Report
It is the survivor's right to choose whether to report rape, sexual assault or sexual harassment.
In brief:
As a victim/survivor, you have the right to decide if, how, and when you wish to disclose, make a report or take any other further action.
Students can access support from the Sexual Misconduct Support Unit (SMSU) regardless of whether or not they wish to make a report.
Staff members can access support from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
By making a disclosure to the SMSU, you are not initiating a formal, investigative process. Your information will be used to put you in contact with a member of the Sexual Misconduct Support Unit (SMSU), who can provide you with information about your reporting options. If you do decide to make a formal report, the SMSU can provide support throughout the reporting and investigation process.
Need emergency support?
If you are experiencing an emergency or need urgent support in relation to an experience of sexual assault or harassment, then you can call:
- +61 7 3365 3333 UQ Security for on campus emergencies
- 000 for immediate police or ambulance assistance
- 1800 Respect 1800 737 732 for 24/7 counselling support
- Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) 07 3646 5207 for 24/7 Acute Response
- External community support options in Queensland
Content Warning:
This page includes content relating to sexual misconduct which may be distressing for some people.
There are many reasons why someone might choose, or choose not, to report their experience of sexual assault or harassment. UQ Respect supports the right of victim/survivors to choose if, how, and when they report their experience.
Deciding whether to make a report can be a difficult decision and many victim/survivors who decide to report do not do so immediately. It is never too late to make a report of sexual misconduct.
UQ's reporting options and procedures are designed to put the needs and wishes of the victim/survivor first, to ensure their safety and wellbeing. The SMSU, along with other community support services, can provide information about reporting options and pathways.
View the Student Support and Reporting Flowchart here.
Your Report Options
Making a Disclosure to the Sexual Misconduct Support Unit (SMSU)
You can make a disclosure of an experience of sexual misconduct to the SMSU via the disclosure form on the UQ Respect website.
By making a disclosure to the SMSU, you are not initiating a formal, investigative process. We will only use the information you provide to put you in contact with a member of the SMSU who can provide you information about your reporting options. The SMSU can also help you to access academic adjustments, accommodation and financial support. Students who are victim/survivors of sexual assault or harassment can access unlimited counselling sessions with an SMSU counsellor.
Make an Anonymous Disclosure
You can make an anonymous disclosure of sexual misconduct via the disclosure form.
If you choose to make an anonymous disclosure and do not provide any contact details, the SMSU will be unable to contact you to offer you support or discuss your reporting options. However, both identified and anonymous reports of sexual misconduct will enable UQ to identify patterns in behaviour and provide us with information that can help us make UQ a safer, more supportive space.
Please note: if you are reporting an incident that you witnessed or that happened to another person, you should not include details that could identify the person subjected to the sexual misconduct unless you have their express permission to do so.
Reporting to the University – For Students
You can make a formal report of sexual misconduct by contacting the SMSU.
The SMSU can provide you with more information about the formal reporting process. They can also provide you with support and guidance throughout the formal reporting process.
As part of the formal reporting process, an investigation will be required. You can have a support person present throughout the process.
Reporting to the University – For Staff
You can make a report of sexual misconduct by contacting the SMSU or contacting the HR Client Partnering Team. If you choose to make a formal report, the SMSU can provide you with case management support throughout the process. You can access counselling support through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
As part of the formal reporting process, an investigation will be required. You can have a support person throughout this process.
Make a Third-Party Report
You can make a report about an incident you have witnessed or have been made aware of via the online portal. You should not provide details that could identify the person subjected to the sexual misconduct unless you have their expressed permission to do so.
If a victim/survivor of sexual misconduct expresses that they do not want to make a report, or that they do not want a report made on their behalf, it’s important to listen to them and respect their choice. If you are concerned about a student’s wellbeing, you can request a welfare check.
Reporting to Police
It is the right of the victim/survivor to choose whether they want to make a report to Police. The SMSU can provide information and guidance around the police reporting process.
Reporting to the Police will not affect your ability to access support through the SMSU or to make a report to the University. If you have made both a formal report to UQ and a report to the Police, in some cases the University’s investigation process may be paused while the police investigation process takes place.
The Queensland Police website provides further information about reporting options and the investigation process.
Alternative Reporting Options (ARO)
ARO is an option for victim/survivors of sexual assault who want to provide Police with information about their experience, but do not want to make a formal complaint to Police. You have the option to make an anonymous report or elect to be contacted by a police officer to discuss your situation.
Police can use information provided through the ARO process to:
• assist other prosecutions against an offender; and
• protect the community by enabling police to devise strategies designed to reduce repeat offending.
You can learn more about ARO on the Queensland Police website.
Reporting to the eSafety Commissioner
eSafety is Australia’s independent regulator for online safety, and can help to remove serious online abuse, and illegal and restricted online content.
You can report forms of online sexual misconduct, such as image-based abuse to eSafety. Image-based abuse occurs when a person shares, or threatens to share, intimate/sexualised images or videos of someone without their consent.
You can make a report to eSafety via their website.
Other Reporting Options
Depending on the nature of your experience of sexual misconduct, there may be other reporting avenues available to you (for example, reporting to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency [Ahpra] or the Australian Human Rights Commission). The SMSU, along with other external support organisations, can provide further information about reporting options that may be available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is difference between submitting the disclosure form and submitting a formal report?
When you make a disclosure to the SMSU via the UQ Respect website, you are not initiating a formal, investigative reporting process. The information you provide will be used to connect you with a member of the SMSU, who will talk you through your options for support and reporting. You can submit a disclosure anonymously if you wish.
When you make a formal report, an investigation will take place. You will be notified at the conclusion of the investigation. The SMSU can provide you with guidance and support throughout this process.
Why should I make a disclosure?
There are lots of reasons why someone might choose, or choose not, to disclose or report their experience of sexual misconduct. Victim/survivors have the right to choose if, how and when they report their experience.
If you make a disclosure to the SMSU and include your contact details in the form this will enable a member of the SMSU to contact you and provide you with information and support. Both identified and anonymous reports enable UQ to identify patterns in behaviour and provide us with information that can help us make UQ a safer, more supportive space.
Someone has made a formal report about me. What happens next?
If someone makes an allegation of sexual misconduct against you, UQ will conduct a preliminary investigation. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, you could be issued with a Conduct Notice or a Formal Allegation Notice. The process for dealing with student misconduct is outlined in the Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy. Information about the process for dealing with staff misconduct is outlined in the Staff Code of Conduct.
You can access support throughout the investigative and disciplinary processes. The SMSU can provide information and guidance about support options available to respondents. Staff respondents are also able to access support through the EAP.
If I make a disclosure via the UQ Respect website, who has access to it?
Disclosures made via the online portal and in-person to the SMSU are only accessible to the SMSU.
UQ uses de-identified data collected through reports of sexual misconduct to identify patterns in behaviour and tailor resources to make UQ a safer, more supportive space.
If I make a formal report, who has access to it?
Formal reports that involve a student respondent are initially provided to the Student Conduct and Grievance Resolution Associate Director, Manager, and Academic Registrar.
Formal reports that involve a staff respondent are provided to the Integrity Unit and the Chief HR Officer, and may also be provided to Workplace Relations.
The SMSU is also notified of formal reports of sexual misconduct so that the person who made the report can be offered support.
Information relating to formal reports is kept confidential and will only be shared with people who need to know in order to investigate and respond to the incident. The SMSU can provide you with further information about the formal reporting process.
I am no longer a student/staff member at UQ. Can I disclose an incident that occurred while I was studying/working at UQ?
Yes, you can make a disclosure via the online portal regardless of when the incident/s occurred. You can choose to disclose anonymously or provide your details. If you provide your contact details, a member of the SMSU will contact you to discuss your support and reporting options with you.
