legal obligations.
A staff member or another student can make an anonymous disclosure online on behalf of an affected student by completing the Online Reporting Form. The student can also call the Safer Communities Office on +61 2 8627 6808 or 1800 SYD HLP (1800 793 457) with their phone status set to 'private' or email [email protected] using a private email account. They may choose to create a new email address for the purposes of reporting an incident.
Disclosures of Sexual harm or gender-based violence are kept confidentially and securely stored with the Safer Communities Office. Please note that students have the option to change this into a complaint at any time. Complaints of sexual harm or gender-based violence are forwarded to the Student Affairs Unit after initial contact is made by the Safer Communities Office. Complaints may need to be forwarded to other units in the University, for resolution in accordance with the Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Policy and Student Complaints Procedures.
The information provided in a complaint or disclosure is held in University systems which are maintained in accordance with the University's Cyber Security Policy. This service has additionally been independently verified to meet the University's relevant security standards. Access to these systems is limited to a small, specialised team of University staff members who need it to carry out their duties.
Information may also be used by the University on a de-identified basis to identify trends and develop targeted responses to sexual harm or gender-based violence in the University community, in accordance with the Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Policy. A student has the right to access and correct personal information about them held by the University. To access or amend their provided information , the student should contact the Safer Communities Office.
No. There is no legal requirement for you to report sexual harm or gender-based violence to the police if the student does not want the information reported. However, if there are immediate safety issues that you are concerned about, please seek further advice from the Safer Communities Office. Safer Communities can be contacted on 8627 6808 or via email to [email protected].
It is the student's choice whether they want to report the incident and who they want to report the incident to. Whether the incident took place on or off campus, they can make a report to police at their the local police station, and can also call in advance and ask to make a report to a detective. A student can also contact the Safer Communities Office if they would like support with reporting to the police.
If they want to provide information to the police but don’t want to proceed with a formal investigation, they can provide details of the assault by completing the online sexual assault reporting option (SARO) . This can be submitted anonymously if they wish, however police will be unable to contact them if they remain anonymous. It is recommended that the student has a support person to help them with this, as providing details of their experience may be distressing. The report may be used to assist police to develop strategies which target offenders and protect the community.
Find more information on the reporting options available and what to expect from the NSW Police website.
There can be serious penalties for sexual harm or gender-based violence. The current penalties for students who are found, through the University’s Complaints process, to have perpetrated sexual harm or gender-based violence, are determined by the University of Sydney (Student Discipline) Rule 2016 . Staff who have been found to have perpetrated sexual harm or gender-based violence towards a student are subject to the procedures regarding serious misconduct determined by the Enterprise Agreement.
If a student has been accused of sexual harm or gender-based violence, they should consult the Student Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Response Procedures for available support services.
Staff can access free, confidential counselling and support by contacting the University’s Counselling, Coaching and Support services. More information on these services can be found by visiting the Safety and Wellbeing page.
Staff can report an incident of sexual harm or gender-based violence using the Gender-based Violence and Other Harmful Behaviour Online Reporting Form. Staff should also consult the Staff Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Response Procedures.
Please refer to the Sexual harm and gender-based violence Intranet page for more information.
Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Policy
Student Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Response Procedures
Staff Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Response Procedures
2024 Annual Report on Sexual Misconduct
Strategic Actions for the Prevention of and Response to Sexual Misconduct 2024–2026 (pdf, 215KB)
University of Sydney (Student Discipline) Rule 2016
For assistance in supporting a student who has experienced sexual harm or gender-based violence, please contact:
Safer Communities Office
+61 2 8627 6808
1800 SYD HLP (1800 793 457) option 2
Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Policy
Student Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Response Procedures
Staff Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Response Procedures
2024 Annual Report on Sexual Misconduct
Strategic Actions for the Prevention of and Response to Sexual Misconduct 2024–2026 (pdf, 215KB)
University of Sydney (Student Discipline) Rule 2016
For assistance in supporting a student who has experienced sexual harm or gender-based violence, please contact:
Safer Communities Office
+61 2 8627 6808
1800 SYD HLP (1800 793 457) option 2