Gender-based violence

If you’ve experienced gender-based violence, we want you to know that you’re not alone.

Gender-based violence is any behaviour that causes harm or fear, or seeks to control someone based on gender.

It can occur within a family, a relationship, a friendship, a community group, or from someone you don’t know. It can occur in person or online, and can take many forms.

Gender-based violence includes domestic, family, and sexual violence. It includes harassment, abuse, and threats, or actions that take away someone’s freedom or right to say no.

No matter what form it takes, it is against the law and is unacceptable, both at Charles Darwin University and across Australia.

Gender-based violence often impacts women and gender diverse people, but we recognise that anyone, including men, can experience violence, and we want to support all people who experience violence.

If you do experience violence, it is important that you understand your support and reporting options.

You can choose to share your experience with CDU, the police, or a community support organisation. You may also decide that you are not ready to take these steps.

Whatever you decide, we will support you.

You can share your experience of gender-based violence using the CDU reporting tool.

If you are a CDU student, this will not affect your visa or academic record. If you are a staff member, this will not affect your employment.

Whether you need support, advice, or just someone to talk to, CDU is here for you.

To learn more about gender-based violence, reporting options, or support services available, please visit the CDU Safer Communities webpage.

Remember, nobody should have to experience gender-based violence. If you or someone you know needs help, reach out.

You are not alone. We are here for you.

You can share your experience of gender-based violence with CDU by completing a Safety and Support disclosure. You may wish to share something that happened to you or to someone you are supporting, or about something you witnessed.

You can choose to make an identified disclosure or an anonymous disclosure.  Please be aware that while making an anonymous disclosure may limit the University's ability to fully respond to the incident and provide tailored support, your choice will be respected, and we're here to help in whatever way we can.

If you completed a Safety and Support Disclosure, and provided consent to be contacted, you will be contacted by a member of the Safer Communities team within 2 business days using your preferred contact method.

This staff member will explain what options are available to you, what support they can offer, and what next steps might look like.

This support may include:

• Checking on your safety and assisting you to develop a safety plan
• Implementing protective measures
• Supporting you to make a report to Police if you wish to do so
• Referring you to relevant support services both internal and external to CDU

If you do not wish to share your experience with CDU, you can still access support through CDU Counselling and/or Access & Inclusion.

CDU Counselling support students to grow or maintain their well-being. To request an appointment with a CDU Counsellor, please complete the CDU Counselling booking request form.

Access & Inclusion provide support for students to remain engaged with study during periods of, or following experiences of, gender-based violence. For more information about this service or to book an appointment click.

If you have completed the CDU Safety and Support disclosure tool and provided consent to be contacted, you will be contacted by a Senior People & Culture representative within 2 business days using your preferred contact method.

This staff member will explain what options are available to you, what support they can offer, and what next steps might look like.

This support may include:

• Checking on your safety and assisting you to develop a safety plan
• Implementing protective measures
• Supporting you to make a report to Police if you wish to do so
• Referring you to relevant support services both internal and external to CDU

Learn more about support available to CDU staff who have experienced domestic, family, sexual, and gender-based violence.

Remember, if you do not wish to share your experience with the Police or CDU, you can still access support. This includes through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) using the following contacts:

• If you are based in the Northern Territory, you can access support through EASA by calling 1800 193 123
• If you are based within Alice Springs, you can access support through Solace Consulting by calling 1800 931 265

All employees can access support through Converge by calling 1300 687 327

The National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (the Code) was developed by the Federal Government in partnership with leading experts, advocacy groups, victim-survivors, and the higher education sector. It sets clear, sector-wide standards for preventing, reporting, and responding to all forms of gender-based violence, defined as, “any form of physical or non-physical violence, harassment, abuse or threats, based on gender, that results in, or is likely to result in, harm, coercion, control, fear or deprivation of liberty or autonomy”.

The Code applies across the entire university environment, including on-campus conduct, digital spaces, university-affiliated activities, placements, and off-campus events. All Australian universities, including CDU, are required to embed these standards into their policies, training, support systems, and reporting processes to ensure a whole-of-organisation approach to safety and response.

In October 2025, we invited our CDU community to share your feedback and diverse perspectives on how CDU is currently preventing and responding to gender-based violence, as well as the barriers people encounter in this space. Your insights directly informed the development of action items within our Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Plan.

With support from the team that leads the Your Voice Student Network, a report has been developed that synthesises the key messages and themes from the survey. As part of our commitment to transparency and amplifying community voices, this report is now available.

We understand that gender-based violence impacts many within our community. Remember that support is available to you. Please take note of the support services and helplines which can be found at the bottom of this page.

CDU’s Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response Action Plan sets out how we will take practical, evidence-based steps to prevent violence and support those affected. Guided by the National Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence, the Plan outlines how CDU will strengthen prevention, respond with care and integrity, and build a culture where everyone can thrive.

Our Prevention and Response Plan reflects a whole-of-university approach, guided by the principle of the Code and integrated with CDU’s Gender Equality Action Plan. It recognises the evidence linking gender inequality and gender-based violence, and includes targeted actions across all campuses, including student accommodation.