The JCU Respect program
James Cook University is committed to fostering a community that features, at its core, respect, inclusion and safety for all.
The JCU Respect program of activities reflects the University’s commitment to the elimination of sexual harassment and sexual assault and is based on three principles:
- Successful and sustainable change depends on strong and courageous leadership that reverberates through the institution.
- Effective systems are needed to create a safe and supportive response for individuals who experience sexual harassment or sexual assault and to ensure individuals are accountable for their actions.
- Education underpins behaviour change to create a safe, respectful and inclusive culture.
The JCU Respect program serves staff and student communities in an integrated way, rather than differentiating between these communities. The key benefits of a fully integrated approach are consistent and coherent messages, single response pathways, and focused resourcing on prevention actions. JCU’s fully integrated approach is unique within the Australian higher education sector.
For more information about the JCU Respect program, please contact JCU Respect program coordinator, Dr Chris Pam at jcurespect@jcu.edu.au.
Structure of the JCU Respect program
University Council (and Workplace Health and Safety Committee) - Governance |
Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Biggs, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor |
Vanessa Cannon, Chief of Staff – Risk Management and Critical Incidents Professor Debra Miles – Expert Academic Lead. Prevention and Response Dr Ryl Harrison – Strategic Policy Adviser. Prevention and Response
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Prevention | Response |
Respectful Relationships Workshops, JCU Respect online module, Events and Engagement Professor Debra Miles - Academic Lead Dr Chris Pam – Program Coordinator and facilitator
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Sexual Misconduct Officers Vanessa Cannon – Chief of Staff Nola Kuilboer – Deputy Director, Student Services Damian Dunne – Equity & Diversity Consultant HR |
Partnerships | |||
Specialist Sexual Assault Services JCU has MOU with the Specialist Sexual Assault Services in Townsville and Cairns covering prevention and response. | Student Groups The JCU Respect program is engaged with: JCU Respect Student Reference Group JCU Student Association JCU Women’s Collective | Workshop Facilitators JCU retains a small pool of casual facilitators who deliver Respectful Relationship Workshops in the Residential Colleges. | Residential Colleges JCU has MOUs with the 4 Residential Colleges outlining shared approaches to prevention and responses. |
Consistent approach across university enabling functions | |
The JCU Respect program works in an integrated way with other areas in the University who have responsibilities or delegations, such as:
| Response is centralised via Sexual Misconduct Officers who provide a single point of contact to the person affected (or their support person) and a single point of contact for line managers too where this is appropriate. This is an important safeguard to ensure that policy and procedures are enacted consistently and to ensure that response is trauma informed, and victim centred. |
Colleges and Divisions |
Divisional DVCs, College Deans and Directors are responsible for leading activity to address gender inequality and demonstrate JCU’s commitment to the elimination of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the areas of the University they lead. The JCU Respect program provides advice to, but does not replace, this critical activity. |
The JCU Respect Annual Report 2024 is available here.
JCU's Statement of Commitment
James Cook University is committed to fostering a community that features, at its core, respect, inclusion and safety for all. We support gender equality as a foundation for respectful relationships and an underpinning principle for change. This means a strong and enduring commitment to the elimination of sexual harassment and sexual assault.
The urgent need to foster safe, respectful communities free of discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual assault, has gained momentum world wide. Our University recognises that need and is determined to do all we can in our community and in the communities we serve.
As an institution dedicated to education and research, and committed to the communities we serve, we have a special responsibility to critically reflect, and create the change that is required, in order that men and women enjoy equal respect free from sexual violence in all its forms.
We recognise that our values of Excellence; Authenticity; Integrity; Sustainability; Mutual Respect and Discovery can only be fully realised when the contributions of all in our community are recognised, supported and respected.
We recognise that institutional structures and individual behaviours within society, and within our own University, need to change and that change can be immensely challenging. Change requires examining deeply held beliefs and assumptions, and sustained effort.
We recognise the material circumstances of peoples’ lives matter, and that the institutions of our society need constant attention to ensure just and equitable outcomes. Without vigilance, there is risk that some people – by virtue of their identity, ethnicity, sex, abilities, resources or age – are routinely believed, supported and served whilst others are routinely marginalised, disbelieved and forgotten.
In 2017, JCU appointed Elizabeth Broderick AO, former Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner, to review our University's response to sexual harassment and sexual assault. We are committed to strengthening our University by implementing every recommendation of the Broderick Review.
We know that the progress we have made to date, and the progress we need to make, is not possible without the generous and courageous sharing from those who have experienced sexual harassment and sexual assault, and the commitment of all members of our community.
We are committed to strengthening gender equality and playing our part to create the safe and respectful environment that our community deserves, and look to a future when the scourge of sexual violence is comprehensively defeated.
Statement of Commitment to the Elimination of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault - PDF
Reviews and Surveys
In February 2017, JCU engaged former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick AO to comprehensively review the University’s sexual harassment and sexual assault policies and procedures, as well as the University’s culture.
Then Vice Chancellor, Professor Sandra Harding released the review in September 2017 and affirmed JCU's commitment to implementing strong and effective responses to sexual harassment and sexual assault, and fostering a community that features, at its core, respect, inclusion, and safety for all.
The Broderick Review Implementation Working Group was established in late 2017 and worked throughout 2018 to support JCU's response to the report. The Working Group was chaired by Distinguished Professor Helene Marsh.
Broderick Review Implementation Working Group Membership
Broderick Review Implementation Working Group Terms of Reference
As part of its Respect. Now. Always initiative, Universities Australia commissioned the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) to undertake the first national university student survey on sexual assault and sexual harassment.
The Change the Course report can be found on the AHRC website. JCU's table can be downloaded here. AHRC methodology report can be downloaded here.
Then James Cook University Vice Chancellor, Professor Sandra Harding, responded to the findings, and discussed the measures the University's taken to keep students and staff safe.
Almost 1200 students at JCU participated in the National Student Safety Survey in September 2021. The Report on the prevalence of sexual harassment and sexual assault among university students in 2021 was published on 23 March 2022 (see below for links).
The National Student Safety Survey report was published on 23 March 2022.
The James Cook University Infographic can be downloaded here.
The JCU Fact Sheet can be downloaded here.