Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Policy
1. Purpose
91视频 seeks to create a safe and supportive environment for students, staff and visitors and to reduce and eliminate sexual harassment and sexual assault, and to support those who experienced it. This policy also identifies relevant legislation and guidelines that may apply.
If you wish to report an incident you can email to citsafercommunity@cit.edu.au, call 91视频 Counselling on (02) 6207 3290 or in person at a 91视频 Student Support Office. If it involves criminal behaviour, the matter may be referred to the ACT Police as well as 91视频.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all sexual harassment and sexual assault reported by 91视频 Students, 91视频 staff or occurred at 91视频 Campuses.
3. Principles
3.1 All 91视频 students, staff and visitors have the right to be safe on campus.
3.2 All 91视频 students and staff should respect others and must not sexually harass or assault people in person or harass online. 91视频 does not tolerate sexual harassment or sexual violence.
3.3 91视频 will support students, staff and visitors who report sexual harassment or sexual assault including facilitating access to counselling, or other services.
3.4 Incidences involving students can be reported in person at 91视频 Counselling or by email to citsafercommunity@cit.edu.au. Incidents involving staff can be reported to 91视频's HR team and/or referred to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). If any incident involves criminal behaviour, the matter may be referred to ACT Policing as well as 91视频.
3.5 All reports of sexual harassment or sexual assault received by 91视频 will be managed in accordance with the 91视频 Privacy Policy. This means that all personal information collected by 91视频 is used only for the purpose it is collected and will only be shared on a need to know basis. However, in case of sexual assault 91视频 must report to Child and Youth Protection Services where the victim is under 18 years of age.
3.6 The complainant and respondent are entitled to fair, respectful and timely resolution of the reported matters in accordance with the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness. The student's enrolment or academic progress will not be jeopardised by a student choosing to report the incident.
3.7 91视频 cannot investigate sexual assault as it is a criminal offence which therefore requires investigations to be undertaken by the Police. While 91视频 would encourage every matter involving allegations of sexual assault to be referred to the Police, the decision for referral rests with the victim. Timeframes for resolution of matters referred to the Police are dependent on the Australian Federal Police investigation.
3.8 For allegations of sexual assault 91视频 will encourage the victim to access either the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre or 91视频 Counselling, who can explain options available, provide the victim with support and referral to appropriate services.
3.9 91视频 will seek to provide interim academic arrangements where possible, if these are needed to support the victim's right to continue study and to provide fairness to the alleged perpetrator until proceedings have been resolved.
3.10 If the reported incident falls under the misconduct of a sexual harassment nature by a 91视频 student, the matter will be dealt with under Student Conduct Policy. If the reported incident falls under the misconduct by a staff member, the matter will be dealt with under the Public Sector Management ACT 1994 and Public Sector Management Standards 2016.
3.11 For the reported incident does not fall within the above, the matter will be assessed and dealt with case by case and 91视频 will advise the complainant and respondent of the process as soon as possible. Unless there is a real or perceived conflict of interest, the lead on supporting students will be 91视频 Student Support and 91视频 Counselling.
3.12 If a person making a report is not satisfied with the process, or considers that the outcome is not justified, an internal review can be requested through the 91视频 Chief Executive Officer.
3.13 The person making a report can request the issue not to be pursued at any time during the process. However, depending on the nature of the case, 91视频 may be required to continue with its inquiries in a discreet manner to fulfil 91视频's duty of care to students, staff and visitors.
4. Documentation
Legislation
Policies and Guidelines
Resolving Staff Workplace Issues Policy
Resolving Staff Workplace Issues Procedures
Bullying and Harassment Prevention Policy
Bullying and Harassment Prevention Procedures
91视频 Staff Protocol: Responding to an Allegation of Sexual Harassment at 91视频 (internal access only)
Complaints Students and Community Members Policy
Complaints Students and Community Members Procedures
5. Definitions
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is an unwelcome and uninvited sexual advance, request for sexual favours or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. It includes:
- Unwelcome hugging, touching, kissing or other inappropriate physical contact;
- Inappropriate staring or leering;
- Sexual gestures, indecent exposure, or pictures;
- Sexually suggestive comments that make you feel offended;
- Repeated or inappropriate invitations to go out on dates;
- Intrusive questions about your personal life or physical appearance which make you feel offended; and/or
- Requests or pressure to have sex.
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is unacceptable physical behaviours where a person is forced or tricked into sexual acts against their will or without their consent, which are criminal offences. It may be known as rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse or indecent assault.
All terminology used in this policy is consistent with definitions in the 91视频 Definitions of Terms.
6. Policy Contact Officer
91视频 Manager of Student Support or the 91视频 Executive Director, Corporate Services.
Contact 91视频 Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or email infoline@cit.edu.au for further information.
7. Procedures
This policy is implemented through 91视频 Staff Protocol: Responding to an Allegation of Sexual Harassment at 91视频. Authority to make changes to the procedures rests with the policy owner.
POLICY INFORMATION |
Policy No: 2019/1837 Approved: May 2019 Next Review: September 2023 Category: Student Policies, Staff Policies, Corporate Policies Policy Owner: Executive Director, Corporate Services |
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