Gender-based Violence

Preventing and responding to Gender-based Violence

Macquarie University is committed to ensuring our campus is a place where all members feel safe, respected and supported.

What is Gender-based Violence

Gender-based Violence means any form of physical, sexual, psychological, or economic violence, harassment, abuse or threats, based on gender that result in, or is likely to result in, harm, coercion, control, fear or deprivation of liberty or autonomy. Gender-based Violence includes:

• sexual assault
• sex-based harassment
• workplace sexual harassment
• stalking
• cyber abuse
• family and domestic violence
• and conduct that creates a hostile, intimidating, or humiliating environment on the basis of sex, gender, or sexuality, in both online and offline contexts.

Our commitment

Macquarie University is committed to ensuring that our campus is a place where all members feel safe, respected and supported. Gender-based Violence has no place at Macquarie. We are responding to the government’s Action Plan addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education and National Higher education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence by leading with accountability, transparency and purpose in the prevention of violence and provision of support for those affected.

A message from Professor S. Bruce Dowton MD, Vice-Chancellor and President, Macquarie University

How we will achieve it

Building on the work of the Respect.Now.Always project in preventing and responding to sexual misconduct, our response to Gender-based Violence is governed by University Council and led by a Gender-based Violence Steering Committee chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

The Steering Committee is informed by a Gender-based Violence Working Group comprising senior staff responsible for student and staff safety and wellbeing. The group will work closely with a wide range of students, staff and leadership to ensure extensive consultation across the University reflecting the core work areas of Safety and Risk, Education and Training, and Data and Reporting.

Current initiatives

The University has a number of initiatives that improve safety and support for students and staff.

Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Plan and Outcomes Framework 2026-2030

The Plan represents the University’s commitment to systemic, long-term cultural change guided by its values of collective ambition, bold innovation, purposeful collaboration and genuine care. It strengthens governance, enhances support services and centres the voices of diverse cohorts across the Macquarie Community, particularly those who are disproportionally affected by Gender-based Violence, including women, First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability and people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity.

Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Policy

This Policy outlines our commitment to providing an environment free from Gender-based Violence and establishes our obligations in preventing and responding to Gender-based Violence.

Gender Based Violence Prevention and Response Policy Guidelines

These Guidelines [PDF 196KB] provide information about the University’s Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Policy and to help you understand what happens if you make a Disclosure or Formal Report.

Gender-based Violence Investigation Procedure

This Procedure sets out the processes for Preliminary Assessments and Formal Investigations into Gender-based Violence involving Students and/or Staff.

Sexual Safety and Wellbeing Action Plan 2024-2026

Developed in consultation with students and staff stakeholders from across the University, this plan builds on our previous Respect. Now. Always initiatives.

You can view the launch message from the Vice-Chancellor and download [PDF 1MB] the Sexual Safety and Wellbeing Action Plan 2024-2026.

Safer Communities @ MQ

Safer Communities @MQ is a mandatory online educational unit that aids in fostering a safer environment by helping students understand important aspects of relationships.

The unit covers:

• consent in relationships
• what constitutes a healthy relationship
• sex education including safer sex, STI prevention and testing
• alcohol and drug safety
• information about reporting and support and security services

All Macquarie staff and students can access and complete the Safer Communities @ MQ course

Sextember

Sextember is Macquarie's annual sex-positive festival that embraces and educates our community on safe, healthy and respectful relationships with themselves and others.

Student education

The Student Equity and Inclusion team coordinate workshops and resources for students in the area of Gender-based Violence prevention and response. Our workshops are free for all Macquarie students to join and provide opportunities for students to develop skills which will help build a safer and more inclusive community for all. For more information contact the team at gbv@mq.edu.au.