Our approach to Gender-based Violence: Information for Affiliates and Entities

Where can people get support now?

Anonymous Reporting

  • All reports to University services are treated confidentially.
  • Reports can also be made anonymously to the Safer Community Program, or via the Speak Safely portal, or for matters involving staff, the Inappropriate Workplace Behaviour Line. Please note, where imminent harm for an individuals' physical safety is reported via an anonymous report, the University may have a duty of care to identify and mitigate these concerns.  The University may work with emergency services, including Victoria Police, to identify the individual and ensure a response is activated to keep the individual safe from harm.

Campus Security

Students and staff can request a campus security escort if they feel unsafe on the Parkville or Southbank campuses. Escorts may be booked ahead of time or requested immediately via the blue emergency phones located around campus.

The University of Melbourne is strengthening how it manages student complaints and reports of gender-based violence (GBV) to align with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence (the Code), which came into effect on 1 January 2026.

Through the University’s work,

  • A unified complaints framework will replace existing, fragmented procedures.
  • GBV-related complaints will follow nationally defined timeframes (45-day resolution, 20-day appeal).
  • Trauma-informed, person-centred practices will guide all interactions with students and staff.
  • Updated policies, training, and reporting mechanisms will ensure a consistent standard across all University-linked operations.

This work ensures that all University operations - including those delivered through University affiliates and entities  - reflect a consistent, trauma-informed, and student-centred approach to safety and complaint handling.

If you would like more detailed information about the University’s commitments, you can read the University’s Whole-of-Organisation Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Plan and Outcomes Framework, which has been submitted to the Department of Education by the University.

This page will be updated with further information as required.

The Code refers to affiliated organisations, affiliated student accommodation providers and affiliated entities that conduct activities on behalf of the University. Definitions are included in the Department of Education’s Regulatory Guidance.

Under the Code, your organisation may be considered an affiliated organisation if it uses the University of Melbourne’s name, or any variation of this name (e.g. Unimelb, Melbourne University) in its own name, marketing, recruitment or governance documentation.

  • Affiliated organisations include any organisation:
    - Affiliated with a higher education provider through a statute or other legal arrangement.
    - Operating on the higher education provider’s lands.
    - That has a service agreement in place with a higher education provider.
    - Using a higher education provider’s intellectual property – such as their branding.
    - Promoted by the provider or listed on their website.

    Requirements to comply with the Code may be embedded in associated memoranda of understanding (MOUs), partnership agreements, contracts and research collaborations with affiliated entities.
  • University Entities are organisations that conducts activities on behalf of the Provider, including but not limited to businesses and organisations that operate on, use or lease the Provider's land and facilities.
  • University-owned organisations are entities that are wholly or majority owned or controlled by the University of Melbourne, and are considered part of the University’s operating structure.
  • Ensure staff and volunteers working under your entity are aware of the University’s support services and complaints procedures.
  • Communicate any GBV-related reports concerning University staff or students through the agreed University escalation and reporting channels.
  • Nominate a contact person within your entity for communication and reporting on National Code compliance.
  • Engage with University leads to ensure ongoing coordination, assurance, and reporting.
  • Affiliates and Entities should continue to apply current University policies where they are contractually or operationally required to do so, alongside their own internal policies and procedures (where applicable), until updated versions are released.

The University has a range of existing policies, frameworks and processes that support the prevention of and response to sexual misconduct and gender-based violence. These provide a framework for submitting, managing and supporting Student complaints and appeals:

The University recognises that Affiliates and Entities operate in diverse contexts and that GBV-related matters may arise in different ways across these settings.

Dedicated guidance, resources, or support for Affiliates and Entities will be made available where required, based on the nature of the affiliation, the context of the matter, and identified needs.

Where additional guidance is required, the University will communicate directly with relevant Affiliates or Entities to provide appropriate information, clarify expectations, and support compliance with the GBV Code.

The University and Affiliated Colleges are working to develop streamlined reporting procedures for incidents occurring on or associated with Affiliated Colleges involving student conduct that may require specific management actions under the GBV Code.

The development of these procedures aims to ensure that Affiliated Colleges can document and share relevant information quickly, accurately, and in line with legal and compliance requirements.

These procedures will be made available to Affiliated College staff through existing incident management and reporting channels.

If you have questions about the University’s approach to gender-based violence or your obligations under the GBV Code, please contact Respect at Melbourne via respect-uom@unimelb.edu.au.