Bullying

Bullying involves repeated, unreasonable behaviour that poses a risk to health and safety. It can occur through various means, including direct, indirect, or digital communication. Examples include:

• Abusive or offensive language/comments
• Unjustified criticism or complaints
• Deliberate exclusion from activities
• Withholding vital information
• Spreading false information or rumours

Harassment and stalking

Harassment is unwanted behaviour that offends, intimidates, or humiliates, often based on attributes like gender, race, or disability.

Stalking is repeated actions causing fear or harm, such as:

• Following or monitoring someone
• Unwanted communications (online or offline)
• Offensive actions towards the person or their connections

Statistics show 1 in 10 Australians experience stalking. Report concerns immediately.

Discrimination

Discrimination involves treating someone unfairly due to attributes listed in the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld), such as age, gender, race, or disability.

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Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual behaviour that offends, intimidates, or humiliates.

Examples:

• Inappropriate jokes or comments
• Offensive gestures or material
• Unwelcome invitations or physical contact

Report an incident  Access support 

View Sexual Violence Prevention Action Plan

Sexual assault

Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual act without informed consent, which must be given freely and willingly. Lack of consent includes cases involving:

• Intimidation, fear, or pressure
• Influence of drugs/alcohol
• Being unconscious or underage

Report an incident Access support 

View Sexual Violence Prevention Action Plan

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Cyberbullying, sexting and social media misuse

Cyberbullying is intentional, repeated harmful behaviour via technology (e.g., threats, stalking, or offensive posts).

Sexting is sharing or receiving explicit images or videos through digital platforms.

Refer to Legal Aid Queensland's resources for more information.

Persistent complaints

Persistent unreasonable complaints may involve:

• Aggressive or intimidating communication
• Obsessive demands or unjustified complaints

Welfare concerns

For concerns about student welfare, such as homelessness or missing persons, contact Student Wellbeing or SafeUniSC.

If you are concerned that someone is a missing person contact the QLD Police Missing Person Unit.

The Student Guild also provides welfare support like food banks and tenancy advice.

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Threats of harm

Threats of harm may be a criminal offence.

For immediate support:

• On-campus: Contact SafeUniSC at 07 5430 1168
• Off-campus: Call 000

Legal Aid Queensland has further information for managing threats of harm including domestic violence orders, and peace and good behaviour orders.

Domestic and family violence

Domestic violence involves controlling behaviour in intimate relationships, often gendered in nature. Examples include physical, psychological, verbal, social, or financial abuse.

For support, contact SafeUniSC or the 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at 1800 811 811.

DV Connect outlines a wide range of abusive behaviours that can be adopted by perpetrators of domestic violence, and include, but are not limited to:

• Physical abuse includes physical assaults, threats of injury with objects or weapons, harm to children, denial of home access, and deprivation of basic needs like sleep or food.
• Psychological abuse involves behaviour, comments, or taunts that undermine self-esteem, personal security, or create a sense of vulnerability regarding safety or mental well-being. Examples include reckless driving, harming or threatening pets, making custody threats, or claiming that no one, including courts, would believe your story.
• Verbal abuse involves constant verbal put-downs, ridicule, name-calling, public or private humiliation, and insults targeting sexuality, body image, intelligence, or parenting abilities.
• Social abuse involves systematically controlling your interactions, such as who you see, speak to, or communicate with, as well as where you go or live, leading to social or geographical isolation from others.
• Financial abuse includes restricting access to money, providing an insufficient allowance, withholding funds legally owed to you (such as wages or welfare), or preventing you from seeking or maintaining employment.
• Damage to personal property involves using physical force or violence to intimidate by damaging or threatening to damage property or valuables, such as kicking walls, throwing objects, breaking doors, or harming furniture, cars, or personal belongings.
• Spiritual/cultural abuse involves preventing you from practising your chosen religion or cultural beliefs, or misusing religious or spiritual traditions to justify physical or other forms of abuse.
• Stalking involves causing constant fear by following, watching, calling, or messaging you, and waiting outside your home or workplace.
• Sexual abuse involves abuse of this nature is ANY forced or unwanted sexual contact or activity.

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Substance misuse

If you are concerned about alcohol or drug misuse you can seek support from UniSC Community Counselling Clinic or the Alcohol and Drug Information Service.

Additionally, if you are concerned about the impacts of a student's substance misuse on others, and you can let SafeUniSC through the online form, or by giving us a call.

Unreasonable behaviour

This includes victimising, humiliating, intimidating, or threatening actions deemed unreasonable under the circumstances.

Victimisation

Victimisation is unfair treatment due to involvement in a complaint process. This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

General safety concerns

If you have concerns for your safety or others’, SafeUniSC can assist with safety planning and referrals.