![](/-/media/feature/micrositesnewsandevents/staffnews/suzanne-chambers-460px.jpg)
Innovation in practice
News 24 JulyA message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: Winter has so far been a season of future-thinking and action for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
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.
A message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: Winter has so far been a season of future-thinking and action for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
From Monday 22 July to Friday 9 August, Service Central will be available for extended hours to support staff.
A message from Vice President Father Anthony Casamento csma: From 5 – 9 August we will celebrate Mission Week across our campuses. This is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to cele...
Are you going to be a grandparent soon? Did you know ACU offers personal leave for staff to care for their child or grandchild after birth or adoption?
Discover the learning and career development opportunities that are available online, including the brand-new leadership development program, 'The Edge Series'.
Join ASCILITE and become a member of one of Australasia’s most vibrant professional technology enhanced learning communities, with more than 2200 members from tertiary institutions across Australia an...
Phones will be removed from all classrooms over the mid-semester break, from 23 September to 27 September.
Include an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in Professional Term 5 (202455).
Australia’s first five-time diving Olympian, a Kiwi gymnast and the woman who taught actor Chris Hemsworth to row will be among 15 ACU students and alumni to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Para...
A message from acting Executive Dean of Theology and Philosophy Associate Professor Richard Colledge: Recently, the faculty has hosted opportunities for reflection on the possibilities for reconcilia...
Are you on your parenthood journey? A practical guide is now available to support staff, and their supervisors, through the stages of becoming a parent and transitioning back to work.
Embark on an exhilarating journey into the mysterious world of enrolments. Register to attend an enrolment information session for Semester 2, 2024.
Join upcoming online workshops in preparation for Semester 2. Secure your spot today to learn how you can utilise Canvas and its features to enhance your teaching practices.
A limitless professional horizon awaits ACU students after its three IT programs were awarded certification by the nation’s most trustworthy player in the tech sector, the Australian Computer Society.
Following evaluation and voting by a panel of ACU judges, Co-Lab is delighted to announce Thomas Clark and Xavier Chalkley as the winners of the $1000 prize for the ACU Co-Lab Social Enterprise Pitch ...
ACU Library staff will participate in professional development activities on Thursday 18 July. While away from their usual posts, they'll be working together across three locations to plan our future ...
Applications for 2024 Teaching Development Grants, Citations and Awards are open. Explore guidelines and resources to enhance your teaching project’s impact or gain recognition for your contributions.
As we sit in this small window of the winter break gearing up for Semester 2, it's important to recognise that not everyone experiences this period as downtime. For many, workloads and busy lifestyles...
This week is NAIDOC Week, an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
ACU staff who are also members with UniSuper can now access free expert medical advice and services to support their health and wellbeing through MetLife 360Health.
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.