Safety and Wellbeing Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Make a Report

Make a Report

Reporting an Incident of Sexual Misconduct to JCU

We acknowledge that reporting sexual harassment or sexual assault can be a difficult decision, and that a person must feel safe and confident that any report they make will be treated appropriately. JCU’s policy and procedures are designed to put the wellbeing and needs of the person who has been subjected to sexual harassment or sexual assault first, and will act in line with their wishes.

We encourage any person to report any incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault by, or toward, a member of the University community. It is possible to make an anonymous report to JCU, and it is possible to make a report without identifying any other person/people involved.

Reports enable JCU to identify patterns (in behaviours or in areas of the University) and monitor progress towards eliminating sexual harassment and sexual assault. If the identity and contact details of the person subjected to the sexual harassment or sexual assault are provided in the report, information provision and support to that person can be facilitated.

JCU will act in line with the wishes of the person who has been subjected to sexual harassment or sexual assault, if that person has been identified (see 'who sees the report for exceptional circumstances where JCU may be required to act otherwise). In all cases, the incident will be confidentially recorded. The Sexual Misconduct Officers can discuss options for addressing the problem. For example with sexual harassment, depending on what the person wishes, the options could include:

  • taking no immediate action;
  • the supervisor, or next level manager, or College Dean, resetting expectations about the offending behaviour with the other person/people;
  • the requirement for the other person/people to undertake internally provided training;
  • an apology being made;
  • a complaint being made.

The report will only be accessed by the Sexual Misconduct Officers. Information provided will be confidentially managed, stored and archived in accordance with JCU’s Discrimination, Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy, Record Management and Information Privacy Policies. Reports are kept strictly confidential except in exceptional and very limited circumstances, for example, where there is an immediate and serious risk to others. In such circumstances, JCU may either a) elevate the report to a complaint, or b) notify third parties, such as the Police or child protection authorities.

Making a report is different to making a complaint. A complaint may involve an investigation, and University disciplinary processes may be taken against a Respondent. Sexual Misconduct Officers can advise and provide options about making a complaint as set out in the Sexual Harassment Procedure, and the Sexual Assault Procedure.

You are able to make an anonymous report but the actions that are possible in response to anonymous reports are limited.

Sexual Misconduct Officers can assist people to access support, and/or make a report or complaint in line with the Bullying, Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and the  JCU Sexual Harassment Procedure. and JCU Sexual Assault Procedure

It is always up to the person who has been subjected to the sexual harassment or sexual assault to decide if they wish to report to Police. The specialist Sexual Assault Services can provide support in making that decision. (Note: there are exceptional and very limited circumstances when JCU may make a report directly to Police, for example, if there is an immediate and serious risk to others).

If the person who is the victim/survivor is under 18 years of age, JCU has legal mandatory reporting obligations to notify Police, please contact a Sexual Misconduct Officer for immediate advice.

You can report sexual assault or sexual harassment to Queensland Police at any time. It is possible to make an anonymous report to Police.

Who can make a Report

We encourage any person to report any incident of sexual harassment or sexual assault by, or toward, a member of the University community.

You can:

Report an incident that you have been subjected to. You are able to, but do not have to, identify yourself or the other people involved in the incident. You are able to provide as much or as little information as you feel comfortable to share.

Report an incident that someone has disclosed to you. You should advise the person who has disclosed to you that you are providing a report.  You must NOT provide details that could identify the person unless you have their consent to do so.

Report an incident that you are aware of through other means, for example, you were a bystander, or have been made aware of indirectly, (such as sexual harassment that happened to someone else in a lecture that you attended, or a sexual assault being shared on social media) you can provide any details without approaching or contacting the people who are directly impacted or involved.

Click here to report an incident