Bullying and harassment

The School of Medicine and Psychology and the ANU Medical Students' Society are committed to ensuring that all students feel safe and supported, learning in an environment free of bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination.

Bullying, Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Guidelines 2025 (PDF, 1.94 MB)

In this elegantly collated document you will find answers to the following pertinent questions:

What is bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination?
What can I do about it?
Why might I not report bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination, and why should I?
What do I do if I am experiencing or witnessing bullying, sexual harassment or discrimination?
Who should I contact (inside and outside the School of Medicine and Psychology)?

Sexual harassment

Experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment can be extremely distressing and overwhelming.

Sexual harassment is any unwanted, unwelcome or uninvited behaviour of a sexual nature that results in a person feeling humiliated, intimidated or offended.

It can involve physical contact or verbal remarks of a sexual nature.

Find details about how to disclose or report an incident of sexual harassment and/or sexual assault and how to access the support available both at ANU and through community services.

Bullying and discrimination

Bullying can cover a range of behaviours, both subtle and overt. It is considered to be any repeated behaviour that is unreasonable and undesirable, and has the potential to cause harm to the person experiencing the behaviour.

Discrimination is different to bullying, but can intersect with it. Discrimination occurs when a person, or group of people are treated less favourably than another person or group on the basis of:

Race.
Gender.
Sexuality.
Gender identity.
Intersex status.
Ethnic or religious background.
Disability.
Disease.
Age.

This list is not exhaustive, and discrimination can occur from less favourable treatment of a person or group based on a combination of these factors.

For IMMEDIATE emergency help

Call 000

To speak to a counsellor: 1800RESPECT (National sexual assault, family violence counselling service) 24 hours, 7 days a week

Call 1800 737 732
Online counselling: https://www.1800respect.org.au/contact-us/

Other local and national specialist support services

Medical care

Emergency Medical Care – Canberra Hospital
T (020) 6244 2222
Canberra Sexual Health Centre (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9am-2-m, Wed 1:30-3:30).
- T (02) 6244 2184

Crisis lines

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (7am – 11pm, 7 days a week)
- T (02) 6247 2525
- http://www.crcc.org.au/
- For both those who've experienced sexual violence and their supporters.
Service Assisting Male Survivors of Sexual Assault (Mon - Fri 9am-5pm).
- T (02) 6287 3935
- https://www.dvrcv.org.au/service-assisting-male-survivors-sexual-assault-samssa-canberra
ANU Crisis Support Line (5pm-9am weekdays, 24 hour weekends and public holidays).
- 1300 050 327
- SMS Text message service: 0488 884 170

Other options

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (7am – 11pm, 7 days a week)
- T (02) 6247 2525
- Text Only: 0488 586 518
- http://www.crcc.org.au/
Service Assisting Male Survivors of Sexual Assault (Mon - Fri 9am-5pm).
- T (02) 6287 3935
- https://www.dvrcv.org.au/service-assisting-male-survivors-sexual-assault-samssa-canberra
Canberra Sexual Health Centre (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9am-2-m, Wed 1:30-3:30).
- T (020) 6244 2184
AFP Sexual Assault Team:
- T 131 444

ANU specific support services

Health, safety & wellbeing

The ANU maintains the health, safety & wellbeing portal.

Here you will find contact details for support services, information about counselling services on campus, and the Respectful Relationships Unit which focusses on the prevention of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the ANU community.