JCU Respect Now Always, Training, Workshops and Events
JCU has a comprehensive suite of initiatives involving staff and student communities designed to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and sexual assault. This work is led by the Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Biggs through the Chief of Staff, Vanessa Cannon, and is operationalised university-wide.
JCU Respect online module
JCU Respect is an online module addressing sexual harassment and sexual assault that all students and staff are required to complete. The module provides introductory content on recognising a problem (including basic consent/bystander behaviours), responding to disclosures by others, referring to appropriate support services, and reporting to the University and other agencies.
All students and staff are automatically enrolled into the module, and will find it listed under the subjects tab after logging into LearnJCU.
The module includes discussion of sexual harassment and sexual assault. If you feel unable to complete the module for personal reasons you can contact a Sexual Misconduct Officer to arrange a confidential exemption.
Workshops
Professor Deb Miles is the academic lead for JCU Respect prevention and response work. Respectful Relationships workshops at JCU are facilitated by Professor Deb Miles, Dr Chris Pam, and Mike Stipis. JCU Respect Academic Facilitators work closely with JCU Respect Student Facilitators in the design and delivery of workshops to students. In additional to facilitating workshops, JCU Respect Facilitators (both academic and student) are available to assist any staff or student groups with ideas and resources relating to prevention work. Email jcurespect@jcu.edu.au for information.
JCU Respect Student Reference Group are an integral component of JCU’s commitment to creating change. JCU Respect Student Reference Group are students who are passionate about facilitating conversations for change around the issues of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Students are involved in the design and delivery of workshops, they can provide support to student clubs and societies, and they directly create opportunities for formal and informal conversations. The Student Reference Group currently comprises 10 students, both undergraduate and postgraduate.
For more information about the Reference Group or to be involved in the group please contact Dr Ryl Harrison or Dr Chris Pam, jcurespect@jcu.edu.au, tel: 4781 6259.
JCU Respectful Relationships Workshops – Student Leaders is a practical, interactive communication workshop that explores issues of gender relationships and sexuality, consent and ethics in contemporary Australian society. The training busts common myths about sexual harassment and assault – and equips you to set boundaries on your own and other people’s behaviours – as active participants and bystanders. You will learn how to provide strong leadership in setting high expectations for behaviour in your residential college community, and also how to refer people to the right supports and make a report if needed.
JCU Respectful Relationships Workshops - Residential Students is a 2 hour practical, interactive workshop that explores issues of gender relationships and sexuality, consent and ethics in contemporary Australian society. The training busts some common myths about sexual harassment and assault – and equips you to set boundaries on your own and other people’s behaviours – as active participants and bystanders. You will learn how to create a fun, strong and safe residential college community. Training is held across different sessions during O-Week and Week 1 and 2 of Study Period 1. Your residential college will advise what session you need to attend.
JCU Respectful Relationships Workshops - "Let’s Talk Respect” is our newest JCU Respect workshop that all students who have lived on campus for more than 1 year are required to do. In the workshop we explore what’s needed from residents and residential leaders in order that our college communities feel safe, and where sexism, sexual harassment and sexual assault have no place at all. This workshop digs into the topics you’ve told us you want to talk more about – setting and respecting boundaries, alcohol and drugs and consent, and how to talk to, and challenge, your friends about these issues. This workshop runs every second year (2021, 2023) with alternative panel discussion formats held in 2022 and 2024. Your residential college will advise what session you need to attend.
JCU Respectful Relationships Workshops - HDR Candidates is a compulsory, practical, interactive workshop that explores issues of gender, power, relationships, consent and ethics in contemporary Australian society, with particular relevance to HDR candidates. The workshop addresses issues of sexist behaviours, sexual harassment and assault, and equips you to recognise and respond to situations within the research environment. The workshops run by zoom with 20 – 25 participants, and you will need a good internet connection, working camera and speaker to participate. Candidates book workshops HERE
.JCU Respectful Relationships Workshops – Advisors is a compulsory, practical, interactive workshop that explores issues of gender, power, relationships, consent and ethics in contemporary Australian society, with particular relevance to research supervision. The workshop addresses sexual harassment and assault, safeguarding practices, and adviser obligations to ensure a safe and respectful research training environment. The workshops run by zoom with 20 – 25 participants, and you will need a good internet connection, working camera and speaker to participate. Advisors book workshops HERE.
This is a higher level training on how to respond, refer, report for cases of sexual harassment and sexual assault. It is pitched at those people most likely to be sought out because of their designated positions, including Residential College Staff; Student Facing Support Staff; Deans, Directors and Managers. Training is 1 hour face-to-face. To enquire about the training please email vc@jcu.edu.au.
This free 1 hour webinar hosted by MATES gives excellent, practical advice on how to respectfully challenge problematic behaviour.
As effective bystanders, holding people accountable for any form of violence, abuse or problematic behaviour is confronting. Shaan and Anoushka discuss some strategies that will assist proactive bystanders to challenge behaviour effectively and respectfully.
In this webinar, we cover:
- Why it is important to challenge problematic behaviour
- The barriers we face, and how we can overcome them
- How to address controlling behaviour, sexism, racism, disrespect in the workplace and harmful attitudes
- Bystander self-care and where to from here
Remember, being an effective bystander doesn’t require confrontation or accusation. It is about challenging people to consider the impact of their behaviour on others and sending a message of accountability to enable them to do so. It is not easy, but it is worth it.
Events
JCU supports the Townsville Sexual Assault Support Service and the Cairns Sexual Assault Service to promote awareness raising activities during Sexual Violence Awareness Month.
2022
Reclaim the Night
Townsville: Friday 28 October, 4.30pm, meet outside The Women's Centre, 118 Charles Street, Aitkenvale. Banner Making and screen printing for women happening every Thursday in October (Thursday in Black) from 2.30pm - 4.30pm. Evening workshops on Thursday 13th & 27 October from 5 - 7pm. Tshirt provided .
Cairns: Friday 28 October, 6pm - 7pm. Cairns Lagoon Plaza (The Esplanade, opposite McDonalds). BYO : Voice, placards, drums and noisemakers. Key note speaker Professor Caroline Taylor AM, exhilarating performance from local First Nations musician Dizzie Doolan playing her hit “Strictly Women’s Business” and “Won’t Take It No More”. After Party: 7.30pm at Miss Chief Bar with Pink Noise.
2021
Reclaim the Night
Townsville: Friday 29 October, 5pm, Meet outside the Women's Centre, Corner of Nathan and Charles Street, Aitkenvale. All Women Welcome.
Cairns: Friday 29 October, 6pm - 7pm. Corner of Shields and Lake Streets, Cairns CBD (in front of Cairns City Tattoo). March route: Lake Street to Spence Street to Abbott S, to Shields Street to Lake Street. Dress Purple. BYO: Voice, placards, drums and noisemakers.
2020
Reclaim the Night
Townsville: Meet outside the Townsville Women's Centre at 118 Charles Street, Aitkenvale 4814 at 4.30pm on Friday 30 October
Cairns: Cnr Shields and Lake Streets, near Cairns Museum, 6pm - 7pm
2019
In 2019 we hosted the Tears Tell Stories artwork. The art was created by Karen Doolan.
"When we cry we are healing, every tear has a story and it can tell us when
we are sad, happy, angry, and all the other emotions that come with tears,
we need to cry as this is part of life and human nature also to relieve our
self so we don't get sick,its ok to cry let it all go don't be shame to cry people
need to know how you feel, you always feel better after you had a cry
this is how we were made.
The symbols shaped like a u shape represent women sitting around the are
and the u shape on its own is a women who is sitting alone, the tracks leading
to the other women mean its time to sit with the elders who are always there
for us when we need them, they are waiting for us to go to them when we need
them and we think we know everything but we don't, we will always need our elders
for wisdom.
The women figures in the far corner are angels who are always watching
and will always be there for us in spirit.
This is the story of the artwork so I hope you are happy with it, I felt that people
do not cry enough as they don't want people to know how they are feeling it
seems that society tells us that this is not appropriate and it upsets others, so
people tend to cry alone and this is were we need to be with someone, we don't
need to say anything just hold them when they cry.
In aboriginal culture when there is sorry business or sadness women whale (sic)
and are not ashamed to cry."
In Cairns, the Department of Child Safety, Youth & Women, and the Cairns Sexual Assault Service hosted a screening of The Bystander Moment on the 29 October for regional services providers.
2018
In 2018, JCU hosted the 'What were you wearing' art installation, curated by the Townsville Sexual Assault Support Service, on the Townsville Campus.
We also participated in the Lifting the Lid on Institutional Sexual Abuse Forum held by the Cairns Sexual Assault Service.
The Bystander Moment - Screening and Discussion sessions
During 2022, we will be hosting screenings with discussion of The Bystander Moment. The documentary explores the role of bystanders, especially friends, teammates, classmates, and co-workers—in perpetuating sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other forms of gender violence. The film also gives special attention to the peer culture dynamics -- in particular the male peer culture dynamics across race and ethnicity -- that help to normalize sexism and misogyny while silencing other men in the face of abuse.
The film goes for 49 minutes. All staff and students welcome. To organise a screening in your area email jcurespect@jcu.edu.au
The film can also be watched by any staff member or student, here
Nina Funnell - February and May 2019
Nina Funnell, anti-sexual assault advocate and author, and winner of 2017 Walkley Our Watch award and 2017 United Nations Media Award, spoke to student leaders of The John Flynn College in February (prior to O week) and gave the keynote presentation at The John Flynn Council Dinner (attended by 240 students and guests) in May.
Bri Lee - July 2019
Bri Lee is the author of Eggshell Skull - and gave the Colin Roderick Memorial Lecture in Cairns on Wednesday 17 July, and Townsville on Thursday 18 July.
Melinda Tankard Reist - July 2019
Melinda Tankard Reist delivered the lecture Sexuality, Porn Culture, Relationships and You! in July for residential college students.
Drawing from current global literature on sexualisation, objectification and porn culture - and supported by compelling personal testimony from students – writer, speaker and campaigner Melinda Tankard Reist explored with residential college students how entrenched and normalized cultural practices contribute to a distorted view of bodies, relationships and sexuality, impacting on the development of respectful physical, emotional and social relationships between people. Melinda unpacked how the proliferation and globalization of hyper-sexual images and messages position young men to develop a sense of entitlement to the bodies of women and girls, and young women to think they exist merely for male pleasure and gratification. Melinda explored how pornography eroticises and legitimises violence against women and related young women’s experiences of sexual harassment and sexual assault in responding to this culture of objectification.