
A message from Professor Andrew O’Neil
News 28 MayAn update from the Executive Dean of Law and Business Professor Andrew O'Neil.
07 September 2022
Share
The Safeguarding and Student Safety Advisory Committee held its second meeting of the year on 29 August 2022.
The committee meets three times a year, with its objective to oversee the implementation of activities and projects across the university in relation to the prevention of and response to sexual assault and sexual harassment, and safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk, as approved by the Vice-Chancellor and President.
The committee reviewed the initiatives that have commenced and those that have been completed, many of which were in response to the National Student Safety Survey.
Key initiatives include the update to the RNA public website to provide clear and accessible information for students and staff to understand sexual harassment, sexual assault and reporting options, including easy-to-identify links to resources relating to support services for students and staff and those supporting others through disclosures.
Education program offerings have continued to increase, with various departments and academic staff dedicating time to learning more about ACU’s commitment and approach to prevention and response to sexual misconduct. These program offerings were attended by staff from AskACU, Service Central, Properties and Facilities, HDR supervisors, various faculties and schools, and Libraries.
The committee was provided an update from the ACUNSA President Guiliano Gonzales about the new Student Safety Week initiatives in Week 9 of Semester 2 and the Student Safety Working Group. Students can now express interest in being a member of this working group, which will become an important voice for change, feedback and ideas that will feed into the Advisory Committee and participate in student-facing initiatives.
The design and development of the Respectful Relationships online module is underway, and the committee discussed the requirements around the compulsory nature of the course.
The committee agreed that the module will be compulsory for all students commencing in Semester 1, 2023. This further demonstrates ACU's commitment to awareness, prevention, and empowering students to feel safe and be safe on campus. The online module will cover what a respectful and equal relationship looks like, the statistics and impact of sexual harassment and sexual assault in Australia, understanding and applying consent, and how to report and support others through a disclosure.
The Libraries Directorate strives to uphold the position of ACU campus libraries as trusted, safe spaces for research and study, and is committed to the principles of Respect.Now.Always (RNA) as advocated by Universities Australia. The Library is eager to promote the university’s safety awareness campaigns to students and provide internal training to help ensure our library staff are aware of the university’s support services and reporting processes and have the skills to respond confidently and appropriately.
In response, National Manager Safeguarding and Student Safety Kellie Maxwell was engaged to provide online first responder / active bystander training to the library’s student-facing staff in July and August 2022. The sessions, which have been tailored to the needs of library staff with library-specific scenarios, have been very positively received.
The Advisory Committee heard an update on the launch of the Safety Support Network, which is comprised of specially trained staff who provide vital support to students who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, and family and domestic violence. The Safety Support Network also works to assist staff who are supporting a student.
Staff are now visible to the ACU community through their email signatures, posters on campus and lapel pins. For information on how to contact your local Safety Support Officer, visit the Safety Support Network webpage.
Expressions of interest for the next round of training are now open.
The Advisory Committee discussed the recent endorsement by the Vice Chancellor of the ACU Commitment Statement, which is available here for staff to view. This commitment statement supports the recent launch of the Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk Policy and Procedure, the development of resources and guidelines relating to Professional Boundaries and, ultimately, the work of the Institute of Child Protection Studies. These documents will be available on the Safeguarding Portal.
The committee also discussed the need for a review of areas of the university that deal directly with children, young people and adults at risk to identify which areas require support and advice to address safeguarding risks within their activity risk assessments.
The final Advisory Committee meeting for 2022 is set for 16 November 2022.
For further information regarding the Safeguarding and Student Safety Advisory Committee please contact Kellie Maxwell, kellie.maxwell@acu.edu.au.
An update from the Executive Dean of Law and Business Professor Andrew O'Neil.
Expect a few email notifications as we prepare to welcome you to Viva Engage next week.
ACU is developing a new Education and Student Success Plan to ensure our university continues to provide a high-quality, student-centred learning experience. Find out how you can contribute to the pla...
A reminder to all academic staff that the mandatory Notice of Intent, for those intending to apply for promotion in the 2025 round, must be submitted by 11.59pm this Friday (30 May).
Include an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in Professional Term 4 (202547).
Register for these 15-minute sessions to learn more about the variety of online researcher profile platforms and what is involved in setting up, linking and updating your profile.
Lecturers-in-charge can make a direct determination of Poor Academic Practice (PAP) for students who engage in minor forms of academic misconduct. Learn why they can be valuable to staff and students.
You're invited to join your Campus Community of Learning Advancement - a professional learning community focused on collaborative workplace learning.
A message from the Executive Dean Faculty of Education and Arts Professor Mary Ryan.
The Semester 1 2025 Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys will close on 29 June. Students say they are more likely to complete the surveys if they are reminded in class and unders...
ACU librarians have recently begun using Rayyan for screening and collaboration. It is a free alternative to Covidence that can assist with systematic review workflows. Read more about Rayyan and othe...
The Academic Board Digest from meeting 02/2025 held on 15 April 2025 is now available.
Tomorrow, 15 May, is International Day of Families. To celebrate, let’s hear from ACU staff member Martina Donaghy about how flexible working has helped her manage care for her young daughter after re...
Student Advocacy Service is running an information session designed to provide staff with a clearer understanding of the scope of support available to students.
Explore the future of assessment with Interactive Orals. We’ll be joined by expert, Danielle Logan-Fleming to share valuable insights into this transformative model and its impact across disciplines.
A message from the Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers.
Academic promotions provides an opportunity to recognise and reward your achievements at your current level of appointment that warrant promotion to the next academic level. Register to attend an info...
Advance HE is offering free webinars on Student Success and Advance HE Fellowships in May and June as part of their Australasian Member Benefit Series.
Recent cyber-attacks on Australian organisations have highlighted the need to protect yourself online. Learn more about infostealers and what you can do to stay safe.
As artificial intelligence tools become part of everyday academic work, questions around copyright are more important than ever. This workshop on 22 May will focus on the copyright implications of usi...
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.