News
SHAPING UP TO BE A REP!
Congratulations to the 31 UNE students who successfully completed the 2007 SHAPES weekend training program that is a prerequisite to becoming a SHAPES Rep. Students representing each of the 8 colleges/residences on campus, as well as a “town” student gave up an entire weekend in order to be more aware of what constitutes sexual harassment and assault, what causes it, how to challenge it, how to educate their peers, and how to support students who may experience forms of sexual harassment or assault within the University community.
Joan Anderson and Annette Stevenson, both counsellors/educators within UNE Student Assist, along with Natalie Rhodes from the Armidale Sexual Assault Service (part of the Hunter New England Area Health Service) facilitated the training program. Students had the opportunity to use role-play, videos, as well as small and large group discussion, to explore how they can be effective SHAPES Reps.
The 31 new Reps bring the total number of Reps in first semester 2007 to 63. What this means is that each residence has at least 5 Reps who can work together to promote the ethos of the SHAPES program. It also means that students wishing to contact a SHAPES Rep have choice as to who they approach. Students needing the support of a Rep do not have to live within a campus residence. They can contact a Rep from any college or can contact one of the “town” reps listed on this web page. Students living on campus can also contact a Rep from another college/residence for support. Regardless of which Rep you contact, all Reps sign a Code of Conduct which stipulates the need to maintain confidentiality.