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Preventing gender-based violence is a shared responsibility across the UOW community

Gender-based violence support at UOW

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Creating a safe and respectful UOW community is a shared responsibility. We work to prevent gender-based violence by promoting clear expectations of behaviour, encouraging safe action from our community, responding to disclosures, and supporting those impacted.

Get support at UOW

If you or someone you know is impacted by gender-based violence, support is available through鈥�SARC (Safe and Respectful Communities). You can access support whether you choose to make a formal report or not.

Access support

Gender-based violence includes any form of physical or non-physical violence, harassment, abuse, or threats based on gender that cause, or are likely to cause, harm, fear, coercion, control, or loss of autonomy.

It may be directed at an individual or group because of their gender, gender identity, or gender expression, or behaviours. Gender-based violence disproportionately affects women and gender-diverse or LGBTIQA+ people.

Gender-based violence can be physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, social, cultural, spiritual or economic. It may occur as a single incident or as a pattern of behaviour over time. It can happen in person or online and may involve peers, staff, supervisors, partners, family members or others connected to university life.

Examples of gender-based violence

  • Sexual harassment and sexual assault
  • Stalking and cyberstalking
  • Intimate partner, domestic or family violence
  • Coercive control and abuse of power (including misuse of legal, disciplinary, or administrative systems)
  • Technology-facilitated abuse
  • Gender-based bullying or harassment
  • Harmful practices affecting sexual or reproductive health and rights
  • Modern slavery, human trafficking, forced marriage, or forced sex work

Gender鈥慴ased violence affects students, staff, affiliates, and the wider university community. As part of a broader societal issue, universities are not immune to the attitudes and behaviours that enable harm. 

Gender-based violence remains a serious and ongoing issue in universities, with sexual violence and harassment affecting many students.

The 2021 National Student Safety Survey found that:

  • 1 in 20 students had experienced sexual assault since starting university
  • 1 in 6 students had experienced sexual harassment
  • Of students who reported sexual assault to their university, only around 30% were satisfied with the reporting process
  • Women, people with disability, and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities were disproportionately affected

These findings highlight the ongoing need for universities to strengthen prevention, improve reporting and response systems, and ensure meaningful support for those affected. UOW is committed to taking meaningful action to help prevent it and create a safer community for everyone.

The National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence

At UOW, we are embedding the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (National Code), a national framework that sets legally enforceable standards for preventing and responding to gender-based violence in universities. The National Code requires a whole-of-university, trauma-informed, and evidence-based approach, led from the top and applied across all campus environments. The National Code’s 7 standards guide our actions:

  • Leadership and governance – accountable, organisation-wide commitment
  • Safe environments and systems – policies and spaces that protect all
  • Knowledge and capability – training to prevent and respond effectively
  • Safety and support – prioritising wellbeing and access to services
  • Safe processes – accessible, fair, and timely reporting
  • Data, evidence and impact – monitoring and continuous improvement
  • Safe student accommodation – secure residential environments for all

These standards provide a clear framework to strengthen prevention, improve responses, and ensure universities are accountable for student safety. See the website for more information.

UOW’s Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Plan

UOW’s guides the 榴莲视频app’s ongoing approach to prevention and response. 

The Plan outlines UOW’s commitment to: 

  • Strengthen prevention and education 
  • Improve clarity around reporting and support options 
  • Support trauma informed, person-centred responses
  • Build on existing UOW services, policies and programs

If you have any questions about UOW’s work on implementing the National Code, please contact the UOW Gender-based Violence team at nationalcode-gbv@uow.edu.au. 

Get support or report gender-based violence

You are not alone.

Access safe, confidential support and clear guidance if you need to get help with gender-based violence. You can access help whether you choose to make a formal report or not.

  • Safe and Respectful Communities (SARC) are responsible for supporting those who have witnessed or experienced gender-based violence (including sexual, domestic and family violence), harassment, bullying or discrimination. 

There are multiple reporting options available, including anonymous reports. Details are provided on the How to report an incident page. 

  • (1800 737 732) for 24-hour counselling support for people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.
  • (1300 356 218) provides free 24/7 crisis and medical support for anyone in the Illawarra or Shoalhaven.
  • (1800 385 578) for counselling, training and advocacy support for people impacted by sexual, domestic and family violence.
  • (1300 22 46 36) for free and confidential 24-hour counselling for anyone seeking help with their mental health.
  • (1300 78 99 78) for free professional 24-hour counselling support for men with concerns about mental health, relationships, anger management, family violence, stress and suicidal thoughts.
  • (1300 395 775) for free, independent support to resolve higher education student complaints.
  • : a multi-language resource from Redfern Legal Centre about sexual assault.

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Discover UOW鈥檚 ongoing approach to prevention and response

UOW鈥檚 Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Plan 2026-2030 guides the 榴莲视频app鈥檚 ongoing approach to prevention and response.

Get support at UOW

If you or someone you know is impacted by gender-based violence, support is available through SARC (Safe and Respectful Communities). You can access support whether you choose to make a formal report or not.

Access help with SARC