The topic of sexual violence can trigger traumatic memories for survivors. Survivors have the right to talk about their experiences on their own terms. If you sense that a survivor needs additional support, contact the national hotlines:
1800 572 224 The National University Support Line
24/7 trauma specialist counselling available for those affected by sexual violence.
1800 RESPECT
24/7 National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service. Free and confidential. Call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) and ask to speak to a trauma counsellor.
www.1800respect.org.au
LIFELINE – CRISIS SUPPORT
24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services 13 11 44
www.lifeline.org.au
MENSLINE
24/7 professional telephone and online support and information service for Australian men. Free and confidential. Call 1300 789 97
www.mensline.org.au
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Emergency Services: 000
Police Assistance (non-emergency): 131 444
If you are a survivor and would like to reach out to other university students and supporters:
END RAPE ON CAMPUS (EROC) AUSTRALIA
EROC Australia works to end sexual violence at universities and residential colleges through direct support for survivors and their communities; prevention through education; and policy reform at the campus, state, and federal levels.
http://www.endrapeoncampusau.org/about/
If you want to make a complaint in relation to an incident:
AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (AHRC)
The AHRC can investigate complaints regarding sexual harassment and discrimination at universities, and attempts to resolve complaints through conciliation.
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/ complaint-information
STATE & TERRITORY ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BODIES
Complaints about sexual harassment can also be made to local state / territory anti-discriminatory bodies. Links to each state and territory body can be found at
https://www.ag.gov.au/ RightsAndProtections/HumanRights/Pages/AustraliasAnti-Discrimination-Law.aspx
OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICES
Where a survivor believes that a university has acted unfairly or otherwise mismanaged a sexual violence case, they may be able to make complaints to an Ombudsman office.
Complaints about public universities and higher education providers can be made to the relevant state/territory Ombudsman. Links to each state and territory body can be found at
http://www. ombudsman.gov.au/about/related-sites#stateombudsman
International students at private higher education providers can make complaints to the Overseas Students Ombudsman.
http://www. ombudsman.gov.au/making-a-complaint/overseasstudents
TERTIARY EDUCATION QUALITY AND STANDARDS AGENCY (TEQSA)
TEQSA is Australia’s independent national regulator of the higher education sector. There may be circumstances in which a survivor, university womens officer or other student representative can make a complaint about their university to TEQSA, who monitors higher education providers’ compliance with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) and a set of quality standards, known as the Threshold Standards.
http://www.teqsa.gov.au/complaints