Safety & respect

A core commitment of our Strategic Plan is making VU a thriving place to study and work.

As part of this, we work to build a culture of safety and respect, where students and staff are empowered to become change agents to help stop gender-based violence at the University and in the wider community.

Safer Community is a central point of enquiry, response and support for concerning, threatening or inappropriate behaviour. We provide support at all stages of responding to complex and sensitive situations.

Gender-based violence is a serious social issue driven by gender inequality and enabled by sexist behaviours and attitudes.

Threatening behaviour

National Student Safety Survey

Gender equity

Report a concern

Emergency support

Seek help from Safer Community on and off campus when you

have safety or wellbeing concerns for yourself or someone else
are feeling attacked, harassed, intimidated, bullied or threatened
witness or have information about concerning behaviour
have been raped, think you have been raped, or have been otherwise assaulted.

On campus security (24/7) +61 3 9919 6666

Off campus police & ambulance 000 (triple zero)

Victoria Police: find my local station

: Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
A crisis support service that provides short-term support at any time for people who are having difficulty coping or staying safe.

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
A free, private and confidential phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25 years old.

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
Provides support on a range of mental health issues and is available by phone, online via chat or email.

eheadspace 1800 650 890
Free online and telephone support and counselling for young people aged 12 to 25 years old, their families and friends.

Sane Australia
1800 187 263
Free onlineand telephone support and counselling for all aged people and their families and friends.

Suicide Call Back Service
1300 659 467
Offers free professional 24/7 telephone counselling support to people at risk of suicide, concerned about someone at risk, bereaved by suicide and people experiencing emotional or mental health issues.

Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) – Crisis Line 1800 806 292
A state-wide, after-hours, confidential, telephone crisis counselling service for people who have experienced both past and recent sexual assault.

1800 Respect 1800 737 732
Provides confidential sexual assault and family and domestic violence counselling via phone and webchat. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Safe Steps 1800 015 188
Victoria’s 24/7 family violence response centre for confidential crisis support, information and accommodation.

MensLine Australia:
1300 78 99 78
Website: mensline.org.au

QLife
1800 184 527
Website: qlife.org.au referral service for LGBTQ people

Report a concern

If you or someone you know has experienced or witnessed any inappropriate or concerning behaviour, you can report it - either anonymously, or with contact details.

Please do not hesitate to report an incident or concern, even if you think you don't have enough information for Safer Community to action immediately.

Fill in our form by clicking the button below to report your issue. Your report will be recorded and reviewed, and appropriate action taken.

Access the report form

You will receive support and follow up as per the steps below.

: The information you give us on this form will be shared with a small group of staff from Safer Community who will assess how best the University can respond.

If you are a student, we will not share your report with anyone else unless one of these applies:

you provide us with your consent

there are very serious safety concerns and we are legally obligated to act immediately.
: Usually, the senior coordinator or another member of Safer Community will contact you to discuss what can be done, within three University working days.

Safer Community will not normally take action without consulting you, nor treat your report as a complaint until we have contacted you.

If, however, there are serious safety and wellbeing concerns raised by your report we may need to take urgent action without asking you first. This may include notifying other people about what you’ve told us (such as Victoria Police and other staff within the University).

This is to make sure people are safe and protected, and to comply with our legal duties.
: A senior coordinator or another member of Safer Community will provide you with support, advice and guidance.

The Safer Community member will contact you to:

gather additional information

develop an action plan or safety plan for you

provide you with a referral to internal or external support services

help you to understand your options, and if you choose to formalise your report to the University they will walk you through the process.

Personal safety tips

There are things you can do for the safety of yourself and others, including on and off campus, and online.

Personal Safety fact sheet (PDF, 599.9 KB)

Building Respectful Futures Together strategy (PDF, 2.4 MB)

What to do

Helping others

Remember your safety first. Help others only if it is safe to do so.

If you see something concerning there are things you can do to help:

ask the person if they are OK or they need help
draw attention to the situation, for example tell a threatening person to stop, or bring their behaviour to other people’s attention
seek assistance from others, especially staff, security or police
call for help, security on campus (9919 6666) or emergency services off campus (000).

External resources for helping others

: Sexual assault and sexual harassment are very common. If your friend, classmate or colleague tells you about unwanted sexual contact, there are some simple things you can do that will really help.

On campus

Download the VU SAFE app

Safer Community: +61 3 9919 5707

Student Counselling: +61 3 9919 5400

Security: +61 3 9919 4999 (Emergency +61 3 9919 6666)

If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

Other resources

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732): National helpline for advice and support about sexual assault. They can connect you with appropriate services wherever you are. Live chat also available at 1800respect.org.au

Western Region Centre Against Sexual Assault (WestCASA): Counselling and crisis support in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Call +61 3 9216 0444 (After hours: 1800 806 292)

inTouch: Provides services and support to migrants and refugees. Call 1800 755 988

Q Life: Provides peer support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people and their friends, families and allies. Call 1800 184 527

Djirra: Provides culturally safe and accessible services to Aboriginal people seeking support. Call 1800 105 303

Women's Information & Referral Exchange (WIRE): Any woman, any issue - free support, referral and information for all Victorian women, non-binary and gender diverse people. Call 1300 134 130.

VU free support services

Accessibility services

Student welfare

Student Advocacy

VU online training for safety, equality & respect

The Respect and Responsibility online training is part of the University’s Building Respectful Futures Together strategy.

Our aim is to challenge gender stereotyping and help change behaviours and attitudes related to everyday sexism, sexual assault and sexual harassment.

: Online training for students is located in Collaborate.

Please contact us for alternative access options if you or your students are not able to access Collaborate.

Please note that the training is best accessed on a desktop or laptop computer – it is not optimised for mobile devices. The training consists of:

Consent and Respectful Relationships

Bystander Awareness and Action

These resources were co-designed with students and feature practical strategies, meaningful true-to-life scenarios, relevant video content and opportunities for reflection and commitment. The training has won several awards and is highly rated by students.
: Online training for staff is available in VU Develop. Please contact us for alternative access options if you or your staff are not able to access VU Develop.

Staff training includes:

Sexual harassment and sexual assault – how can staff respond? Provides training on the knowledge required for supportively responding to disclosures from students or colleagues.

Bystander Awareness and Action online module for staff teaches practical strategies for challenging everyday sexism.

The Respect and Responsibility training complements the University’s Sexual Harassment Response Policy and Procedure and Sexual Assault Response Policy and Procedure, which prioritise the experiences of victims and survivors, and affirm that disclosures or formal reports of sexual harm will receive a supportive and believing response from our staff.

Face-to-face training for both student and staff groups is also available on request.

Email [email protected] if you would like to know more, or if you are having any difficulties accessing the online training.

VU Safe mobile app

VU Safe is the free, official mobile safety app of Victoria University. The app is packed with safety information, tools and features to keep you safe on campus.

VU Safe is free to download.

Download for Android Download for Apple

: Emergency alert

In an emergency press the Emergency Alert to call Campus Security and allow them to view your location on a map in real-time.

Safety notifications

Receive push notifications alerting you to safety and emergency information on campus, including building or campus evacuations.

Emergency contacts

Immediately contact emergency services with the push of a button. On campus you can contact Campus Security and request first aid assistance. Off campus you can contact Emergency Services 000 (triple zero).Friend walk

Have a friend virtually watch over you as you walk.

Tap the button and select a contact, they’ll receive a message with a link to view a map and track your location. Pick your destination, and start walking.

If you need help just hit a button to notify your friend and start an emergency call. When you get to your destination safely, just tap the button to end the call.

Request security escort

Send a request to Campus Security officers, who can walk you to and from buildings, public transport or to your vehicle on campus. You can make a call or book using the enquiry form in advance.

Report a concern

Report a concern to Campus Security or Safer Community. You take a photo or video and send it directly through the app, call Campus Security or report online.

Safety toolbox

The toolbox has the VU Shuttle Bus timetables, as well as safety tools, including a flash light and safety notification history.