Sexual harassment, assault, and abuse can happen anywhere, including online. For that reason, this year the theme is ‘Building Safe Online Spaces Together’.

Building safe online spaces becomes possible when we practice digital consent, intervene when we see harmful content and behaviours, and promote online communities that value respect, inclusion, and safety.

You can find resources about SAAM and this year’s theme online.

Support

If you have been affected by sexual harm, please know you are not alone and there is support available.

At Murdoch, we take a trauma-informed approach in our Sexual Harm Policy, which was released late last year, with Sexual Harm Support Officers (SHSO), who can help engage you with specialist services, make a report, and understand university processes. 

Members of the Murdoch community who have experienced sexual harm are encouraged, when they feel ready, to make a disclosure to a SHSO in the Access, Wellbeing and Equity team online through our incident notification form or through the Murdoch Safe App. Disclosures are treated confidentially and can be made anonymously.

On campus, Murdoch University Health Medical and Counselling services provide a range of services for students and staff. Both services can usually offer appointments within two working days, and the Medical service provides walk-in appointments with the University nurse for urgent situations.

You can also access 24-hour support through the services listed on our Respect Now Always website, such as SARC, 1800 Respect and Lifeline.

You can also find out how you can support someone after an incident.