You can disclose or report an incident to someone at Griffith at any time. It’s on your terms
Individuals are encouraged to notify the University about incidents of sexual harm and threatening or concerning behaviour. You can make a disclosure to inform the University about an incident, make an anonymous report, or lodge a formal report that will result in the University undertaking an investigative process. The University supports individuals to choose whichever course of action is best for them and is committed to supporting the wellbeing of those impacted.
What are the options?
If you have experienced sexual harm or other concerning behaviours you might not be sure about where to go for support or to report.
This disclosure flowchart can give you an overview of what your options are, both at and external to Griffith.
You can also view the flowchart in an accessible Word document.
Speak to someone about options
You might want to speak to someone at Griffith about your reporting, disclosure and support options:
- Student Safety and Wellbeing
- Counsellor, Violence Response and Prevention
- SASH Responder network
- Harassment & Discrimination Contact Officer network
- one of Griffith's four Student Associations (Griffith University Gold Coast Student Guild, Griffith Student Representative Council (SRC), Griffith University Postgraduate Student Association (GUPSA), or Gold Coast Association of Postgraduate Students (GCAP)
Accessing immediate support
The Mental Wellbeing Support line can provide immediate wellbeing or crisis assistance for students 24 hours, 7 days a week.
The service can support any student needing assistance, including those who are unable to access a same-day appointment with a Counsellor, Chaplain or Mental Health Nurse, or who require support outside of business hours.
In addition, the service can assist staff who are supporting students through a period of distress.
In an emergency, please call 000.
Options and services at Griffith
Student Safety and Wellbeing team
Confidential support for disclosures of concerning, threatening or inappropriate behaviour. Student Safety and Wellbeing will listen impartially to your concerns, help you find the support you need, and provide advice on your reporting options.
Counselling and wellbeing team
Free and confidential counselling for all students is offered through Student Health, Counselling and Wellbeing for a range of personal issues. Appointments can be booked online, or by calling Student Health, Counselling and Wellbeing on 5552 8734. (Gold Coast) or 3735 7299 (Nathan).
Priority appointments - Counsellor, Violence Response & Prevention
Students affected by personal violence (sexual harm, assault, harassment, domestic and family violence, intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation and abuse) can seek priority access to counselling appointments by contacting the Counsellor Violence Response and Prevention.
- phone (07) 5552 9600 (8.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday),
- email counsellor@griffith.edu.au, or
- request to be contacted by the Counsellor.
24/7 wellbeing and crisis support
Students can access immediate wellbeing and crisis support 24/7 via the Griffith University Mental Wellbeing Support Line.Phone 1300 785 442 or text 0488 884 146 for support, 24 hours/7 days.
Staff supporting students can also contact this service for assistance.
Workplace wellbeing and counselling program
Staff can access crisis support and specialised domestic and family violence counselling via the Workplace Wellbeing and Counselling Program. HDR students can access the staff or student counselling services.
We provide a range of on-campus medical and ancillary services for Griffith students and staff, services include:
- GP clinics (doctors) at the Gold Coast and Nathan campuses
- sexual health advice including testing and treatments
- mental health consultations with a nurse, psychologist or psychiatrist
You can make an appointment with Griffith Health and Medical services online or by calling 07 3735 7299 (Nathan) or 07 5552 8734 (Gold Coast). In case of a medical emergency, call 000 (112 from mobile phones) and ask for Ambulance.
There are many avenues to make a disclosure of harm or violence at Griffith.
- Submit a Disclosure online: you may choose to submit an informal disclosure online, providing relevant details about the incident via the Report a Concern form. The form provides the option to proceed with an informal disclosure.
- Online disclosures submitted with valid contact details will be issued with a unique ID should you chose to escalate the disclosure to a formal report at another time.
- Anonymous disclosure: An individual can choose to disclose their identity or remain anonymous. An anonymous disclosure may be appropriate if the individual does not wish the University to respond but would like a record made of the incident.
- Submit a Disclosure on someone’s behalf: During conversation with a Griffith support service, the individual may request that an online disclosure is submitted on their behalf.
- A person may lodge a disclosure or reporting form on behalf of another student or staff at their request.
You can find out more about the process of lodging a disclosure in the disclosure flowchart, and under 'Reporting' on the FAQs page.
You must lodge a formal report to the University to request a formal investigation into an incident or behaviour. A formal report can be lodged using the Report a Concern form at any time following an incident and while the alleged perpetrator remains a student or staff member of the University.
While the University’s ability to take any action with regard to the conduct of individuals who do not have an ongoing relationship with the University may be very limited, the University encourages individuals to raise concerns about harmful and disrespectful behaviours.
When lodging a formal report, you will be asked to provide as much information as possible, including:
- specific details e.g. what, when, where and any relevant background information;
- actions you have taken to resolve the issue (if appropriate);
- contact you have had with the student who is the subject of your concern;
- contact you have had with University staff regarding the behaviour or incident and any resolution;
- whether you want the University to investigate the issue with the alleged perpetrator, acknowledging procedural fairness (the person of concern will be given the opportunity to defend and respond to the allegation); and
- outcome/s you are seeking as a result of the report.
You can find out more about the process of lodging a formal concern in this disclosure flowchart and under 'Reporting' on the FAQs page
Options and services outside Griffith
National and Statewide help lines
1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732 is a 24/7 information, counselling and support service, available on phone, text (0458 737 732) and web chat, supporting people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse.
DV Connect provides a 24/7 domestic violence helpline (1800 811 811) and a sexual assault helpline (1800 010 120) offering telephone support and counselling to anyone – women, men and young people – who have been sexually assaulted or abused and for anyone who is concerned or suspects someone they care about might have been assaulted or abused. The sexual assault helpline operates 7.30am – 11.30pm, 7 days.
Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 is a private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25. Anytime. Any reason.
13YARN (13 92 76) provides a confidential, culturally safe space to connect with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter 24 hours/7 days.
MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978 is a telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime.
QLife:1800 184 527 provides anonymous and free LGBTQI+ peer support and referral via phone and web chat, 3.00pm to midnight, 7 days.
Sexual Assault Services in Queensland
A number of local services are available across Queensland to assist and support individuals who have been sexually assaulted recently, or in the past.
Queensland Government Domestic & Family Violence portal
Sexual abuse and violence can occur within relationships. The Queensland Government provides information, services and support for people impacted by domestic and family violence.
Anonymous report to Police
Many survivors have reasons for not wanting to officially report sexual assault, abuse or rape to police. The Queensland Police Service Alternative Reporting Options (ARO) provides survivors of sexual assault with an option to disclose the details of their assault anonymously via an online or paper based form. During the ARO process, survivors are asked to disclose as much detail as possible about their assault. Police can use this information to assist other prosecutions against an offender and protect the community using intelligence gathered to target an offender and reduce repeat offending. Survivors can opt to have a police officer contact you to discuss your situation.
Formal complaint to police
If you have just been sexually assaulted or raped, and are in immediate danger, call 000 (or 112 from mobile phones) and ask for police, otherwise, you can submit a complaint to the Queensland Police Service at any time by contacting or visiting the local Police Station.
Making a complaint to Police will involve providing details of what happened during the assault, and requesting that the police investigate the matter. Once a complaint has been received, police will commence an investigation.
Police recommend that you do not wash or bathe yourself, do not wash or destroy the clothing you were wearing during the assault and do not disturb the physical environment where the assault occurred. A forensic medical examination can be undertaken for the purpose of collecting and preserving evidence for a police complaint.
Further information about the role of police is available on the Queensland Police Service website.
Reporting Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination
Upon completion of the University’s response process, a student may choose to lodge a complaint about bullying, harassing or discriminatory behaviour with an external body such as the Queensland Human Rights Commission, the Australian Human Rights Commission or the Queensland Ombudsman.
Reporting online behaviours and incidents
A student may choose to report cyberbullying (children under 18), adult cyber abuse, image-based abuse and illegal and restricted content to the eSafety Commissioner at any time. eSafety has powers relating to cyberbullying, image-based abuse, and illegal and harmful online content. They can investigate behaviours, provide support to victims and determine whether behaviours are in breach of the Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth).