Respect and Safety
Make a disclosure
You can make a disclosure on behalf of yourself, someone else or anonymously, and it could relate to any of the following:
– Sexual Misconduct
– Bullying and/or discrimination
– Harassment
– Gender-based violence
The above forms allow you to share information about an incident in a way that feels safe for you.
If you choose to submit an identified disclosure, the Student Success Centre (SSC) will reach out to discuss how we can best support you. You can make a disclosure at any time, and you can still access confidential help through the SSC without submitting this form.
If you choose to report anonymously, please be aware that we won’t be able to contact you, offer support directly, or provide updates, and we may not be able to investigate further.
ICMS is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and inclusive environment. Clearly defined standards of behaviour and conduct apply to all enrolled students. By upholding the Student Code of Conduct, students contribute to a learning environment that is safe, supportive, and productive for everyone.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mental health refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and behave, and plays a key role in how we handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions. Good mental health helps individuals cope with everyday challenges and contribute positively to their communities.
Our Commitment to Student Wellbeing
At ICMS, we believe that mental health is essential to academic success and personal development. We are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where every student feels empowered to thrive.
Our mental health and wellbeing goals are to:
- Promote positive mental health and wellbeing across our student community
- Support students with resources, services, and compassionate care
- Reduce the impact of mental health challenges and combat stigma
- Educate students on mental health through tools, information, and skill-building opportunities
- Create a community where students feel safe, heard, and supported.
Bullying and Harassment
Bullying
Bullying is the repeated and intentional infliction of harm, whether physical, emotional, or psychological on an individual or group. It often occurs within relationships marked by a power imbalance and can lead to serious physical or mental health consequences.
Bullying can happen face-to-face, online, or through other forms of communication.
For more detailed information, refer to the Australian Human Rights Commission factsheet.
Examples of repeated behaviour that may be considered bullying include:
- Deliberately excluding someone from a group (in person or online)
- Acting in a hostile or unpleasant manner towards someone
- Giving nasty looks, making rude gestures, name-calling, being disrespectful, or repeatedly teasing in a hurtful way
- Spreading rumours or lies, or impersonating someone online (e.g., using their social media account to post false messages)
- Engaging in pranks or “mucking around” that crosses the line and causes harm
- Harassing someone based on attributes such as race, sex, religion, gender identity, or disability
- Repeatedly and intentionally causing physical harm
- Stalking someone deliberately and persistently
- Misusing power over another person
Harassment
Harassment refers to any unwelcome behaviour directed at an individual based on personal characteristics, which can create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. In a college or university setting, this may involve targeting someone because of their:
- Race or ethnicity
- Gender identity or expression
- Sexual orientation
- Age
- Disability or neurodiversity
- Marital or relationship status
- Socioeconomic or financial status
Harassment can be verbal, physical, written, or online. It does not have to be repeated; a single incident may be considered harassment if it causes harm or distress. Certain forms of harassment are also unlawful under anti-discrimination laws.
Examples of harassing behaviour may include, but are not limited to:
- Making derogatory or offensive remarks about someone’s race, gender identity, or background
- Sharing jokes, memes, or comments that demean or stereotype a particular group
- Displaying offensive posters, images, or symbols in shared spaces or digital platforms
- Sending unsolicited sexually explicit messages, images, or videos via email, text, or social media
- Asking intrusive or inappropriate personal questions, especially those of a sexual nature or that make others uncomfortable
Stalking
Stalking involves deliberate and repeated behaviours such as contacting, following, or harassing an individual, which cause significant emotional distress and may lead the person to fear for their own safety or the safety of others.
Stalking often includes threats of violence or sexual innuendo intended to intimidate, control, or manipulate the targeted individual.
Examples of stalking behaviours include, but are not limited to:
- Repeated contact via phone calls, text messages, emails, or social media platforms
- Unauthorised access or hacking into someone’s online accounts (e.g., social media or email)
- Using technology or devices to monitor, track, or spy on a person without their consent
- Leaving unsolicited notes, messages, or items at a person’s home, workplace, or on their personal belongings such as a car
- Sending unwanted gifts persistently
- Physically following or repeatedly showing up wherever the person goes
- Persistent staring, gestures, or behaviours intended to intimidate or make someone feel unsafe or uncomfortable
Important: Stalking is a criminal offence and is taken very seriously by law enforcement.
Domestic and Family Violence
If you are experiencing domestic or family violence, support is available, regardless of your visa status. No one deserves to feel unsafe in their home or relationship.
If you are on a temporary visa
You may be eligible for assistance through the Australian Red Cross Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) Financial Assistance Program. This program provides financial support and connection to essential services for individuals on temporary visas experiencing domestic violence.
Visit the Australian Red Cross website for more information.
If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident
You may qualify for the Australian Government’s Escaping Violence Payment (EVP), which offers financial assistance and referral services for people leaving a violent relationship.
Recognising Domestic and Family Violence
Domestic and family violence is not limited to physical harm. It includes a range of abusive behaviours used to gain power or control over another person in a relationship or family setting. All forms of abuse are serious and unacceptable.
Types of abuse include:
- Physical abuse: Any use of physical force intended to cause harm, injury, or fear (e.g., hitting, pushing, choking).
- Sexual abuse: Any unwanted or coerced sexual activity, including within intimate relationships.
- Financial abuse: Controlling or restricting access to money, preventing someone from working, or misusing joint finances.
- Emotional abuse: Undermining a person’s sense of self-worth through insults, humiliation, intimidation, or manipulation.
- Social abuse: Isolating someone from family, friends, or support systems, including monitoring or restricting their social interactions.
- Spiritual or cultural abuse: Preventing someone from practising their religion, beliefs, or cultural traditions, or using those beliefs to justify abusive behaviour.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000.
For confidential support and advice, contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). A 24/7 national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.
Sexual Misconduct
Sexual Assault
When a person is forced, coerced, manipulated or deceived into sexual acts against their will, or when sexual activity occurs without their free and voluntary consent, this is sexual assault. It also includes situations where a child or young person under 18 is involved in or exposed to sexual activities.
Sexual assault is any form of sexual activity that happens without clear, voluntary and informed consent.
Sexual assault may involve attempted or actual sexual contact carried out without the active and ongoing agreement, verbal or physical communication, and free participation of the other person.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment occurs when a person makes an unwelcome sexual advance, a request for sexual favours, or engages in other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature towards another person, in circumstances where a reasonable person would expect that the person harassed would feel offended, humiliated or intimidated.
Consent
Consent means freely and voluntarily agreeing to take part in sexual activity. It also means taking active responsibility for ensuring that the other person is comfortable, willing, and clearly agrees to engage in that activity with you.
A person does not consent if they are manipulated, threatened, coerced, forced, or too affected by alcohol or drugs to understand what is happening.
Consent must be clear, voluntary and ongoing, it must be present each and every time you engage in any sexual activity. Never assume someone is consenting because they have agreed before, because of the way they act, dress, or for any other reason.
Consent can be withdrawn at any time, and once it is withdrawn, any further sexual activity must stop immediately.
Read our Sexual Harm Policy and Sexual Harm Procedures.
Support Services
- Campus Concierge: 0429 994 590 (24 hours, 7 days a week – support and assistance for students)
- Emergency Services: 000 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
- Lifeline: 131114 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
- QLife: 1800 184 527 (3pm to midnight, 7 days a week)
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
- 1800Respect: 1800 737 732 (24 hours, 7 days a week – domestic/family violence, or sexual assault)
- Online via the NSW Police Sexual Assault Reporting Option (SARO)
- In person to your local NSW Police station
- Over the phone to the 24-hour police assistance line on 131 444
What if I don't know what to do?
It is completely normal to feel unsure or overwhelmed. You don’t have to navigate this on your own, the Student Success Centre is here to guide you through your options.
Sharing what is going on can help you access the right support and make informed decisions about your next steps.
You can book an appointment with a Student Success Advisor for free, trauma-informed, confidential support using the Student Success Centre booking form, email [email protected] or call (02) 9466 1024.