Respect & Wellbeing Week 2024

This event has passed

Multiple locations
View map below

Free

Join us for Respect and Wellbeing Week at our campuses. Take a break from study and enjoy free activities and giveaways. Find out how VU supports your safety and get answers to important questions about relationships.

Activities across our campuses

: When: Tuesday 3 September, 11am—1pm
Where: Ground Floor, City Tower
Celebrate Respect and Wellbeing Week by enjoying activities including, but not limited to:
decorate your own garden rocks to spruce up your home and garden
enjoy a quick and free 10-minute massage
de-stress while making beaded bracelets with VU Student Union
meet the GenWest Sex and Reproductive Health team and pick up free merch and inspiration
colour and take home your own plantable paper card to start your wildflower collection
check out a pop-up from Trade Anywhere
relax in our sensory-friendly zone and take some time out of class
enjoy fresh fruit provided by the Student Life and Leadership team.
When: Tuesday 3 September, 11am—3pm
Where: City Library, Level 2, City Tower
Celebrate Respect and Wellbeing Week with fun and play in the library:
join a game of Blokus, Uno, Dominoes, Connect 4 or cards
have fun solving a jigsaw puzzle
relax with mindful colouring.
: When: Wednesday 4 September, 11am—1pm
Where: Between buildings 4 and 5, St Albans Campus
Celebrate Respect and Wellbeing Week by enjoying activities including, but not limited to:
decorate your own garden rocks to spruce up your home and garden
enjoy a quick and free 10-minute massage
de-stress while making beaded bracelets with Student Life
create your own art piece with VU Arts and Crafters Society
meet the GenWest Sex and Reproductive Health team and pick up free merch and inspiration
colour and take home your own plant-able paper card to start your wildflower collection
relax in our sensory-friendly zone and take some time out of class
enjoy fresh fruit provided by the Student Life and Leadership team.
When: Wednesday 4 September, 11am—3pm
Where: St Albans Library, Building 7, St Albans Campus
Celebrate Respect and Wellbeing Week with fun in the library:
have fun solving a jigsaw puzzle
relax with mindful colouring.
: When: Thursday 5 September, 11am—1pm
Where: Building P undercroft, Footscray Park Campus
Celebrate Respect and Wellbeing Week by enjoying activities including, but not limited to:
decorate your own garden rocks to spruce up your home and garden
enjoy a quick and free 10-minute massage
drop in to a film screening of The Feminist on Cell Block Y and enjoy free popcorn and a drink
de-stress while making beaded bracelets with VU Student Union
create your own art piece with VU Arts and Crafters Society
colour and take home your own plant-able paper card to start your wildflower collection
check out pop-ups from Trade Anywhere
relax in our sensory-friendly zone and take some time out of class
enjoy fresh fruit provided by the Student Life and Leadership team
attend a leadership masterclass (see below).
When: Thursday 5 September, 11am—3pm
Where: Footscray Park Library, Level 2, Building P, Footscray Park Campus
Celebrate Respect and Wellbeing Week with fun and play in the library:
join a game of Blokus, Uno, Dominoes, Connect 4 or cards
have fun solving a jigsaw puzzle
relax with mindful colouring.
: Title: Leadership Masterclass: Set meaningful goals & bring them to life
Day: Thursday 5 September
Time: 2.30—4.30pm
Location: Footscray Park Campus
This leadership masterclass will help you understand how to set meaningful goals and make a plan to bring them to life. Guest presenter: Joe Bakhmoutski is the author of three books, the most recent being Finding Hope in Times of Uncertainty: A Guide to Thriving in Challenging World of Today.
Register now
: When: Tuesday 10 September, 11:30am—1pm
Where: Inside Building A, Sunshine Campus
Celebrate Respect and Wellbeing Week by enjoying activities including, but not limited to:
decorate your own garden rocks to spruce up your home and garden
enjoy a quick and free 10-minute massage
help build our Respect Wall - submit your answer to a question and receive a café voucher
de-stress while making beaded bracelets with Student Life
create your own art piece with VU Arts and Crafters Society
colour and take home your own plant-able paper card to start your wildflower collection
check out a pop-up from Trade Anywhere
relax in our sensory-friendly zone and take some time out of class
enjoy fresh fruit provided by the Student Life and Leadership team.
When: Tuesday 10 September, 11am—3pm
Where: Sunshine Library, Ground Level, Building A, Sunshine Campus
Celebrate Respect and Wellbeing Week with fun in the library:
have fun solving a jigsaw puzzle
relax with mindful colouring.
: Title: Building a culture of safety and respect at VU
Day: Tuesday 10 Sep 2024
When: 3-4pm
Where: Online
Do you know what respect means and what it means to be an active bystander? If you saw or experienced inappropriate behaviour, would you know where to go for help and support?
Come along to this session and find out:
the role of Safer Community at VU
what services are available and how to access them
what it means to be an Active Bystander
Presenter Kriss Guidotti is the Senior Manager of Integrity & Safer Community at VU. Kriss will cover these topics and ask you what you think could be done to improve awareness and access to the services available to students to help you feel safe during your time at VU.
This session is part of Respect and Wellbeing Week. Take a break from study and enjoy free activities and giveaways. Find out how VU supports your safety and get answers to important questions about relationships.
Register now
: When: Wednesday 11 September, 11:30am—1pm
Where: Inside Building 1 A, Werribee Campus
Celebrate Respect and Wellbeing Week by enjoying activities including, but not limited to:
decorate your own garden rocks to spruce up your home and garden
enjoy a quick and free 10-minute massage
drop in to a film screening of The Feminist on Cell Block Y and pick up a café voucher
de-stress while making beaded bracelets with Student Life
colour and take home your own plant-able paper card to start your wildflower collection
check out a pop-up from Trade Anywhere
relax in our sensory-friendly zone and take some time out of class
enjoy fresh fruit provided by the Student Life and Leadership team.
When: Wednesday 11 September, 11am—3pm
Where: Werribee Library, Ground Level, Building 1 A, Werribee Campus
Celebrate Respect and Wellbeing Week with fun in the library:
• have fun solving a jigsaw puzzle
• relax with mindful colouring.
: When: Thursday 12 September, 11:30am—1pm
Where: Inside Building T, Footscray Nicholson Campus
Celebrate Respect and Wellbeing Week by enjoying activities including, but not limited to:
decorate your own garden rocks to spruce up your home and garden
enjoy a quick and free 10-minute massage
help build our Respect Wall - submit your answer to a question and receive a café voucher
de-stress while making beaded bracelets with Student Life
create your own art piece with VU Arts and Crafters Society
colour and take home your own plant-able paper card to start your wildflower collection
relax in our sensory-friendly zone and take some time out of class
enjoy fresh fruit provided by the Student Life and Leadership team.
When: Thursday 12 September, 11:30am—1pm
Where: Footscray Nicholson Library, Level 2, Building T, Footscray Nicholson Campus
Celebrate Respect and Wellbeing Week with fun in the library:
• have fun solving a jigsaw puzzle
• relax with mindful colouring.
: The SSAF-funded Women’s Self Defence Classes are a supportive and encouraging environment where you'll learn practical techniques to protect yourself in real-life situations.
Our expert instructors will guide you through effective strategies, combining physical skills with mental awareness to ensure you feel secure in any setting. Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your skills, join us to build strength, resilience, and peace of mind.
Book one or multiple sessions. All sessions are Wednesdays, 1—2pm at L008a in the Footscray Park Aquatic and Fitness Centre.
4 September - Stages of Self Defence
11 September - Moving Between Points of Safety
18 September - Being Safe on a Night Out
2 October - Using Transportation Safely
9 October - Being Safe on Holidays
16 October - Prioritising Safety
Register online

Additional support & resources

Check out Consent and Respectful Relationships eLearning (login required), which was co-designed by VU students.

For more support resources, check out list of mental health resources.

Community Support Resources for Mental Health and Wellbeing (PDF, 458.65 KB)

VU cares about your safety. If you have any concerns, please contact Safer Community or visit our safety and respect page.

Submit a question about respect and wellbeing

Do you have a question about your body or about the ins and outs of sex, but don’t know where to find the answer? We are here to help!

Submit your questions

Stay tuned for the answer during Respect Week activities, and after 15 September on the VU Student Union website.

Meet the GenWest Sex and Reproductive Health team at City Tower on Tuesday 3 September and St Albans on Wednesday 4 September, and pick up free information and resources.

Sep 24