If someone shares an experience of gender-based violence with you, it’s most likely because they trust you.
You don’t need to have all the answers.
What matters most is that you listen with compassion, help them feel safe and support them to access further help if they choose to.
If someone is in immediate danger
- Call Emergency Services: 000
- Contact UTS Security (24 hours): 1800 249 559
If there’s no immediate danger, gently ask if they have a safe place to go.
Encourage them to seek medical care if they need it.
Responding with empathy
Listen with compassion
Allow them to share what happened in their own words, without interruption.
Acknowledge their feelings and respect the words and language they use about the incident when discussing any allegations. This is a time for listening, not interrogation.
Remember that they are never at fault, that it takes courage to speak out and that they are the best person to decide the next steps.
Ask how you can help
Simply asking ‘what can I do to support you right now?’ can make a significant difference.
You may encourage them to seek support but let them make their own decisions.
Support for people affected by GBV
Give them the option to make a disclosure or report
If they want to make a disclosure or report to UTS, they can:
- Use the GBV portal at any time
- Contact the Safe and Respectful Communities (SARC) team for support from a safety caseworker
If they don’t know whether they want to make a report or disclosure yet, that is fine. They can also escalate a disclosure to a report at any time, and vice versa.
Find out more about making a report
Document what you can
If it is safe and appropriate, record the information shared so details may be provided as part of a disclosure or report.
You can use the GBV portal to record the details or reach out to the SARC team for assistance (see next step). If you have their permission, you can include the name and contact details of the person who has shared. Recording in the GBV portal ensures the information is captured securely and consistently. This helps avoid creating separate notes or documents that could risk a data breach.
Reach out to the Safe and Respectful Communities team
The Safe and Respectful Communities team can provide advice on next steps and ensure there is a record of the disclosure. Let the person know that you will contact the team and respect their decision if they prefer to remain anonymous.
Be clear about limits to confidentiality
Let them know that you may be legally required to report the matter to the police. While UTS respects people’s needs and wishes, the university cannot investigate a crime and, in some cases, may be legally required to escalate matters to the police. The Safe and Respectful Communities team can guide you both through this process.
What to do if you think a crime has been committed
If you believe a crime has been committed, you may offer to assist the person in reporting to the police, if that is their choice. UTS cannot investigate a crime but can provide support through the reporting process. Online reports to NSW Police can be made via the SARO (Sexual Assault Reporting Option).
UTS respects their needs and wishes of someone who has come forward. However, in some situations, UTS staff may be legally required to report the matter to police under the Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Policy and section 316 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). This may include a requirement to pass on details of the crime, or suspected crime, including details that identify the person who is alleged to have committed the crime or suspected crime.
A designated caseworker will be assigned and will be able to guide you both through this process.
If in doubt, staff and students should seek guidance from the Safe and Respectful Communities team.
Support for you
Help and support is available if you experience distress as a result of what you have been told by someone who has experienced gender-based violence.
Support for people affected by GBV
Further guidance on managing and investigating GBV is also available.