Understand what constitutes sexual assault and sexual harassment and know the meaning of consent so that we can keep our campuses safe.
Understand what constitutes sexual assault and sexual harassment and know the meaning of consent so that we can keep our campuses safe.
Understand the definitions of sexual assault, sexual harassment and consent, and what constitutes sexual misconduct.
Sexual harassment is any unwanted or unwelcome sexual behaviour which can make a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. Sexual harassment can take many different forms – it can be obvious or indirect, physical or verbal, repeated or one-off. It is perpetrated by males and females against people of the same or opposite sex.
Sexual harassment may include:
Sexual assault is any uninvited sexual behaviour that makes a person feel uncomfortable, frightened, threatened or harassed.
It includes any sexual acts that occur:
Perpetrators of sexual assault are generally known to the victim/survivor. They might be a friend, partner, acquaintance, family member or a stranger.
Research supplied by the Centre Against Sexual Assault (Victoria) indicates:
What should I do if I’m a victim/survivor of sexual assault?
The first thing you should know is that sexual assault is never the victim/survivor’s fault.
Your safety and wellbeing are a priority. Please make sure you are in a safe place and, if you are not, call Triple Zero (000). Seek medical attention to be treated for any potential injuries and protect yourself against other medical and physical impacts of sexual assault.
Staff are encouraged to reach out to internal ACU support services and external support services, regardless of where or when the incident occurred, or who the perpetrator was.
Consent is when an individual freely agrees to participate in an activity of a sexual nature.
It’s important to get consent before you start to get intimate – and then to respect that person’s answer and act accordingly.
The ACU Consent and Bystander Behaviour video is a resource for students and staff on the meaning of consent and why it is necessary to seek consent:
Consent is informed, voluntary and can be withdrawn at any time. Consent cannot be assumed and, if it is withdrawn, the activity must stop immediately.
It’s also important to understand that, in some circumstances, it is impossible for a person to give consent – such as when they are mentally or physically incapable. For example, consent cannot be given by someone who is:
Consent is about more than just sex. It is about recognising that everyone has the right to make their own decisions about their own body.
Consent is feeling:
Consent is not being:
Consent must be freely and voluntarily given by a person with the cognitive capacity to do so.
Consent is not implied by:
Consent cannot be assumed – it requires free agreement. A person has not given free agreement or consent if you:
Words or phrases that communicate consent
Consent needs to be communicated outwardly, through mutually understandable words and actions.
Failure to say ‘no’ does not mean someone is consenting. Silence is not consent.
Words or phrases that indicate someone does consent include:
Words or phrases that indicate someone doesn’t consent include:
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