Support

The University provides accessible and non-discriminatory support options for members of the community who have experienced or witnessed sexual assault, sexual harassment, bullying and harassment and other forms of inappropriate behaviour.

Information is available on how to respond if someone comes to you with a report of misconduct. If this is an emergency, please visit the emergency contacts page for immediate assistance.

Emergency contacts

For staff and titleholders For students For volunteers, visitors and contractors How to respond

For staff and titleholders 

Options include:

  • counselling through the University’s Employee Assistance Program
  • assistance in making a report 
  • assistance through the process of an investigation or misconduct process
  • assistance in making an external report to the police or other external agency
  • precautionary measures in order to minimise the potential for harm to any person 

For Students

Options include:

  • counselling through the University’s Counselling Support  or referral to other support services
  • assistance in making a report 
  • assistance through the process of an investigation or misconduct process
  • assistance in making an external Report to the police or other external agency 
  • reasonable measures in order to minimise the potential for harm to any person including, but not limited to: 
    • class timetable changes
    • academic adjustments
    • placement reassignment
    • temporary remote learning or working arrangements. 

  • Counselling

    Student Life Counselling Support is free, confidential and available to all enrolled students.

    Counselling Support provides a safe place for you to seek support and practical advice if you have been subjected to sexual misconduct or any other unacceptable behaviour.

    We have a dedicated Specialist Sexual Violence Counsellor who trains (and is consulted by) all of our fully qualified counselling staff. This ensures you are getting the best care in navigating the effects of sexual harm and to discuss your options (e.g. reporting and seeking further help and support). 

    Access counselling

    Urgent Support - University Crisis Line

    Weekdays 5pm - 9am,
    Weekends and public holidays 24 hrs
    Tel:1300 167 654 or text +61 488 884 197
    (Offshore students - use the text number for contacting the University Crisis Line during the designated hours)  

  • Additional support resources for students

    Academic Support 

    Medical Support 

    University Health Practice  
    Ground Floor, Horace Lamb Building, North Terrace Campus +61 8 8313 5050 

    Pharmacy on campus 

    Closest pharmacies are in Rundle Mall (to North Terrace Campus) 
    Late night pharmacy: 
    Midnight Pharmacy on Wakefield St 
    +61 8 8232 4445 

    Housing/Accommodation 

    Accommodation Service 
    Level 4, Hub Central, North Terrace Campus 
    +61 8 8313 5220 

    Financial Assistance 

    Student Care  
    +61 8 8313 5430 

    Legal Assistance 

    Student Care free legal service
    +61 8 8313 5430 

    Student Representative Council 

    SRC Members 
    (inc. Women’s, Queer, Postgraduate, International, Disability, Rural, Welfare & Mature Age) 

    Student case workers 

    Student Care – Education and Welfare Officers
    +61 8 8313 5430 

    Women’s officers 

    Student Representative Council

    LGBTIQ students 

    Safer Campus Community – LGBTIQ*

    Disability Support 

    Disability Support 
    Level 6, Hughes Building, North Terrace Campus 
    +61 8 313 5962 

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students 

    Wirltu Yarlu 
    Schulz Building, North Terrace Campus 
    +61 8 8313 3625 

    International Student Support 

    International Student Support 
    Level 6, Hughes Building, North Terrace Campus 
    +61 8 8313 4828 

    Postgraduate research students 

    Adelaide Graduate Research School (AGRS)
    Level 10, Schulz Building, North Terrace 
    +61 8 8313 5882 

  • SASH Information Network

    The Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Information Network (SASHIN) is made up of University of Adelaide staff who are committed to ensuring the University is a safe and respectful environment.

    SASHIN members are trained staff members who can provide students with information about their options relating to support services and reporting processes. 

    SASHIN members will:

    • Listen without judgement
    • Refer students to relevant support services 
    • Provide information about reporting processes
    • Respect the student’s right to make their own decisions
    • Complete de-identified reporting via Safer Campus Community website

    SASHIN members will not:

    • Provide counselling services
    • Undertake investigations

    Training  provided to SASHIN:

    • First Responder Training
    • Consent Matters training (online)
    • Other training as required (includes updates by SASHIN co-ordinator)

    Support Provided:

    • Ongoing support through SASHIN coordinator
    • Yearly event with SASHIN members
    • Other networking opportunities as available
    • EAP provider (CHG)

    SASHIN Members

  • Rape and sexual assault

  • Domestic violence

    The following specialist external resources are available:

    •  
    • Police – 000 (for emergency only)
       
    • National domestic family and sexual violence counselling service - 24 hours: 1800 737 732 (1800 RESPECT)
       
    • South Australian Domestic Violence Helpline - 24/7 free confidential crisis service support: 1800 800 098  
       
    • Crisis Care: 131 611  
       
    • Women’s Safety Services SA:1800 800 098 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) Provides support to women and their children experiencing Domestic and family violence
       

    • Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline - 24/7 free confidential counselling line – 1800 497 212

    • Migrant Women’s Support Program - support for migrant women and their children who experienced domestic violence – 08 8152 9260

    • MensLine Australia - 24/7 free confidential service for men who have concerns of their mental health or experience difficulties in their relationships: 1300 78 99 78
       
    • No to Violence - 7 days confidential service for men who have or are still behaving abusively – 1300 766 491

  • Suicide and mental health emergencies

  • Other

    General:

    • For services in South Australia - SA Health
    • For sexual health and relationship wellbeing in South Australia - Shine SA

    Support for men:

    Support for LGBTQI*: 

    • LGBTIQ+ Violence Service (National): 1800 497 212
    • QLife anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people in Australia: 1800 184 527

    Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders:

    Migrant and refugee services:

Volunteers, visitors and contractors

Registered volunteers are able to access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

Volunteers, visitors and contractors are also able to access a number of external support services.

How to respond

What to do if someone in the University community informs you that they have experienced behavioural misconduct, including sexual misconduct.

Often individuals who have experienced behavioural misconduct, including sexual misconduct, will approach a trusted member of the University community to disclose what has happened to them. Providing support and assistance to an individual in these circumstances can have a positive impact on their experience. This information is designed to assist you to know what to say and how to respond in these circumstances.

This quick reference postcard may help you provide first responder support to staff, colleagues, students or peers. This can be printed or downloaded onto your desktop.

Those at the university who are in a leader/supervisor role may also find this information sheet on demonstrating supportive behaviours helpful. 

However, you should be mindful of the impact providing this support may have on you personally and if you are not in a position to provide support yourself, encourage the person to look at the relevant sections on this page support options suitable for them. 

  • 1. Provide immediate support 

    Suggestions of what to say or do if someone makes a disclosure or report to you: 

    • Find a safe and private space to speak with them. 

    • If you feel comfortable to do so then, listen without judgement or without interrupting whilst they tell you what has happened to them. 

    • Allow them to express how they feel, acknowledge any emotional impact they are expressing and reflecting the words they use to describe the incident. 

    • Ask about their safety – psychological and physical – on and off campus.  

    • Let them know you are sorry this has happened to them and state that it is not their fault. 

    • Tell them you will do what you can to help them.

    • Provide them with information about the University's support services. 

    • Explain they have options and are in control of what to do next, including making a report or disclosure to the University, and/or reporting to the police. Disclosures can be made anonymously.   

    • Support them to be linked into the correct person to further discuss what they want to have happen next.  

    The University offers regular face to face Brief Recognise and Respond (to SASH disclosures) training for both staff and students, which provides education and guidance on what to do if someone makes a report or disclosure to you.

    ‘Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault: What are the drivers and how can staff respond’ staff training is available to all staff via MyUni and is a mandatory induction module for all new fixed term and continuing University staff.  

  • 2. Report the incident to the University (identified or deidentified) 

    The University wants to know what has happened to allow us to address the issue where appropriate and ensure appropriate support is provided to the person who has made the report. The Integrity Unit is the central area for raising these concerns and will ensure that appropriate support is provided to the individual. 

    A report means a disclosure or a complaint of misconduct.

    A disclosure is made by a person who is seeking support or wants to report the incident, and who does not want the University to take action in response to their report at this time.

    A complaint is a report made by an individual that wants the University to take action. 

    For staff who have a student come to them to report an incident

    • Advise the student that you will notify the Integrity Unit with the information they have provided and reassure them that you will not disclose their personal information without their consent. 

      • If they are comfortable with their identity being provided, staff at the Integrity Unit will contact them with more information about their options.  

      • If they are not comfortable with you providing their identity to the Integrity Unit, you should make a deidentified report to the Integrity Unit by contacting the Integrity Unit on 8313 0609 or e-mail integrityunit@adelaide.edu.au.

    • If they prefer, they can report the matter to the Integrity Unit directly by completing the online form on the Safer Campus Community website, or by phone 8313 0609 or email integrityunit@adelaide.edu.au. 

    For staff who have another staff member come to them to report an incident

    • Provide immediate support as outlined above in part 1  

    • If you have management responsibility for the staff member raising the concern, or for the person the report is about, you can receive the report from the staff member on behalf of the University. Advise the staff member that you will notify the information they’ve provided to the Integrity Unit and they will be contacted with more information about their options.   

    • If they prefer, they can report the matter to the Integrity Unit directly by completing the online form, or by phone or email. 

    • If they are not comfortable with you providing their identity to the Integrity Unit, you should make a deidentified report to the Integrity Unit.  

    • If you do not have management responsibility for the staff member raising the concern, or for the person the report is about, encourage the staff member to consider reporting the matter to the University by completing the online form, by contacting the Integrity Unit by phone or by email, or by reporting the matter to a trusted line manager or HR Advisor. 

    • If you are unsure what to do, you can contact the Integrity Unit via e-mail integrityunit@adelaide.edu.au or via phone on 8313 0609.

    For students who have a student come to them to report an incident

    • Provide support as outlined above in part 1 
    • If students have a friend or peer tell them about an incident, they should encourage the student to visit this Safer Campus Community website for reporting and support options, including both on and off campus.

Debriefing 

If someone has disclosed their experience of sexual misconduct to you, you may find it helpful to talk to an appropriately qualified person afterwards. Debriefing is an opportunity to receive emotional and psychological support following a stressful event. 

Students can access the University counselling service and staff can access the Employee Assistance Program, or both staff and students can call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for phone or web based debrief support or counselling.