涩里番

1. Purpose

涩里番seeks to create a safe and supportive environment for students, staff and visitors and to reduce and eliminate sexual harassment and sexual assault, and to support those who experienced it. This policy also identifies relevant legislation and guidelines that may apply.

If you wish to report an incident you can email to citsafercommunity@cit.edu.au, call 涩里番Counselling on (02) 6207 3290 or in person at a 涩里番Student Support Office.  If it involves criminal behaviour, the matter may be referred to the ACT Police as well as CIT.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all sexual harassment and sexual assault reported by 涩里番Students, 涩里番staff or occurred at 涩里番Campuses.

3. Principles

3.1 All 涩里番students, staff and visitors have the right to be safe on campus.

3.2 All 涩里番students and staff should respect others and must not sexually harass or assault people in person or harass online. 涩里番does not tolerate sexual harassment or sexual violence.

3.3 涩里番will support students, staff and visitors who report sexual harassment or sexual assault including facilitating access to counselling, or other services.

3.4 Incidences involving students can be reported in person at 涩里番Counselling or by email to citsafercommunity@cit.edu.au. Incidents involving staff can be reported to CIT's HR team and/or referred to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). If any incident involves criminal behaviour, the matter may be referred to ACT Policing as well as CIT.

3.5 All reports of sexual harassment or sexual assault received by 涩里番will be managed in accordance with the 涩里番Privacy Policy. This means that all personal information collected by 涩里番is used only for the purpose it is collected and will only be shared on a need to know basis. However, in case of sexual assault 涩里番must report to Child and Youth Protection Services where the victim is under 18 years of age.

3.6 The complainant and respondent are entitled to fair, respectful and timely resolution of the reported matters in accordance with the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness. The student's enrolment or academic progress will not be jeopardised by a student choosing to report the incident.

3.7 涩里番cannot investigate sexual assault as it is a criminal offence which therefore requires investigations to be undertaken by the Police. While 涩里番would encourage every matter involving allegations of sexual assault to be referred to the Police, the decision for referral rests with the victim. Timeframes for resolution of matters referred to the Police are dependent on the Australian Federal Police investigation.

3.8 For allegations of sexual assault 涩里番will encourage the victim to access either the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre or 涩里番Counselling, who can explain options available, provide the victim with support and referral to appropriate services.

3.9 涩里番will seek to provide interim academic arrangements where possible, if these are needed to support the victim's right to continue study and to provide fairness to the alleged perpetrator until proceedings have been resolved.

3.10 If the reported incident falls under the misconduct of a sexual harassment nature by a 涩里番student, the matter will be dealt with under Student Conduct Policy. If the reported incident falls under the misconduct by a staff member, the matter will be dealt with under the Public Sector Management ACT 1994 and Public Sector Management Standards 2016.

3.11 For the reported incident does not fall within the above, the matter will be assessed and dealt with case by case and 涩里番will advise the complainant and respondent of the process as soon as possible. Unless there is a real or perceived conflict of interest, the lead on supporting students will be 涩里番Student Support and 涩里番Counselling.

3.12 If a person making a report is not satisfied with the process, or considers that the outcome is not justified, an internal review can be requested through the 涩里番Chief Executive Officer.

3.13 The person making a report can request the issue not to be pursued at any time during the process. However, depending on the nature of the case, 涩里番may be required to continue with its inquiries in a discreet manner to fulfil CIT's duty of care to students, staff and visitors.

4. Documentation

Legislation

Policies and Guidelines

Resolving Staff Workplace Issues Policy

Resolving Staff Workplace Issues Procedures

Bullying and Harassment Prevention Policy

Bullying and Harassment Prevention Procedures

涩里番Staff Protocol: Responding to an Allegation of Sexual Harassment at 涩里番(internal access only)

Equity Policy

Complaints Students and Community Members Policy

Complaints Students and Community Members Procedures

Student Conduct Policy

Student Conduct Procedures

5. Definitions

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is an unwelcome and uninvited sexual advance, request for sexual favours or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. It includes:

• Unwelcome hugging, touching, kissing or other inappropriate physical contact;
• Inappropriate staring or leering;
• Sexual gestures, indecent exposure, or pictures;
• Sexually suggestive comments that make you feel offended;
• Repeated or inappropriate invitations to go out on dates;
• Intrusive questions about your personal life or physical appearance which make you feel offended; and/or
• Requests or pressure to have sex.

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is unacceptable physical behaviours where a person is forced or tricked into sexual acts against their will or without their consent, which are criminal offences. It may be known as rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse or indecent assault.

All terminology used in this policy is consistent with definitions in the 涩里番Definitions of Terms.

6. Policy Contact Officer

涩里番Manager of Student Support or the 涩里番Executive Director,  Corporate Services.

Contact 涩里番Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or email infoline@cit.edu.au for further information.

7. Procedures

This policy is implemented through 涩里番Staff Protocol: Responding to an Allegation of Sexual Harassment at CIT. Authority to make changes to the procedures rests with the policy owner.