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.

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

  1. What is bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination?
  2. What can I do about it?
  3. Why might I not report bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination, and why should I?
  4. What do I do if I am experiencing or witnessing bullying, sexual harassment or discrimination?
  5. 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

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

Other options

ANU specific support services

Respectful Relationships

The ANU Respectful Relationships Unit (RRU) can provide confidential support for survivors of sexual assault and harassment and arrange relevant referrrals and support when they're needed.

For information from the RRU on options for disclosing and reporting sexual assault and harassment, click on the links directly below:

For more information click here.

email: respect@anu.edu.au

ANU Counselling

ANU counselling offer face to face counselling services at the health and wellbeing centre at Kambri.

For more information click here.

9am- 5pm weekdays

6125 2442

email: counselling.centre@anu.edu.au

ANU Crisis Support Line

For urgent support outside of business hours (9am - 5pm), the ANU has a new crisis line service for both voice calls and texts.

The crisis line is there to help you find immediate relief from emotional distress, and crisis line counsellors can help you to safely manage the situation you're in and help with any next steps from there.

5pm-9am weekdays, 24/7 weekends and public holidays

Phone (voice calls only): 1300 050 327

SMS Text message service: 0488 884 170

The ANU Crisis Support Line is managed by the Division of Student Life and is a SSAF funded project

More information on the ANU Crisis Support Line can be found here.