Skip to main content

Site navigation

  • University of Technology Sydney home
  • Home

    Home
  • For students

  • For industry

  • Research

Explore

  • Courses
  • Events
  • News
  • Stories
  • People

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Study at UTS

    • arrow_right_alt Find a course
    • arrow_right_alt Course areas
    • arrow_right_alt Undergraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Postgraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Research Masters and PhD
    • arrow_right_alt Online study and short courses
  • Student information

    • arrow_right_alt Current students
    • arrow_right_alt New UTS students
    • arrow_right_alt Graduates (Alumni)
    • arrow_right_alt High school students
    • arrow_right_alt Indigenous students
    • arrow_right_alt International students
  • Admissions

    • arrow_right_alt How to apply
    • arrow_right_alt Entry pathways
    • arrow_right_alt Eligibility
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for students

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Apply for a coursearrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Scholarshipsarrow_right_alt
  • Featured industries

    • arrow_right_alt Agriculture and food
    • arrow_right_alt Defence and space
    • arrow_right_alt Energy and transport
    • arrow_right_alt Government and policy
    • arrow_right_alt Health and medical
    • arrow_right_alt Corporate training
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Tech Central
    • arrow_right_alt Case studies
    • arrow_right_alt Research
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for industry

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Partner with usarrow_right_alt
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Explore our research
    • arrow_right_alt Research centres and institutes
    • arrow_right_alt Graduate research
    • arrow_right_alt Research partnerships
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for research

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Research centres and institutesarrow_right_alt
  • University of Technology Sydney home
Explore the University of Technology Sydney
Category Filters:
University of Technology Sydney home University of Technology Sydney home
  1. home
  2. arrow_forward_ios ...  Help and support
  3. arrow_forward_ios ... Safety at UTS
  4. arrow_forward_ios Our commitment to a camp...
  5. arrow_forward_ios How to respond to a disclosure of sexual harm

How to respond to a disclosure of sexual harm

explore
  • Safety at UTS
    • arrow_forward Urgent help and emergency response
    • Our commitment to a campus free of sexual harm
      • arrow_forward What to do if you have experienced sexual harm
      • arrow_forward How to respond to a disclosure of sexual harm
      • arrow_forward What to expect when you report to UTS
      • arrow_forward Support for sexual harm
      • arrow_forward Sexual harm reporting privacy notice
    • arrow_forward Child abuse or harm
    • Incident response
      • arrow_forward First aid
      • arrow_forward HIRO support
      • arrow_forward Reporting hazards and incidents
    • arrow_forward Essential information for contractors
    • Other contacts and information
      • arrow_forward Who to contact for help
UTS campus and Alumni Green seen from above

Responding to and supporting someone who has experienced sexual harm or gender-based violence (GBV) can be complex, but chances are the person has come to you because they trust you.  

What should you do? 

Phone icon with three soundwaves

Need help now?

000 – emergency services

1800 249 559 – 
UTS Security (24 hours) 
 

More support options

MAKE A REPORT

Students

To disclose or report sexual harm, lodge an online report

Staff

If you receive a disclosure or report of sexual harm from or about a UTS student, complete the summary form

UTS SEXUAL HARM SUPPORT LINE

1800 531 626

9am to 5pm 
Monday to Friday

(UTS Security will connect you with support out of these hours)

Attend to their immediate safety 

  • If someone is in immediate danger, or needs urgent medical attention, call the emergency services on 000. 
  • UTS Security and Emergency Management can also be contacted for immediate support on campus on 1800 249 559 (24 hours). 
  • If there is no immediate danger, encourage the person to seek medical care, if appropriate, and refer to the Sexual Harm Prevention and Response Policy for disclosure and reporting options. 
  • Confirm that the person has somewhere safe to go to. 

Listen to them  

  • Respond with compassion. If someone discloses an incident of sexual harm or GBV to you, listen. Let them express how they feel without interruption. Each person will react differently in this situation.  
  • Validate the person’s experience by acknowledging their distress. Respect the words and language they use in relation to the incident.  
  • When you feel it is appropriate to do so, check if they wish to make a report, and support them if they do. Also let them know that you may be legally required to report the matter to the police. 
  • Encourage the person to seek support, but allow them to make their own decisions. 

Help them find support  

Support for sexual harm

Give them the option to make a report 

The person disclosing an incident may want to make a report immediately, or they may just want to seek support and guidance. Support them in whichever decision they make. 

However, if they do not wish to make a report, or are uncertain as to whether they would like to make a report, gathering and collecting evidence and information as soon as possible after the incident will put them in a better position to report later (refer Sexual Harm Prevention and Response Policy).  

What to do if you have experienced sexual harm

UTS staff who receive a report

UTS staff who receive a disclosure or report of sexual harm or GBV about a student (survivor, alleged perpetrator, witness) must complete a summary form.

Summary form for staff receiving a report of sexual harm

Further guidance is available from safety caseworkers (email safety.caseworker@uts.edu.au) and from the Staff guidelines for managing reports of sexual harm (Staff Connect).

What do I do if I think a crime has been committed?  

If you think a crime has been committed you should encourage the person to report it to the police. UTS cannot investigate a crime. UTS can however provide support in making a police report. 

In some circumstances, UTS staff will be legally obliged to report to the police as outlined in the Sexual Harm Prevention and Response Policy and under 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. 

Students (or staff supporting students) should contact a safety caseworker or UTS Security and Emergency Management if they think a crime has been committed. Students may be supported by a safety caseworker in reporting to the police.

For UTS staff

Staff should consult with the UTS Legal Unit, UTS Security and Emergency Management, the Executive Director, People and Culture and/or the Director, Student Services to make a mandatory report or if there is any doubt as to whether there is an obligation to make a mandatory report.

Mandatory police reports will typically occur through UTS Security and Emergency Management. Where police are investigating an alleged crime, Security and Emergency Management will act as liaison to ensure UTS investigations do not impact the ongoing police investigation.

Where staff believe that they have information that might be of material assistance in securing the apprehension of an offender, or the prosecution and conviction of an offender for an indictable offence, a report must be made to the police. 

What to expect when you report to UTS

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 sexual harm or GBV.

Support for sexual harm

Further guidance on managing and investigating sexual harm and GBV is also available.

Sexual Harm Prevention and Response Policy

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and the Boorooberongal People of the Dharug Nation upon whose ancestral lands our campuses now stand. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands. 

University of Technology Sydney

City Campus

15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007

Get in touch with UTS

Follow us

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Facebook

A member of

  • Australian Technology Network
Use arrow keys to navigate within each column of links. Press Tab to move between columns.

Study

  • Find a course
  • Undergraduate
  • Postgraduate
  • How to apply
  • Scholarships and prizes
  • International students
  • Campus maps
  • Accommodation

Engage

  • Find an expert
  • Industry
  • News
  • Events
  • Experience UTS
  • Research
  • Stories
  • Alumni

About

  • Who we are
  • Faculties
  • Learning and teaching
  • Sustainability
  • Initiatives
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Campus and locations
  • Awards and rankings
  • UTS governance

Staff and students

  • Current students
  • Help and support
  • Library
  • Policies
  • StaffConnect
  • Working at UTS
  • UTS Handbook
  • Contact us
  • Copyright © 2025
  • ABN: 77 257 686 961
  • CRICOS provider number: 00099F
  • TEQSA provider number: PRV12060
  • TEQSA category: Australian University
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility