Respect Network
The Respect Network is a network of staff and students at UQ dedicated to cultivating a university environment free from all forms of sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment.
The Respect Network was launched in March 2025 to give passionate UQ staff and students the opportunity to learn more about, contribute to, and engage in prevention initiatives in their areas of the university.
What is the Respect Network
Respect Network Ambassadors are UQ staff and students who promote a safe, respectful, inclusive, and violence-free culture at UQ by working alongside UQ Respect and Workplace, Diversity and Inclusion. Respect Network Ambassadors play an active role in the prevention of violence, harassment and discrimination by:
Attending learning and professional development opportunities organised by the Respect Network
Promoting key campaigns, resources and services from UQ Respect and Workplace Diversity and Inclusion within their networks
Volunteering at Respect Network events to help the network reach a wider audience
Using their voice to influence key prevention initiatives at UQ
Respect Network Ambassadors are not expected to be specialists in the prevention and response to sexual misconduct, discrimination and/or harassment. Instead, Respect Network Ambassadors represent UQ community members who believe that sexual violence, discrimination and harassment have no place in the UQ community and want to do something about it. Creating culture change requires us all to understand the roles we can each play in our day-to-day lives to create safer communities, whether we're studying, working or connecting at UQ.
Aims and objectives
The Respect Network aims to:
Cultivate a university environment/s free from all forms of sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment
Identify and address barriers faced by students and staff in accessing information, support and reporting in relation to sexual misconduct, harassment and discrimination
Drive collaboration and consultation to ensure all university initiatives are designed with key, relevant populations in mind
Create a vast community network of staff and students engaged in continuous learning to ensure up-to-date knowledge and approaches to prevention
Joining the Respect Network
Volunteer with us (and learn with us)!
All Respect Network members must complete training to join the program. The network aims to engage staff and students from across all schools, faculties, institutions, student societies, residential colleges and organisational units across UQ.
Student Training
To become a Respect Network Student Ambassador, register your interest through our Expression of Interest (EOI) form and complete a training session. To join:
- Register your interest to join the Respect Network through our EOI Form.
- Complete Prevention in Action: Creating a culture of respect at UQ training via Studenthub when notified.
- After completing this session, you will be asked if you would like to officially join the Respect Network.
Joining the Respect Network
Volunteer with us (and learn with us)!
All Respect Network members must complete training to join the program. The network aims to engage staff and students from across all schools, faculties, institutions, student societies, residential colleges and organisational units across UQ.
Staff Training
To become a Respect Network Staff Ambassador, register for training via Workday to register your interest. To join:
- Sign up and attend the Respect Network Workshop 1: Prevention in Action workshop. Here, the UQ Respect team will introduce you to the program and teach you about prevention, its importance and how to enact it within your work spaces.
Sign up and attend the Respect Network Workshop 2: Responding to Gender-Based Violence training to learn more about how to safely respond to disclosures of violence, harassment and discrimination.
After completing the second session, you will be asked if you would like to officially join the Respect Network.
Listen, Support, Refer
All members of the network are equipped through training to safely and appropriately respond to disclosures of sexual violence and harassment. Please note that members of the Respect Network are not counsellors and cannot provide counselling support. Respect Network members are there to provide support and information to the UQ community by utilising UQ’s Listen, Support, Refer model. This model is applicable to people of all knowledge and skill levels to understand their roles and boundaries when receiving a disclosure to enable safe, trauma-informed and survivor-centred practice.
For counselling support, support making a report, academic adjustments, accommodation or financial support, along with other forms of support, please contact the Sexual Misconduct Support Unit (SMSU).
Further information
If you have any questions about the Respect Network, please contact us at uqrespect@uq.edu.au.
