The ANU Medical School and the ANU Medical School Students' Society are committed to ensuring that all students feel safe and supported, learning in an environment free of bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination.
In this elegantly collated document you will find answers to the following pertinent questions:
- What is bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination?
- What can I do about it?
- Why might I not report bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination, and why should I?
- What do I do if I am experiencing or witnessing bullying, sexual harassment or discrimination?
- Who should I contact (inside and outside the ANU Medical School)?
Sexual Harassment
Experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment can be extremely distressing and overwhelming.
Sexual harassment is any unwanted, unwelcome or uninvited behaviour of a sexual nature that results in a person feeling humiliated, intimidated or offended.
It can involve physical contact or verbal remarks of a sexual nature.
Bullying and discrimination
Bullying can cover a range of behaviours, both subtle and overt. It is considered to be any repeated behaviour that is unreasonable and undesirable, and has the potential to cause harm to the person experiencing the behaviour.
Discrimination is different to bullying, but can intersect with it. Discrimination occurs when a person, or group of people are treated less favourably than another person or group on the basis of:
- Race.
- Gender.
- Sexuality.
- Gender identity.
- Intersex status.
- Ethnic or religious background.
- Disability.
- Disease.
- Age.
This list is not exhaustive, and discrimination can occur from less favourable treatment of a person or group based on a combination of these factors.
For IMMEDIATE Emergency Help:
To speak to a counsellor: 1800RESPECT (National sexual assault, family violence counselling service) 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Call 1800 737 732
- Online counselling: https://www.1800respect.org.au/contact-us/
Other local and National specialist support services:
Medical care:
- Emergency Medical Care – Canberra Hospital
T (020) 6244 2222 - Canberra Sexual Health Centre (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9am-2-m, Wed 1:30-3:30).
- T (02) 6244 2184
Crisis lines:
- Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (7am – 11pm, 7 days a week)
- T (02) 6247 2525
- http://www.crcc.org.au/
- For both those who've experienced sexual violence and their supporters.
- Service Assisting Male Survivors of Sexual Assault (Mon - Fri 9am-5pm).
- ANU Crisis Support Line (5pm-9am weekdays, 24 hour weekends and public holidays).
- 1300 050 327
- SMS Text message service: 0488 884 170
Other options:
- Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (7am – 11pm, 7 days a week)
- T (02) 6247 2525
- Text Only: 0488 586 518
- http://www.crcc.org.au/
- Service Assisting Male Survivors of Sexual Assault (Mon - Fri 9am-5pm).
- Canberra Sexual Health Centre (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9am-2-m, Wed 1:30-3:30).
- T (020) 6244 2184
- AFP Sexual Assault Team:
- T 131 444
- T 131 444
ANU Specific Support Services:
Respectful Relationships
The ANU Respectful Relationships Unit (RRU) can provide confidential support for survivors of sexual assault and harassment and arrange relevant referrrals and support when they're needed.
For information from the RRU on options for disclosing and reporting sexual assault and harassment, click on the links directly below:
For more information click here.
email: respect@anu.edu.au
ANU Counselling
ANU counselling offer face to face counselling services at the health and wellbeing centre at Kambri.
For more information click here.
9am- 5pm weekdays
6125 2442
email: counselling.centre@anu.edu.au.
ANU Crisis Support Line
For urgent support outside of business hours (9am - 5pm), the ANU has a new crisis line service for both voice calls and texts.
The crisis line is there to help you find immediate relief from emotional distress, and crisis line counsellors can help you to safely manage the situation you're in and help with any next steps from there.
5pm-9am weekdays, 24/7 weekends and public holidays
Phone (voice calls only): 1300 050 327
SMS Text message service: 0488 884 170
The ANU Crisis Support Line is managed by the Division of Student Life and is a SSAF funded project
More information on the ANU Crisis Support Line can be found here: https://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/support-is-always-there-new-after-hours-crisis-line-opens
Reporting Sexual Harassment at the ANU Medical School
If you have been the victim of sexual harassment or have been witness to it, please know that there are support structures in place for you to use.
- Contact your year coordinator or medical school student wellbeing and equity officers.
- Whoever you contact will get in touch with you and offer support, and give you information about possible next steps
- If you decide to pursue it, the ANU can assign an Independent investigator to investigate your report. Their findings will only be shared with the Director of the ANU Medical School and Dean of the College of Health and Medicine.
For more information on the definitions, policies and avenues for reporting sexual harassment and discrimination you can refer to the ANU Medical School’s Bullying, Sexual Harassment and Discrimination reference booklet linked here. (Note that access to this document will require wattle login).
ANU Policy and Procedures
Read through the ANU's commitment to providing a safe, supportive and caring environment to all staff and students.
How to lodge a formal complaint
The following is the ANU policy relating to Sexual Harassment and the ANU Procedure on how to lodge a formal complaint and how complaints are resolved:
- Policy: Student Complaint Resolution
- Procedure: Student Complaint Resolution
- Procedure: Prevention of discrimination, harassment and bullying
For any further queries regarding this matter refer to the ANU Reporting Procedures Q&A.
