UNSW Gendered Violence Portal
You can access specialist support from a team of mental health clinicians for any gendered violence issue – big or small, on campus or off campus.
Sexual assault, sexual harassment and relationship violence are all gendered violence that can affect the UNSW community.
If you or someone you know has experienced gendered violence, the UNSW Gendered Violence Portal (GV Portal) offers support and reporting options.
The Gendered Violence Response Team (GVRT), a specialist team of mental health clinicians at UNSW Psychology and Wellness, responds to reports from students and the public, while Safer Communities manages staff reports. They can explain your options and provide tailored support.
Find out more about gendered violence and related behaviours.
Privacy and confidentiality
Your privacy is important to us. Any information you share will remain confidential and only be shared with your permission. In extremely rare situations, such as when there’s an immediate risk of harm or legal obligation for the University to act, your information may be shared without your consent. We will always inform you first and discuss what information will be shared.
Anonymous reporting
You can make an anonymous report through the GV Portal, without identifying anyone involved. If you choose to remain anonymous, you can still discuss your report with the Gendered Violence Response Team (GVRT) by logging back into the portal.
Why use the GV Portal?
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The GV portal allows you to report incidents of gendered violence, even as a witness or bystander. Reporting helps UNSW understand campus culture and take appropriate action such as raising awareness or delivering education initiatives.
If you choose to report anonymously and don’t request any action, your disclosure will be treated as a report. Your input helps the university to work towards creating a safer and more inclusive place for everyone.
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Get support
By reaching out to the GV Portal, you’ll be connected with the Gendered Violence Response Team a specialist team of mental health clinicians.
We’re here to listen and support you through your experience and options. There are multiple ways we can support you and help keep you safe, including:
- Internal counselling with specialists in gendered violence support.
- Referrals to external services.
- Guidance through UNSW’s complaints process.
- Academic adjustments to support your studies.
- Safety planning for courses and campus.
- Personal safety plans.
- Information about police and criminal justice processes.
- Advocacy and limited crisis accommodation support.
- Connection to criminology specialist.
Other supports will be offered based on individual needs.
UNSW Complaints Management and Investigations Policy and Procedure
If you want to make a complaint about gendered violence, we will follow the UNSW Complaints Policy (link).
The process begins by assessing if your complaint fits within relevant UNSW policies. The Gendered Violence Response team or Conduct and Integrity Office will inform you of your options and next steps.
You also have the option to make a complaint to external organisations like:
UNSW can continue to support you throughout the process if you choose.
Information for staff, supporters and individuals
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If you’re a staff member who has experienced gendered violence, there are several ways you can get support. You can reach out through the GV Portal, make a report on Salus psychosocial module, or contact your manager or the Human Resources (HR) Business Partner for your area.
If you are experiencing family or relationship violence, you may be eligible for extra paid leave so that you can seek legal advice, moving or attending court. For more information, visit the HR Hub or reach out to the relevant HR team.
In addition to UNSW services, you also have access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support, as well as a range of external services listed on our support page.
Supporting someone experiencing gendered violence
Your response to someone disclosing an experience of gendered violence is important. Your response can help them feel safer, and to access support.
You are not expected to investigate any disclosures, solve the situation, nor are you expected to provide counselling or advice.
A few simple actions can help them feel safer and more likely to connect with support services.
What to do if someone discloses to you:
1. Listen respectfully
2. Validate the impact the experience has had on them - do not deny, minimise, or question them.
3. Check if they feel unsafe at home or on campus. If they have current concerns about their safety, you will need to ask UNSW support staff to check in with them to manage safety. You can use the GV Portal to refer to UNSW support staff, or contact UNSW Psychology and Wellness services directly, for very urgent concerns.
4. If there are no current safety concerns identified, offer to connect them with specialist support at UNSW, using the Gendered Violence Portal
5. Respect their decisions
6. Maintain confidentiality as much as possible. See information below to understand more about confidentiality.
7. As a UNSW staff member, if you learn about gendered violence that occurs during UNSW activities or at our locations, including online locations, you need to record the issue and any steps you took to respond. Use the GV Portal to record the situation and your actions. You do not need to identify anyone involved if you do not have permission.
8. If you’re supporting a student, you can guide them to this GV Portal page, the Report gendered violence email address for support, or direct them to external services listed below.
When do I need to share someone’s identity?
You need to share identifying information where someone may be at immediate risk of serious harm, or if they are aged under 18 years. In these situations, you can use the GV Portal to share information, or contact UNSW Psychology and Wellness.
Why do UNSW staff need to record some disclosures?
UNSW Policy requires that staff record some types of incidents. This ensures that staff, and the organisation, meet our legal obligations. The GV Portal provides you with a way to talk to UNSW specialist staff, so that you do not have to respond to a situation by yourself. It also helps UNSW understand trends in reporting data, helping us to improve our prevention efforts.
How do I talk to someone about recording their disclosure?
Unless there are concerns about current safety, or the person is aged under 18 years, you do not have to provide identifying information when you record a disclosure on the GV Portal.
You can also create your own log-in, if you do not want to provide your identity.
If you create a log-in, you can use this in future, to see messages from UNSW specialist staff, and message them back. This can help if you want to check that you have done the right thing, or the situation gets worse.
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If a friend tells you they’ve experienced gendered violence, including sexual assault, they may show a range of emotions and physical responses.
It can be hard to know what to say or do to support someone but remember, they have come to you because they trust you. Let the person decide what steps and support they need, whether that’s using the GV Portal or contacting the police.
You can help them access support via the GV Portal or other services listed below. Here are some online resources to guide you in supporting them:
- ReachOut Australia – 6 tips for supporting a friend who’s been sexually assaulted.
- 1800respect – Supporting someone experiencing sexual violence.
- 1800respect – Safety planning.
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Supporting someone through a difficult time can be emotionally challenging for you as well. It’s important to take care of yourself and seek support when you need it. You can use the GV Portal to get support for yourself, but remember - if you don’t have the permission of the person affected, keep their identify anonymous.
Here are other support options available to you:
- 1800Respect (1800 737 732) which is a 24-hour phone line for support and advice.
- UNSW Psychology and Wellness (9385 5418).
Calls are redirected to the UNSW After Hours Mental Health Support Line between 5 pm and 9 am Monday to Friday and 24 hours on weekends and public holidays.
Support for those using violence
If you’re worried that your behaviour might be gendered violence, reaching out for support is an important and positive first step. It is completely normal to feel unsure or hesitant, but you don’t have to go through this alone. You can discuss seeking support to change behaviour via the GV Portal or UNSW Psychology and Wellness, if you are a student. For staff, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is also available. The external services listed below are also available.
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- Mensline (1300 78 99 78) is a telephone and online counselling service.
- 13YARN (13 92 76) is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support line.
- QLife (1800 184 527) provides LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral.
- Relationships Australia (1300 364 277) supports services for individuals, families and communities.
- innerBoy app is a 30-day healing programme for Australian men.
Contact us
Do you have questions or suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! You can email us anytime.
Urgent medical or safety help
- Off campus: Call Triple zero (000).
- On campus: Call 9385 6666 for UNSW Security.
- On campus: Visit Prince of Wales Hospital for medical assistance, if required.
- Immediate support: Call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit our online chat
- For more information: Emergency contacts
Together, let’s create a safer, more inclusive UNSW. Thank you for your support!
TW: This page contains sensitive topics including abuse, sexual harassment and domestic violence.
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