What happens after you tell someone

First, we’ll listen to you, respecting what you want to share.

Our priority will be to ensure your immediate safety and wellbeing. If you need medical care or other emergency services, we can help connect you.

We can have this confidential conversation in a way that feels most comfortable to you. This could be face-to-face, online or by phone.

You’re welcome to have a support person with you or to let us know about additional support you may need.

We’ll talk to you confidentially about the options available and what, if any, next steps you would like to take. This may include making a confidential disclosure or formal report. We will explain the process and answer your questions or connect you with the appropriate support services, including for academic support where needed. This conversation can be done anonymously and at your own pace.

You don’t have to decide straight away. Take your time and do what makes you feel safe and comfortable. You will still have access to support regardless of the choice you make and regardless of where or when the incident occurred. 

If you decide telling someone is as far as you would like to proceed and do not want the other party to know, we will record the incident as a confidential disclosure and talk you through your support options on and off campus. You might choose to seek support from areas at Curtin which include:

• Curtin Psychological and Counselling Services (If you are already engaged with this service, the counsellors will be able to talk you through our options as well)
• Curtin Student Guild’s Student Assist (This Curtin Student Guild service is independent from the University)

You might choose to seek external support from:

• Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline (WA)
  Support for all Western Australians including women, with or without children, who are experiencing family and domestic violence in Western Australia. Phone: 1800 007 339.
• Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline (WA)
  Provides information and referrals for men who are concerned about their violent and abusive behaviours, and for male victims of family and domestic violence in Western Australia. Phone: 1800 000 599.
• Sexual Assault Resource Centre (WA)
  Provides a range of free services to people affected by sexual violence. Phone: (08) 6458 1828 or free call 1800 199 888.
• 1800RESPECT 
  The National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service is a free service available 24/7 by calling or texting 1800 737 732 or on their website.
• Full Stop Australia
  Full Stop Australia provides free, 24/7, confidential, trauma-informed support for people affected by sexual, domestic and family violence, and works to strengthen prevention and response through advocacy, education and training. Phone: 1800 385 578.
• 13YARN
  For Indigenous Australians — ‍13YARN is an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders crisis support line. Available 24/7. Phone: 13 92 76
• Qlife
  QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Webchat on home page or phone: 1800 184 527.

If you choose, we can also give you information about other options available to you, including contacting the police, applying for a restraining order or navigating Centrelink supports.

If you choose to make a formal report and have Curtin investigate the incident, our Safer Community Team or Student Wellbeing Advisory Service can help you to make that report with the appropriate area at Curtin.

Formal reports can be made about the behaviour of a member of the Curtin community and could result in the matter being assessed and investigated under relevant University processes.  

Unless you choose to lodge a formal report, conversations with the Safer Community Team and Student Wellbeing Advisory Service will remain confidential and be managed as a confidential disclosure. 

For international students wanting to discuss these options, know that this will not impact your student visa.  

We’ll will work alongside you to develop a tailored safety plan that reflects your needs and concerns. If you have concerns about your safety on or off campus, we’ll work with you to understand those concerns, assess any risks and identify practical strategies to help you feel safe. For example, if you are concerned about moving around, some support options that may be discussed include:

• Identifying safe locations on and off campus and people you can contact if you need assistance.
• Discussing after-hours safety arrangements.
• Using the SafeZone app and understanding it’s safety and emergency functions
• Arranging safety escorts with Safer Community Team to or from class, on-campus accommodation, your vehicle or bus stop.
• Discussing with Safer Community Team travel routes around campus and any adjustments that may support your sense of safety.

Where appropriate, they’ll collaborate with relevant services such as WA Police to help ensure your safety is fully supported.

If you choose to lodge a formal report, depending on the circumstances and relevant university processes, safety measures may include arrangements to minimise or prevent contact between you and the other party. For example, this may include informing the other party not to contact you and exploring what minimal contact looks like around the physical spaces on campus.

If you need it, we’ll connect you with ongoing wellbeing and academic support within Curtin such as a referral to Psychological and Counselling Services for counselling support and the Academic Registrar’s Office for academic support. Academic support may include assistance with assessment extension application or other academic arrangements.  

If Curtin can’t give you the support you need, we’ll support you to engage with the relevant support external to Curtin.