Our commitments
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Our commitments to you
The University of Melbourne is committed to a safe, inclusive and respectful community.
If you have experienced or are experiencing any form of sexual assault or harassment, we are here to listen to you, to help you, and to support you.
If you have experienced any behaviours that concern you, you can freely and confidentially report incidents, and access support, advice, information, and other specialist services.
We are here to support you.
Respect Action Plan
The University’s first Respect Action Plan 2023-24 set out the work the University committed to undertake in relation to sexual misconduct prevention, early intervention and response, as endorsed by the Respect Committee.
Key initiatives completed included a custom e-module Preventing Sexual Misconduct, which all students and graduate researchers must complete; mandatory Respect Education for staff to ensure that all members of the University know their responsibilities and have a role in preventing and responding to sexual misconduct; establishing a new reporting tool, Speak Safely, which allows anonymous reporting; and establishing a student conduct community of practice. A Respect Hub was also created on the University website, which includes information on the complaints process, how to seek support and make a report, as well as download links to the University's annual Sexual Misconduct Annual Report, now in its third year.
The Respect Action Plan 2025-26 continues to progress work towards the elimination of sexual misconduct, by further embedding accountability, support and reporting mechanisms.
The plan includes several new action areas that respond to an evolving environment, including: preventing online sexual harassment and abuse; embedding consistent approaches in University-owned colleges, student accommodation and MU Sport; increasing men’s engagement with prevention approaches, and establishing a welcoming physical location for the Safer Community Program on campus.
Access the Respect Action Plan 2025-26 (PDF)
Access the Respect Action Plan 2025-26 (Accessible Word version)
Sexual Misconduct Annual Report
Each year, the University now prepares and publishes a Sexual Misconduct Annual Report.
This report reflects the University’s ongoing efforts to clearly communicate how we’re tackling the issue of sexual misconduct and the progress we’re making. The report also includes outcomes of investigations and consequences that offenders have faced.
Access the 2024 Sexual Misconduct Annual Report (PDF)
Access the 2024 Sexual Misconduct Annual Report (Accessible Word version)
Note: The 2024 report was updated in July 2025 to reflect an inaccuracy. On page 11, the report has been updated to reflect that the 2023 Sexual Misconduct Annual Report listed six sexual misconduct complaints made against staff. The University neglected to include a seventh complaint. The respondent had resigned in 2022, prior to a disciplinary outcome being finalised in 2023. We apologise for this error and commit to providing as much specificity as possible when reporting on sexual misconduct disciplinary outcomes.
Access the 2023 Sexual Misconduct Annual Report (PDF)
Governance
The University of Melbourne has implemented two forums to oversee its Respect Action Plans.
Respect at Melbourne Committee
The Respect at Melbourne Committee has been established to oversee and advise on the implementation of the Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Policy and its associated program of work, captured under the new Respect Action Plan.
The Respect Action Plan categorises the University’s Respect activities into primary prevention, early intervention, and response and recovery approaches. The Respect Committee oversees the implementation of this plan, and monitor progress of our work, and its longer-term impact, against this framework.
The Respect at Melbourne Committee is chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (People and Community) and includes senior staff and student leaders from across the University, providing strategic oversight over all our activities and ensuring decision making and responsibility are shared.
The Respect at Melbourne Committee builds on the work of the Respect Taskforce, which developed the University’s first Respect Action Plan in 2017.
Respect at Melbourne Reference Group
This group provides a broad, inclusive and diverse consultative forum for faculties, University services, student organisations and affiliated colleges to provide input and feedback on the Respect Action Plan for eliminating sexual misconduct.
The Respect at Melbourne Reference Group is chaired by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (People and Equity) who sits on the Respect at Melbourne Committee, to ensure a co-ordinated University-wide approach.
Policies and principles
There are a number of policies and principles that all members of our University community.
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Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Policy
The Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Policy includes a number of objectives, including making it clear that sexual misconduct will not be tolerated, and has no place in our University community, and commits the University to taking positive action to prevent sexual misconduct in all its forms, and to take timely and appropriate action in response to sexual misconduct.
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Student charter
The Student Charter embodies the key principles underpinning the partnership between students and the University community, which includes staff, students, alumni, visitors and guests of the University.
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Student Conduct Policy
The Student Conduct Policy ensures that student behavioural standards and expectations are defined and met, including the expectations of students with regard to how they treat others. The Policy applies to students while on University premises, using University facilities and services, or engaging in University activities.
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Appropriate behaviour on social media
Everyone has the right to feel safe: this includes when using social media. We also all have a responsibility to promote safety and to behave online in ways that do not bring the University into disrepute.
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Appropriate Workplace Behaviour Policy
The Appropriate Workplace Behaviour Policy sets out the standards, values and expectations for appropriate behaviour in the workplace, and the consequences for not doing so. The policy also demonstrates the University’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Preventing sexual misconduct: for students
Until 2024, coursework students were required to complete mandatory Consent Matters awareness training. This course was replaced with a new e-Learning module, Preventing Sexual Misconduct, in March 2024. Preventing Sexual Misconduct is mandatory for all commencing undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students, and graduate researchers.
Preventing Sexual Misconduct provides practical information about:
- sexual consent
- tips for effective communication for safe and respectful relationships
- the skills needed as an active bystander to safely intervene in situations where sexual harassment or assault may occur
- support services at the University of Melbourne.
Respect education for staff
The Respect education program is a cornerstone of the University’s commitment to eliminating sexual misconduct from our community.
The comprehensive, University-wide Respect education program is a significant professional development program designed to build capability and confidence in all staff, equipping them with practical tools needed to call out and respond to issues of sexual harassment and assault in our community.
Given the importance of this issue, all staff will be expected to participate in the program, which is being delivered in three phases.
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Design, pilot and launch (August 2021 – March 2022)
The Respect Education Program was designed and established as a leader-led program. Training was developed and workshops delivered to almost 1,000 professional staff, including the University’s Executive, most senior leaders, Professoriate, HR and other supporting specialists.
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Expand (July 2022 – August 2023)
- Core training was designed for multiple cohorts (remaining senior leaders, supervisors, other full-time continuing and fixed-term staff, casual employees, and honorary title holders), based on level of responsibility.
- Workshop delivery (online and face-to-face) commenced for senior leaders, supervisors and full-time continuing and fixed-term staff.
- Three additional (optional) skills programs were also designed and made available via workshops to those who had completed the core training. These include awareness of trauma-informed approaches to disclosures and how to have courageous and respectful conversations about sexual misconduct.
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Embed and sustain (August 2023 – ongoing)
This phase sees a range of local and University-wide embedding initiatives to ensure ongoing education and commitment for sustained cultural change. The initiatives include:
- Launch Respect Education training for causal employees (completed Nov 2023)
- Develop Respect Education Resource Repository for all staff, and a Toolkit to assist leaders to drive micro initiatives within their teams (completed November 2023)
- Continue with training programs for new and existing staff (ongoing)
Get help, always
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