Disclosures, Reports and Complaints
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or in an emergency situation, call the Police on 000 (triple zero).
If there is no immediate danger but you or someone else needs the police, call the 24/7 Police assistance line on 131 444.
At UNE there is no wrong way to notify the University if you have witnessed or experienced sexual harm, gender-based violence or any threatening or inappropriate behaviour.
If you’ve witnessed or experienced sexual harm, gender-based violence or any threatening or inappropriate behaviour as a member of the UNE community, the university can guide you in finding the right support and reporting options.
You are in control. We will listen to what you need and assist you, wherever possible, as you wish. We will not take any action unless you want us to. There may be exceptional circumstances if there is an immediate threat of danger to you or someone else, however this will be discussed with you.
We will put your safety first. We will do everything we can to make sure you are safe. Sometimes we will need to take steps to ensure the safety of others as well. We will always try to discuss this with you. We will assist you to get any help you may need and want including medical care, counselling, study and/or work adjustments, and reporting to the police.
Tell your experience once. We will do all that is possible to make sure you only have to tell what happened once, and once only. There may be circumstances beyond our control, and you have to answer further questions or re-tell what happened to you. These circumstances will be discussed with you.
We will explain and explore options with you. We will give you as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision about the best possible action for you. We will tell you what options are available, how they might help, and what each path would look like for you. You decide which option is most appropriate for you. Sometimes we will need to take steps to ensure the safety of others. We will always try to discuss this with you.
We will talk with you anonymously. If you do not want to tell us who you are, we can still give you as much information and support as possible to help you. However, we can assist you better if you let us know who you are.
What if I don’t know what to do? Your safety, health and, wellbeing is the focus of Safe Communities. If you don’t know what to do you can always reach out to Safe communities for support and to discuss your options. You can chat with us anonymously. Safe Communities will support and assist you regardless of whether you decide to make a report or a complaint.
UNE offers options for reporting your experience to the University or externally and prioritises your safety, choices and empowerment, and acknowledges the profound impact of trauma in response to harmful behaviour. The UNE Sexual Harm and Gender-Based Violence Process Chart (PDF, 128.93 KB) provides an overview of reporting options at UNE. A disclosure is someone sharing with another person that they have witnessed or experienced sexual harm, gender-based violence, or any threatening or inappropriate behaviour. A disclosure does not have to include significant or specific details and does not automatically trigger any formal investigation process. A disclosure is often first made to someone who is trusted and is considered safe by the person harmed. This could be a friend, colleague, supervisor, or student leader. A disclosure can be made in any way the harmed person wishes and can include online, by email, or even a phone call. Disclosures are confidential and best practice requires the person receiving the disclosure to follow the wishes of the discloser as far as possible. Anyone who receives a disclosure or is told about a disclosure must refer the disclosure to the Safe Communities Program or assist the harmed person to do so. It is the right of the harmed person to have their identity withheld if they do not want their identity shared. Upon receiving a disclosure, Safe Communities will guide and coordinate the University’s support for the person harmed including providing, facilitating or coordinating timely support, referrals and guidance; assisting the person to make a report if they wish to do so to the University and/or the Police. The details provided will be recorded in a report and stored in a confidential file. A record reference will be provided if a report or investigation is requested later. A report is someone providing more detailed information to Safe Communities, that they have witnessed or experienced sexual harm, gender-based violence, or any threatening or inappropriate behaviour. A report usually includes more specific details than a disclosure, however, does not automatically trigger any formal investigation process. A report may involve the taking of a statement with significant details about what was witnessed or experienced. This will only happen if the harmed person wishes to do so. Reports are confidential and best practice requires the wishes of the person harmed to be followed as far as possible. Upon receiving a report, Safe Communities will guide and coordinate the University’s support for the person harmed including providing, facilitating or coordinating timely support, referrals, and guidance; assisting the person to make a report if they wish to do so to the University and/or the Police. The details provided will be recorded in a report and stored in a confidential file. A record reference number will be provided if a report or investigation is requested later. Contact safecommunities@une.edu.au to make a report. A formal complaint is usually made in writing and involves the person who has witnessed or experienced sexual harm, gender-based violence, or any threatening or inappropriate behaviour, providing a detailed statement. A formal complaint triggers a formal investigation process to resolution. Safe Communities can provide support to lodge a complaint and to navigate the complaints process. Contact safecommunities@une.edu.au for support. Student complaint – The Student Grievance Unit is the investigative unit that assists with and resolves complaints involving a student’s conduct. All contact with the Student Grievance Unit (SGU) should be made via forms available on the SGU web page so that SGU can properly track progress from your initial contact. Staff complaint (grievance) - People & Culture Workplace Relations is the investigative unit that assists with and resolves complaints involving a staff member, affiliate, volunteer, or contractor’s conduct. Anonymous disclosures, reports, and complaints can be lodged anonymously 24/7 via the Grapevine service which is owned by an external organisation, Wise Workplace Investigations Pty Ltd. Grapevine is an external, independent and confidential service providing you with a safe environment for anonymous reporting. Grapevine service platform offers expert technical advice, guidance and support throughout the disclosure reporting process. The online portal offers reporters the opportunity to: Upon receiving a disclosure, report or complaint, Safe Communities will guide and coordinate the University’s support for the person harmed including providing, facilitating or coordinating timely support, referrals and guidance, and assisting the person to approach the Police. Safe Communities understands that approaching the Police can be distressing and traumatic however, experienced Police investigators can be approached to explain all available options to you and then take your statement if you wish to formally report the matter. The Police understand that not all people want their experience to be formally investigated; however, police strongly encourage victims and witnesses to report sexual assault. The police can also organise extra support including medical care and counselling for victims through a range of government and non-government agencies. The police provide choices about how you share your experience and your desired level of involvement with police. You are encouraged to report to the police even if you do not want an investigation. Safe Communities can provide support to approach the Police. Contact safecommunities@une.edu.au for support. The NSW Police Force Community Sexual Assault Service provides further information regarding Police Reporting Options, investigations, support services and complaints. eSafetyCommissioner is Australia's independent regulator for online safety. We educate Australians about online safety risks and help to remove harmful content such as cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse, and intimate images or videos shared without consent. We can investigate cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse, image-based abuse (sharing, or threatening to share, intimate images without the consent of the person shown), and illegal and restricted content. Report online harm. The National Student Ombudsman is a complaints service you can access regarding complaints you haven’t been able to resolve or don’t feel safe talking to the RESPECT@WORK provides information on where to seek help to address workplace sexual harassment. There is a range of government agencies that can take action to address workplace sexual harassment, including assisting you to make a complaint. Fair Work Commission is Australia’s workplace relations tribunal and registered organisations regulator. The law prohibits (does not allow) sexual harassment in connection with work. Find out what your options are to stop workplace sexual harassment, and how they deal with applications. Learn how to apply and how to respond to an application. Australian Human Rights Commission investigates and resolves complaints of discrimination and breaches of human rights. You can make a complaint no matter where you live in Australia. Our service is free, impartial, and informal. Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is the national regulator and ensures that higher education providers comply with their obligations under our regulatory responsibility. Read more about what TEQSA can’t take action on, including matters outside our responsibility that should be raised with the provider, and matters outside our responsibility that should be raised with another organisation. NSW Ombudsman handles complaints about NSW government agencies, local councils, as well as some community services for children, young people, and families. If you are unhappy with the way you’ve been treated by the University, you can make a complaint. There are many benefits to making a complaint and telling someone about your problem. You have a right to good services and fair treatment, and you have a right to complain to the Ombudsman if that doesn't happen.Reporting Options
