Information to help you understand your options
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UTS uses the terms disclosure and report – in line with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence – to describe different ways of raising concerns about gender-based violence.
Both lead to appropriate action by UTS in consultation with the person who made the disclosure or report, but there are some differences in the types of actions. In the GBV portal, we will ask if you wish to make a report or a disclosure. There is also an option to select neither, if you are unsure. You will still be connected with support.Disclosures
An informal complaint with support options
A disclosure is the informal process of reaching out to, or confiding in, UTS or someone you trust about an incident, issue or concern relating to gender-based violence. You can disclose on your own behalf or on behalf of someone else who needs help or assistance, and disclosures may be made about something you have experienced or something you have witnessed. No problem or concern is too small to raise with us. If you are not sure what to do, you can start with a disclosure first decide to escalate to a report at any point. UTS will support you through this process.
Reports
A formal complaint about an incident of gender-based violence
Making a report is a formal complaint to UTS of an incident of gender-based violence. When you make a report, it results in a more formal response from UTS in the form of an investigation process which may proceed towards a disciplinary action or another resolution process.
When you make a report, you may at any point change your mind and request that your case be managed as a disclosure. UTS will support you through this process.
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Yes. UTS accepts anonymous disclosures and reports and will provide support to the extent possible based on the information provided.
UTS will take reasonable and proportionate action on anonymous disclosures or reports. However, there may be limits on the extent of the action that can be taken without the opportunity to follow up with the complainant or obtain further details).
Anonymous disclosures and reports will form part of the UTS data set. They may be used to identify trends and/or risks to the UTS community and inform future prevention and response activities, and/or inform UTS processes.
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Disclosures and reports of gender-based violence are captured on the UTS GBV portal. They are managed safely and confidentially in line with the Privacy Policy, Records Management Policy and Gender-based violence privacy notice and any requirements under the national code.
When you provide information to UTS, it is captured in the GBV portal to keep your information secure.
Data is used or shared in line with the Privacy Policy to:
- respond to a disclosure or report – refer to the Gender-based Violence Response Procedure
- understand the nature and prevalence of gender-based violence, for example to measure progress, identify trends and inform governance, prevention and response activities
- provide any required information or reports to the Secretary of the Department of Education, as outlined in the national code, and
- meet legal obligations.
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All reports and disclosures related to gender-based violence are primarily managed by the Safe and Respectful Communities team (contact details below). In some cases, your information may be shared with other relevant UTS areas, where necessary, to provide support or meet legal and safety obligations.
Information will only be shared externally with your consent or where required by law as outlined in the Gender-based violence privacy notice.
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Yes. Your safety and wellbeing are our priority, and no problem is too small.
You can:
- Speak to a safety caseworker – see contact details below
- Use the GBV portal to disclose or report online
- Reach out to other UTS services like UTS Counselling or the Employee Assistance Program or Yamurra (SharePoint).
All services provide person-centred, trauma-informed support.
GBV can encompasses a wide spectrum of behaviours – none of which are acceptable. Whatever has happened, you are not alone and we encourage you to come forward.
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Yes. You can make a disclosure on behalf of someone who needs help or has asked for your support. You can also disclose something you have witnessed.
Disclosures or reports made on behalf of another person should be anonymous unless they consent to sharing their name or contact details.
Our ability to follow up or respond may be limited if the person who experienced harm is not identified.
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You can change a report to a disclosure at any time, or the other way around. UTS will support you through this process. You may also retract a report or disclosure at any point.
In some instances, UTS may have manage a disclosure as a report where it is necessary to protect you or the wider community, or where there are mandatory reporting obligations. A safety caseworker will provide you with information and support in these cases.
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Gender-based violence (also referred to as GBV) is any violence used against someone because of their gender (or perceived gender). This is defined for UTS in the Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Policy.
It can include but is not limited to rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic and family violence, coercive control, and any unwanted or unwelcome sexual behaviour or activity that occurs without free and informed consent.
It can be physical, emotional, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual, financial or technology-facilitated abuse. Some forms of gender-based violence, such as sexual assault, image-based abuse and stalking, are also criminal offences.
Gender inequalities in society create the context in which gender-based violence occurs. While people of all genders can experience gender-based violence, it most often affects women and girls. Violence against LGBTIQA+ people is also recognised as gender-based violence, as this is also driven by rigid and hierarchical ideas about sex, gender and sexuality.
Experiences of gender-based violence are further shaped by multiple intersecting factors, including ethnicity, culture, racial marginalisation, disability, sexuality, gender identity, migration status, age and socioeconomic background.
Marginalised or minoritised groups often face greater risks and additional barriers to accessing help. UTS acknowledges this and seeks to address these systemic inequalities within our broader work, while aiming to ensure the support we offer is inclusive and responsive to diverse experiences and needs.
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It’s normal to feel unsure or overwhelmed. You don’t need to make any decisions straight away.
Support is available to help you work through your concerns and understand your options.
You can:
- Talk to someone confidentially
- Explore your options
- Get information without committing to any action
You can reach out to the Safe and Respectful Communities team for support in the way that feels right to you (contact details below). They can offer support, answer questions and help you decide on the next steps, if any, you may choose to take.
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No. International student visas and course enrolment will not be affected if you disclose or report gender-based violence, discrimination or other forms of harm. This applies whether you report to UTS, the police, to the National Student Ombudsman or other external bodies.
The primary purpose of the UTS GBV portal and our other disclosure or reporting pathways is to help you get support.
Except in rare cases where there’s an immediate risk of harm to you or others, it’s entirely up to you whether to report your experience to the police or other authorities.
Your information remains private. Unless you are applying for a visa related to being protected from gendered violence, the Department of Home Affairs (the Australian government department that handles visas) will not be informed about your disclosure.
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You can report directly to the police at any time.
- Call the 24-hour NSW Police Assistance Line on 131 444
- Sexual assaults can also be reported anonymously using NSW Police sexual assault reporting option (SARO) form
Trauma-informed staff at UTS are available to support you through this process if you wish.
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If you are not sure whether you want to make a police report, that’s okay.
You are welcome to speak to safety caseworker confidentially at any time to seek advice or to talk through an issue – see contact details below.
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You can read about what happens next.
Further details are outlined in the Gender-based Violence Response Procedure.
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When you contact the Safe and Respectful Communities team or submit a report or disclosure via the portal, you will be assigned a safety caseworker. If your report or disclosure is anonymous, we may not be able to respond to you directly or provide you with information or updates.
The assigned safety caseworkers will be your primary contact. You will be offered support and regular face-to-face or online meetings for checks-ins and updates throughout the disclosure or reporting process.
You can also choose not to receive updates on the investigation.
Further details are available in the Gender-based Violence Response Procedure.
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Where a complaint relating to gender-based violence results in an investigation, and where there is sufficient evidence, UTS may undertake disciplinary proceedings against staff or student respondents.
- Allegations against students will follow the disciplinary process in the Student Rules.
- Allegations against staff will follow the Code of Conduct and the relevant enterprise agreement or employment contract.
- Allegations against staff or students of a UTS-related entity will follow that entity’s normal disciplinary processes.
- If gender-based violence is substantiated, sanctions will be proportionate to the conduct.
- A respondent who is both a student and staff member may face disciplinary action under more than one process.
- If the respondent is neither staff nor student, UTS will manage the situation case by case, possibly involving an external authority to ensure community safety.
More information is provided in the Gender-based Violence Response Procedure.
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UTS uses the term ‘respondent’ to refer to any person responding to allegations, including the individual who is the subject of the report or disclosure, an alleged perpetrator and any person working on their behalf.
If you do not wish for the respondent to know who you are, UTS will make every effort to support this request. It is important to raise this with your safety caseworker, and to discuss the ways in which UTS can support this request in light of the complaint. Your safety caseworker will continue to discuss this with you throughout the process.
It is important to be aware that your details may be required for UTS to undertake an investigation or other formal process. However, this will be an ongoing discussion between you and your safety caseworker.
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In some cases, UTS must report an incident to police, even if you have not made a formal report or do not want police involved.
This may be required when:
- a disclosure suggests a serious indictable offence
- the matter involves a person under 18 years of age
- UTS also has a legal duty under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to provide a safe place to work and study.
UTS may need to act if a disclosure shows:
- a future or ongoing safety risk to you or others
- a pattern of concerning behaviour by a UTS student, staff member or contractor.
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If you are a UTS student or staff member and someone has made a disclosure or report about you, you will be assigned a safety caseworker. The caseworker assigned to you will always be different to the caseworker assigned to the person who made the disclosure or report.
Your caseworker will be able to help you understand the disclosure or report, advise you on your rights and responsibilities, refer you to services and act as your single point of contact for advice and updates throughout the process.
UTS students can also reach out to the UTS Students’ Association for further support and advice. Its caseworkers have experience and expertise in the university's student misconduct and appeals processes.
UTS applies the principle of due process. If someone has made a disclosure or report about you, it is important that you work with UTS to enable this to be assessed and, where necessary, investigated.
GBV is a complex social issue, and all complaints will be taken seriously and managed fairly in line with the requirements of the gender-based violence policy and procedure.
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UTS encourages the UTS community to be active bystanders and to intervene in GBV incidences where it is reasonable and safe to do so.
If you wish to tell us about concerning behaviours, you may contact UTS Security, the Safe and Respectful Communities team (see contact details below) or use the GBV portal.
Contact UTS Security (24 hours): 1800 249 559
speak with the Safe and Respectful Communities Team
Email safety.caseworker@uts.edu.au
Phone 1800 531 626
- Available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding public holidays)
- After hours calls redirect to UTS Security for immediate assistance and help connecting with appropriately trained counselling staff
In person
- Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm by appointment
- To make an appointment, email safety.caseworker@uts.edu.au