Support for respondents

If you have been named in a disclosure or report related to sexual or gender-based violence, you will be contacted by a Respect or Respect@Work Officer. The Officer will be different from the one supporting the individual who made the disclosure. This approach ensures fairness, neutrality and trauma informed support for everyone involved.

What the Respect and Respect@Work Officers can do

• Provide a support guide that outlines the next steps
• Provide information about your rights and responsibilities
• Work with you to develop a support plan (if required)
• Maintain contact with you throughout the process
• Provide information about support options, including 
  • Student Counselling
  • Chaplaincy
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • External support services

The Officer is not an advocate for you or any other party. Their role is to support your wellbeing, help you understand the process and provide clear, consistent information.

Procedural fairness

The University is committed to ensuring that any process involving students follows principles of procedural fairness. This means:

• You will be informed if a formal allegation relating to your conduct is made.
• You will be given the opportunity to respond to information or concerns that relate to you.
• Decisions will be based on available information, assessed impartially.
• You will be treated respectfully and without presumption, noting that being named in a disclosure or report does not mean that wrongdoing has occurred.
• Support is available to you throughout the process, regardless of the outcome.

These principles are designed to ensure a fair, respectful and transparent experience. You are encouraged to ask questions at any time if anything is unclear.