Gender-based Violence and Student Support

About Disclosure

Disclosing any incident of gender-based violence, including sexual harassment and sexual assault is extremely confronting for the discloser. It can also be confronting if you are a witness to an incident, or you are the person that someone turns to when they disclose an experience of gender-based violence.

If a student discloses gender-based violence to you, it is important that they feel heard. You may be the first person they have disclosed to.

As these incidences are so varied, with different levels of support and intervention required, refer to the “Responding to disclosure” step for guidance.

Responding to Disclosure

Important steps when someone discloses an incident:

Acknowledge – Listen actively to allow the person to share their story at their own pace.
Validate – Listen without judgement or questioning their disclosure. “Thank you for telling me.” Let them know it takes courage to speak up, and that the violence is not their fault. Respond in a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and inclusive way that respects a student’s individual needs, including disability and communication preferences.
Establish safety – Ask if they are in immediate danger and if they have a safe place to go. Consider whether there is any ongoing risk of contact or exposure between the discloser and the other party. If there are immediate safety concerns:
- Contact the Safer Community Team on 08 9266 4444
- If it is an emergency, call 000 for immediate police or ambulance assistance
Refer to support – If safety is established, or if you are with the person making the disclosure (either in person or on the phone), and they give consent, you can help connect them directly with a support service:
- During business hours, contact Student Wellbeing Advisory Service on 1800 244 043
- Outside of these hours, contact the Safer Community Team on 08 9266 4444
If you have received a disclosure but are not currently with the person, please make a referral online or by phone to Student Wellbeing Advisory Service or Safer Community Team.
Once a student is connected with support services, all information will remain confidential, ensuring the person disclosing is protected and supported in a trauma-informed way.
Remember, if you feel unsure or out of your depth when responding to a disclosure or supporting a student, you are not expected to manage this on your own. Curtin has robust teams and processes in place to support students.

A discloser can receive support within Curtin and with external services without making a formal report. If they want to make a formal report, Curtin will support them in this process.

Responding to Respondent

A respondent is a student who has been accused of gender-based violence. Your role is not to investigate or determine what has occurred, but to respond appropriately, and refer the student to the right support.

Important steps when responding to a respondent:

Remain neutral – Listen respectfully without making assumptions or expressing opinions about the allegation.
Set boundaries – Do not discuss details of the disclosure, promise outcomes or speculate on outcomes, processes, or consequences.
Establish safety – Consider whether there are any immediate safety concerns for the respondent or others. If there are immediate safety concerns, contact the Safer Community Team on 08 9266 4444, or if it is an emergency call 000 for immediate police or ambulance assistance.
Refer to support – Advise the student that conduct processes are separate to support services. Encourage the student to access support through:
- the Student Wellbeing Advisory Service on 1800 244 043
- Safer Community Team on 08 9266 4444 or
- Student Assist at Curtin Student Guild.

A respondent can receive support within Curtin and with external services while appropriate processes are underway.

Confidentiality

Support services at Curtin can have an informal conversation with the discloser and talk through their options without going down a formal pathway. The process is guided by the discloser’s choices.

The discloser’s conversation with Curtin’s support services, will be kept confidential. The only circumstances where confidential information would be disclosed without the consent of the individual would be when:

There exists a clear danger to the individual or to others
There exists a legal obligation to do so

You can read more about the confidentiality policy on the Safer Community Team website.

What happens after a disclosure?

The Student Wellbeing Advisory Service or Safer Community Team will help the discloser or respondent to get the right support, even if the incident occurred in the past and/or did not occur on a Curtin campus. To learn about the type of support that these students will receive, please visit the Current Students website:

If you have ongoing concerns for a student after a disclosure, please reach out to the Student Wellbeing Advisory Service or Safer Community Team who can follow up with the student directly.

We recognise that conversations about gender-based violence can be complex and may have an impact on you as a staff member. You are not expected to navigate this on your own, and support is available to you. If you choose, you can access Curtin’s Employee Assistance Provider (EAP), PeopleSense, or reach out to the Employee Wellbeing Team. Further information and contact details are available on the Staff Portal.

Where to go when staff want to make a disclosure?

If you are seeking support, you may contact the Employee Wellbeing Team or access Curtin’s Employee Assistance Provider, PeopleSense. If there are immediate safety concerns, please contact the Safer Community Team. In an emergency, or if urgent police or ambulance assistance is required, call 000.

Managers who receive a disclosure may also contact their Human Resources Business Partner for advice, including assistance with connecting staff to appropriate support options or referring matters to the Workplace Relations Team.

If a staff member wishes to make a formal report of gender‑based violence, this can be done through the Integrity Services Unit (ISU) complaints portal. Reports received via ISU are referred to the Workplace Relations Team for management.

Staff may also choose to access external support, such as 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), for confidential counselling support at any time.

Staff Portal

Reporting Student Safety or Wellbeing Concerns

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What is gender-based violence?

Student disclosure of gender-based violence

Respect at Curtin

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Other Resources

Get support or report an issue