Respect. Now. Always.
Sexual assault and sexual harassment support
If you have witnessed or experienced sexual assault, harassment, domestic violence, bullying or discrimination, you are not alone, and it is not your fault.
The University encourages you to seek support and report. You are in control of what happens next.
What is sexual assault?
Sexual assault is a crime which carries serious penalties. It covers a range of sexual acts which take place without a person's consent, or where their consent has been obtained through deception or coercion, or where their consent is withdrawn.
What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature that makes a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated and which a reasonable person having regard to all the circumstances would have anticipated as likely to cause offence, humiliate or intimidate.
Examples of sexual harassment include:
- non-consensual physical contact, such as pinching, touching, grabbing, kissing or hugging
- sexual assault
- staring or leering at a person or parts of their body
- persistent requests to go on dates that are refused
- suggestive comments about a person’s body or appearance
- sexual jokes or comments and sexually explicit conversations
- displays of offensive material, for example, showing pornographic materials
- accessing or downloading sexually explicit or inappropriate material from the internet
- sending rude or offensive emails, attachments or text messages (including pictures of body parts)
- advances via online platforms
- intrusive questions about a person's private life or physical appearance
- disclosure of a person’s private personal information without their permission
- sexually explicit gifts
- conduct that creates a sexually inappropriate workplace or study environment.
What is consent?
Consent is an agreement between people to engage in a sexual activity.
- Consent means freely choosing to say ‘yes’ to a sexual activity.
- Consent is needed for any kind of sexual activity, from touching, or kissing to intercourse.
- It’s always clearly communicated - there should be no mystery or doubt.
- There are laws around who can consent and who can't.
- Without consent, any sexual activity is against the law and can be harmful.
Silence or lack of resistance does NOT equal consent.
Learn more about consent in the free online course, Consent Matters.
Seek urgent assistance
If you need urgent help or your life is in danger call Emergency Services
If you are on-campus call CDU Security (Australia-wide 24/7)
1800 646 501 (free call)
24/7 Wellbeing Support Line
1300 933 393 (free call)
SMS 0488884144
What to do if you have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment
Ensure you are safe, in a safe place and seek 24/7 support from any of the following:
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In an emergency, contact police on 000.
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In the NT, contact the NT Sexual Assault Referral Centre for immediate and confidential advice and support on (08) 8922 6472.
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Throughout Australia, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or see support services across Australia listed at www.1800respect.org.au.
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Contact CDU Security through the SafeZone App, or call 1800 646 501.
Making a disclosure, report or complaint
Charles Darwin University is committed to providing a safe, secure and supportive environment. If you, or someone you know, has experienced sexual misconduct, we encourage you to lodge a report.
You can lodge a disclosure, make a formal report, or report anonymously. An anonymous report may limit the University’s capacity to effectively support you or respond to the incident.
If you choose to report an incident of sexual assault or sexual harassment, this will not affect your academic record. For international students, reporting an incident does not affect your visa.
For all emergencies, call 000 to contact the police. If you are on-campus and able, please contact CDU Security on 1800 646 501 to assist, and to meet and direct emergency services to your location.
Note: You may need to open a private browsing window to access this reporting link if you have recently used LogIT.
Reporting to the University
CDU is committed to preventing and responding to sexual assault and sexual harassment, and to support members of its community who have had these experiences.
You can access support and assistance through the following:
- CDU Security on 1800 646 501 or via the SafeZone App.
- 24/7 Support Line on 1300 933 393.
- Lodge a report via Make a report. Making a report enables you to disclose a current or past incident of sexual misconduct that either:
- happened to you directly
- happened to someone else you are supporting
- or you witnessed.
What happens if I make a report of sexual assault or sexual harassment?
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A report - A formal investigation will be conducted in strict confidence. If consent is given, you will be contacted to enable support.
- A disclosure - You are telling us about an incident, experience, or observation to seek support and guidance. Contact is made to enable support.
- A complaint - The Complaints Management Unit will investigate complaints. For more information, visit the Complaints webpage.
Sexual assault referral centres
For support Australia-wide:
If you have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment and would like to speak to someone for support or information, 1800RESPECT can provide counselling, information, and referrals 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The website has a service directory to locate services in your area.
1800 737 732
For support in the Northern Territory:
NT sexual assault referral centres (SARC)
Darwin: (08) 8922 6472
Katherine: (08) 8973 8524
Tennant Creek: (08) 8962 4361
Alice Springs: (08) 8955 4500 (Monday to Friday, 8 am - 4.21 pm)
Alice Springs: 0401 114 181 (After-hours)
You can call Darwin and Alice Springs 24 hours a day to get help for recent incidents of sexual assault.
Ruby Gaea provides free, confidential counselling and support to women and children who have experienced sexual assault at any time in their lives.
Darwin: (08) 8945 0155