Support
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.
For crises that do not require emergency services:
If you have experienced, seen or heard about concerning, threatening or inappropriate behaviour at UNE or affecting someone at UNE, the Safe Communities Team are available to help you find the support you need, and provide guidance and information on your reporting options.
You may also choose to contact the UNE Student Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) or the UNE Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Alternatively, you may wish to contact a member of the UNE Sexual Harm & Gender-Based Violence First Response and Support Network (FRSN). Our First Responders are members of UNE who, in addition to their substantive role, are an alternative first point of contact for staff and students who have been subjected to sexual assault, sexual harassment, or gender-based violence.
First Responders can be found at this link - First Response and Support Network. Click on a name to access their short profile, contact times, and details.
UNE Student Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) The UNE CAPS team are professionally qualified and registered psychologists, who offer support no matter the stage of your student journey. We know study does not happen in a bubble and things like personal concerns, money matters, mental health, managing relationships, stress or adjustment issues can impact your ability to be focused, motivated or organised. We have a number of appointments available for you to reach out and connect with a member of our team and we can support you with your current needs and move you closer to your study goals. You can become the student you want to be! We operate independently and uphold strict confidentiality, ensuring your trust in us even when things don’t go as planned. Student life can be intricate, and that’s why Advocacy & Welfare exists: to offer advice spanning a wide spectrum of concerns. Whether it’s navigating academic challenges or seeking assistance with tax matters, we’re here to assist you throughout your entire journey at UNE. Student Grievance Unit (SGU) The Student Grievance Unit is an independent investigative unit that assists with and resolves complaints submitted by students. Students, staff, or members of the public may also submit a complaint in relation to a student’s conduct to the Student Grievance Unit. All contact with the Student Grievance Unit (SGU) should be made via forms available through RiskWare so that we can properly track progress from your initial contact. Your safety is our priority. UNE Life Safety, Security & Information's team patrols the campus 24/7. If you need help or encounter an emergency, we’re here to support you any time, day or night. UNE Urgent Mental Health Support Line The service is to help callers find immediate relief from emotional distress, explore coping strategies for the current crisis, safely manage any immediate threats to life or safety, open pathways for longer-term solutions and focus specific next steps for the caller to take. If you’ve witnessed or experienced sexual harm, gender-based violence or any threatening or inappropriate behaviour as a member of the UNE community, Safe Communities can guide you in finding the right support and reporting options. We prioritise your safety, choices and empowerment, and acknowledge the profound impact of trauma in response to harmful behaviour. We understand that you may not want to make a report or complaint about the incident and may only wish to seek information and get help to access support. We fully support the rights of the person making the disclosure to decide what information they provide, including whether to make a disclosure anonymously. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) UNE staff members can access the counselling services provided through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Staff have access to 6 sessions per individual, per year, this includes casual employees. The Employee Assistance Program is designed to encourage self-referral. Occasionally managers/supervisors may offer the option of counselling to employees. The choice of using the EAP is always yours. UNE prioritises the safety, health, and overall well-being of our employees as fundamental values of our organization. We are committed to fostering a work environment that promotes physical and mental wellness, where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to thrive. The University values our staff and promotes a workplace culture that ensures the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect by providing an environment free from harassment, bullying and intimidation. Formal grievances must be made as soon as possible after the date when the problem or concern arose and no later than six (6) months after the date on which the action (last action or pattern of actions) is alleged to have taken place. Your safety is our priority. UNE Life Safety, Security & Information's team patrols the campus 24/7. If you need help or encounter an emergency, we’re here to support you any time, day or night. UNE FREE Crisis Support Line The service is to help callers find immediate relief from emotional distress, explore coping strategies for the current crisis, safely manage any immediate threats to life or safety, open pathways for longer-term solutions and focus specific next steps for the caller to take. If you’ve witnessed or experienced sexual harm, gender-based violence or any threatening or inappropriate behaviour as a member of the UNE community, Safe Communities can guide you in finding the right support and reporting options. We prioritise your safety, choices and empowerment, and acknowledge the profound impact of trauma in response to harmful behaviour. We understand that you may not want to make a report or complaint about the incident and may only wish to seek information and get help to access support. We fully support the rights of the person making the disclosure to decide what information they provide, including whether to make a disclosure anonymously. Armidale Sexual Assault Services If you, or someone you know, has been a victim of a sexual assault, see information for victims of sexual assault. NSW Health has a network of specialist Sexual Assault Services (SAS) delivered by local health districts. Every local health district has an Sexual Assault Service that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Led by our community, we provide expertise and specialised support in homelessness, domestic and family violence for all women, children and their families who are in crisis. Through empowering our community to embrace growth, we give them the means to define and shape their future. Armidale Men’s Homelessness Support Service This service supports men and men with accompanying children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to secure and sustain safe and stable housing. It also provides support services including prevention and early intervention, rapid rehousing, crisis and transition responses, and intensive responses for men and their accompanying children. It also includes men who have complex needs, rough sleepers, Aboriginal men, men with families and men existing institutions. This service also engages in outreach activities and link clients with a range of providers, including mental health, Drug and Alcohol Services, Legal Aid and Housing Services. North and Northwest Community Legal Service Creating a fairer, more just society by providing free and confidential legal advice and support. Housing Options & Homelessness Services – Emergency temporary accommodation, Temporary Accommodation, Help renting in the private market. 13Yarn is a Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support line. We are here to provide crisis support 24/7 to yarn with you without judgement and provide a confidential, culturally safe space to yarn about your needs, worries or concerns. We will work with you to explore options for on-going support. You know you will be connected to another Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person who will understand where you are coming from and value knowing HOW to listen, without judgement or shame. 1800Respect offers sexual assault, family & domestic violence counselling for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault. 1800RESPECT Service Director – Search for services by categories across Australia 1800Respect will ask you a few questions to help you find what you need. You can search by category or by using keywords and location. Please confirm the service's location with the service before visiting. 1800Respect will not store your information. ACON provides specialist Care Coordination & Counselling support, information and referral services to LGBTQ+ people who have experienced sexual, domestic and family violence. This is a short-term service that helps people to access the necessary supports and services to build safety and improve their mental and physical wellbeing, including health, social, financial and legal support services. For more information or to undertake a brief intake assessment, please complete the Online Intake Form or contact your nearest ACON office. The Child Protection Helpline is staffed by child protection caseworkers who will record any concerns you have about a child or young person and their family. It is important to know that your concerns about violence in a family may be valuable in helping children and women to be safe. You can report information anonymously. Domestic and family violence is a human rights violation. Every year in Australia, one woman dies per week and one child every fortnight due to domestic and family violence. DVNSW is an independent, non-government peak organisation that provides a representative and advocacy function for specialist domestic and family violence services. We work to eliminate domestic and family violence through thought leadership, promotion of the specialist DFV sector and promoting best practice responses and primary prevention. The NSW Domestic Violence Line, provided by DVNSW, provides counselling and referrals to women experiencing domestic violence. Caseworkers on the Domestic Violence Line can help you: First Nations Women’s Legal Program The First Nations Women’s Legal Program provides services that best meet the needs of First Nations and Torres Strait Islander women. The program was developed in 1995, in consultation with First Nations women. WLS NSW receives valuable feedback and guidance from the First Nations Women’s Consultative Network, to ensure that all services are delivered in a respectful and culturally appropriate manner. The First Nations Women’s Legal Program is staffed by Aboriginal women and offers free services. Full Stop Australia provides free 24/7 telephone and online counselling. If you have experienced violence or abuse we are here to help you. If you are a non-offending family member or friend of someone who has experienced violence, we can also support you. Full Stop Australia has access to a free telephone interpreting service. Please let the counsellor know if you need an interpreter and we will arrange it for you. Inner City Legal Centre, Safe Relationships Project ICLC provides a statewide legal advice service for LGBTIQ clients experiencing domestic violence. They provide court assistance and other support for people who are gay, lesbian or bisexual; people who are transgender; and people who are intersex and are experiencing or escaping an abusive relationship. The LGBTQI+ domestic violence duty service can assist clients in accessing legal representation and to apply for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVO) or Apprehended Personal Violence Orders (APVO) to help put an end to the violence they are experiencing. Kids, Teens and Young People Helpline Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free (even from a mobile), confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. Qualified counsellors at Kids Helpline are available anytime and for any reason. Legal Aid NSW is a state-wide independent government agency that helps people in NSW with their legal problems. Legal Aid NSW provides legal information to anyone with a legal problem in NSW through their legal information and referral service, LawAccess NSW. Link2home is the statewide homelessness information and referral telephone service. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. MensLine Australia supports men and boys who are dealing with family and relationship difficulties. 24/7 telephone and online support an information service for Australian men. The Men’s Referral Service is the national counselling, information and referral service for men looking to change their behaviour. This service from No to Violence offers assistance, information and counselling to help men who use family violence. Gender equality is achieved when people of all genders and sexual orientations have the opportunity to exercise and enjoy equal rights. Society has made progress on advancing gender equality, but there are still huge gender gaps. All around the world, women, girls and people of diverse genders and sexualities are more likely than men to face discrimination and violence, and to live in poverty. They are also less likely to have the power to change their circumstances. Gender inequality is a human construct, and we can overcome it. It is caused by gender bias in our systems, structures and attitudes, which create an environment where women, girls and people of diverse genders and sexualities are denied their rights to learn, earn equal pay and hold leadership positions. QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Free telephone and web-based counselling, referrals and support for LGBTQ+I people and their families. Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline The Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline is available for anyone in Australia who is from LGBTQ+ communities who has recently or in the past experienced sexual, domestic or family violence. Family members, friends and supporters of someone from LGBTQ+ communities who has experienced sexual domestic or family violence. Others who may be impacted by violence targeted toward the LGBTQ+ communities, including professionals. Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline For anyone in Australia whose life has been impacted by domestic or family violence. Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Service Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Service is a NSW state-wide community legal centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children, and youth. They offer legal advice and support for a range of issues, and they are LGBTQI+ inclusive. Get immediate access to emergency contacts, campus maps, and safety tools. The UNE Safe App currently only supports Android and iOS devices. If you would like to see your device supported in the future, please contact whs@une.edu.au noting your device. Be there is a free app that gives you direct access to tools that empower, educate and support you to help someone who is experiencing domestic or family violence. Always have the tools on hand to help you recognise abuse and offer support to someone who may be experiencing or using the abuse. The app will help you do this safely and respectfully. Be there is an initiative delivered by Griffith University’s MATE Bystander Program, with funding support from the Queensland Government, powered by Telstra. Daisy is an app developed by 1800RESPECT to connect people experiencing violence or abuse to services in their local area. Daisy can be downloaded for free from iTunes or Google Play. Once the app is on your phone, you can use it to search for support services in your local area. Choose the type of service you would like (for example 'Legal services' or 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services') and select your state or territory to find services near you. Sunny is 1800RESPECT’s app for people with a disability who have experienced violence and abuse. Sunny has been co-designed with women with disability to make sure it provides the very best support for the people who use it.
