We’ve all found ourselves in a situation where we noticed something didn’t feel quite right. Even when we know a situation is wrong, stepping in can feel really hard. A lot of the time, it feels easier to stay silent.
Often, gender-based violence goes unrecognised because there is a ‘traditional’ understanding of what violence should look like. However, violence is not always physical – it can be: verbal, sexual, emotional, mental, socio-cultural, spiritual, financial, and occur online.
When we witness disrespectful behaviour, it is common to get caught up in the bystander effect for a range of reasons:
- The belief that someone else will act
- It feels too risky to intervene
- You’re unsure what to do
Becoming an active bystander challenges a culture of harassment and reduces the trauma felt by everyone involved. There are 5 different methods you can use when choosing to call out disrespectful behaviour: Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, and Direct.
Win on campus
On Tuesday 10 March, we will be hosting an interactive quiz to create a more respectful campus environment.
The steps are simple:
- Answer a quick respect-based question
- Challenge yourself by seeing how many goals you can get in a short time
- Win a prize – we have YETI bottles, tote bags, stickers, and notebooks up for grabs.
Respect starts with you. Be the person who starts a conversation with your peers.
Further Support
If you have concerns about the safety, security, or wellbeing of yourself or others, you can report an incident online, call our Safer Community Team on 08 9266 4444, or if it is an emergency call 000 for immediate police or ambulance assistance.
