As a university community, we all have a responsibility to address unacceptable attitudes and behaviours. Deakin defines sexual harm as sexual assault, sexual harassment, and any behaviour of a sexual nature that may be a crime and/or constitute student or staff misconduct.
Our aim is to:
- prevent sexual harm (including sexual harassment and sexual assault) through the delivery of training and professional development
- provide support to students and staff who have experienced sexual harm
- respond to all disclosures of sexual harm in a trauma informed, supportive and person-centred way.
If you or any member of the University community has experienced sexual harm, we are here to support you. This applies to incidents that have happened recently or in the past, and regardless of the location (off campus, in a residence, online or on campus).
Download our Respect and Sexual Harm 2024 Plan (PDF, 1.3MB)
Download our Respect and Sexual Harm Prevention Report 2023 (PDF, 1MB)
Discover our Safer Community resources
Learn more about sexual harm
Our priorities
We are working to continually improve and act on sexual harm. To date, we've:
- Created a primary point of contact (Safer Community) for anyone to disclose or report sexual harm and be connected to free, confidential and professional support.
- Implemented a confidential internal database to record disclosures of sexual harm.
- Established a Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Group, which governs and reviews respect and sexual harm plans and activities.
- Established training and education on ‘Respect’ and ‘Understanding Interpersonal Violence’ for student leaders from Deakin’s Student Association, student clubs and peer leadership programs.
- Introduced an Online Respect Module, which is available for all students to complete.
- Started the process of introducing compulsory online induction program for Deakin's accommodation students, alongside our RESPECT values program.
- Established additional training and support for staff who work directly with students, including a compulsory module on 'Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Harm'.
- Created a proactive approach and focus on continual improvement via Deakin's Respect and Sexual Harm Strategy and annual Action Plan.