Any form of sexual misconduct, assault or harassment is never okay. If you think you have been the target of sexual misconduct, assault or harassment, it may be hard to know what to do or how to feel. 
 
What happened was not your fault. What you do next is your choice. 
 
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual misconduct, assault or harassment, then we encourage you to seek support.

You may not be certain if what you, or someone you know, experienced is considered sexual misconduct, assault or harassment. We encourage you to review the information below to understand how the university defines these. 

Sexual Misconduct 
Sexual misconduct is a form of harassment and is unacceptable behaviour of a sexual nature. It can include: 
  • sexual harassment
  • sexual violence 
  • intimate partner violence
  • sexual assault
  • grooming 
  • coercion or bullying with sexual elements 
  • sexual invitations and demands 
  • comments
  • non-verbal communication
  • creation of atmospheres of discomfort
  • promised resources or advancement in exchange for sexual access
The University’s student code of conduct defines sexual misconduct as any unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature that is committed without consent, by force, intimidation, or coercion. It includes rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, indecent exposure, image-based sexual abuse or so called “Revenge Porn”, and stalking. It includes online sexual misconduct, such a sextortion when someone threatens to share your private and sexual content online unless you meet their demands.
  
Sexual Assault
Sexual Assault is where one person intentionally touches another person sexually without their consent. It includes very serious assaults such as rape and sexual assault which involves penetration without consent, and also other unwanted physical contact such as:
  • groping 
  • kissing
  • pinching 
  • embracing 
Consent is agreeing by choice and having the freedom and capacity to make that choice. A person is free to make a choice if nothing bad would happen to them if they said no. Capacity is about whether someone is physically and/or mentally able to make a choice and to understand the consequences of that choice. 
 
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment can take many forms and it may look like:
  • making sexually degrading comments or gestures
  • being stared or leered at
  • unwanted or inappropriate sexual jokes or propositions
  • e-mails, social media or text messages with sexual content
  • unwelcome sexual advances and touching, forms of sexual assault
  • displaying sexually explicit pictures in a shared space, such as at work
  • up skirting
  • revenge porn 
Sexual harassment can happen in private but it often takes place in public spaces including workplaces, public transport and schools. Wherever it occurs, sexual harassment is a criminal offence. 

Stalking
Behaviours that could constitute stalking include:
  • following someone without their knowledge or in a way that may make them uncomfortable
  • contacting or attempting to contact someone when the person has said they do not want contact
  • monitoring social media or another communication method
  • loitering in a public or private place in order to see another person without their permission
  • watching or spying on a person
  • interfering with property or possession of a person
 
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