EOIs for Safety Support Network

ACU is launching the Safety Support Network to support students who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, family or domestic violence, inappropriate behaviour or who are experiencing suicidal ideation. We are seeking expressions of interest from ACU staff to become Safety Support Officers.

Why is ACU introducing a Safety Support Network?

The National Student Safety Survey results released in March 2022 indicated that very few ACU students knew where to make a report or where to seek support regarding incidents of sexual assault and sexual harassment. The survey also highlighted that very few students had confidence in ACU’s reporting process. ACU also acknowledges that providing compassion, empathy, and non-judgmental support to a student who discloses, can significantly improve the recovery of a student from a traumatic event. ACU is therefore launching the Safety Support Network to build the confidence, trust, and awareness of students to come forward and disclose and to ensure that we are providing a comforting and nurturing environment to do so.

What is the Safety Support Network?

The Safety Support Network is a group of specially trained staff who act as Safety Support Officers, a single point of contact to assist and support students who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, family or domestic violence, or some other similar form of inappropriate behaviour which makes them feel unsettled or threatened, and/or who are experiencing suicidal ideation.

Safety Support Officers will also act as a single point of contact to assist other staff who are supporting students through a disclosure.

What training will Safety Support Officers be required to do?

Staff who nominate and are approved to become Safety Support Officers for the Safety Support Network will be taken through a full day of training.

Visit the Expression of Interest form to find out more about the role of Safety Support Officers and what the training will cover.

When will the training be run?

Training will be run face-to-face in early June:

• Brisbane staff – 31 May or 1 June 2022, Brisbane Campus
• Ballarat and Melbourne staff – 2 or 3 June, Melbourne Campus
• Canberra and Sydney (Blacktown, North Sydney, Strathfield) staff – 7 or 9 June, North Sydney Campus

Who should apply?

Professional and academic staff in key student-facing roles which have a close relationship with students.

Staff need to have the capacity to allocate two - four hours a week when a student disclosure is received. Staff must have supervisor approval prior to nomination.

What qualities and attributes in staff are we looking for?

• confident communicators
• non-judgmental and active listeners
• patient
• respectful and trustworthy
• empathetic and compassionate
• committed to responding in accordance with university procedures

Find out more about the role of Safety Support Officers and submit an Expression of interest form

For further information, please email respectandsafety@acu.edu.au.