Important Information for Students Who Have Experienced Sexual Assault

Seek Advice

If you are uncertain what to do or need any information, regarding sexual assault if you are on-campus you can contact Student Equity and Wellbeing 9.00 am to 4.00 pm weekdays or JCU Campus Security for 24-hour assistance.

JCU Student Equity and Wellbeing

  • Townsville 4781 4711
  • Cairns4232 1150
  • or drop in to Level 1 Library

JCU Campus Security

  • 4781 5555 or 1800 675 559

You can also access the Safety and Wellbeing webpage at where you will find a list of other support services.

Both JCU areas can give you immediate advice to support your personal wellbeing and referral to services in community including the Police and Sexual Assault Services.

If you have been assaulted and are not on-campus or able to go contact JCU Services or nearest hospital emergency department, please call:

  • Townsville Sexual Assault Response Team (07) 4775 7555
  • Cairns Sexual Assault Service (07) 4031 3590

If you are not in Townsville or Cairns, call:

  • Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline 1800 010 120
  • 1800 Respect 1800 737 732, 24 hour sexual assault and domestic violence support

Consider asking someone you trust in your personal network to provide you with support and assist you through the following steps:

Safety and Medical Assistance

Immediately following a sexual assault - It is important to seek medical assistance as soon as possible. This is to ensure your physical wellbeing,to address any issues of potential pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted infections, and to enable evidence to be collected (if you choose for this to happen).

Wherever possible do not wash or shower, keep the clothing you were wearing, do not disturb the area where the assault occurred, and wait for further advice. This will allow evidence to be collected, which can be used in future if you choose to report the incident to Police. Any reports to Police can be withdrawn at a later stage.

If the sexual assault occurred more than one week ago, it is still essential that medical assistance is sought for your physical wellbeing;however, collection of evidence may no longer be possible. Your medical practitioner or Police will provide you with further information about this.

Where can I seek medical services assistance?

Townsville:

Townsville Hospital: Available 24 hours every day, including public holidays. Attend emergency department for afterhours or urgent support, or call 000 for an ambulance.

JCU Health: Appointments available Monday & Wednesday 8am – 6pm, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8am – 5pm Phone: 07 4781 4495 Located: Level 1 Clinical Practice Building, James Cook University

Cairns:

Cairns Hospital: Available 24 hours every day, including public holidays. Attend Accident and Emergency Department – front of the hospital, 165 The Esplanade, Cairns. Phone: 4226 0000 or 000 for an ambulance

Smithfield Central Doctors: 7-11 Mount Milman Dr, Smithfield (07) 4046 8600 Open until 7:30 pm

Report to Police

If you are in immediate danger or want to make an immediate reportto the Police call 000.

If you are on campus and need assistance, you can contact JCU Security on 4781 5555 or 1800 675 559this service is available 24/7.

Sexual assault is a crime and you have the right to report any type of sexual assault to the Police.

Sexual assault can be reported to the police any time after the offence - it can be reported years later - but the sooner it is reported the better. A medical professional or counsellor can support you to make a report. Anyone, including JCU staff members, can call Police for you on your behalf.

If you contact Police, they will link you in to personal support services. In Townsville, all Police responses to reports of sexual assault will initially be accompanied by a counsellor from the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).

You can attend any Police station or call your local Police if you want to report a sexual assault at any later point in time after the assault. The Queensland Police also offers an alternative reporting option (ARO). The ARO gives you the opportunity to provide police with the full circumstances of the assault with the option of remaining anonymous if you wish to make a formal, further information is available at -

For further information on sexual assault, where to seek help and how to make a report to the Police, visit the Queensland Police Sexual Assault Information website:

Seek Information and Personal Support

Knowing your rights and your options, and talking about the impacts of sexual assault and harassment on your wellbeing are important. For information and support contact Student Equity and Wellbeing, JCU Campus Security if afterhours, on the contact numbers above. You can also go to the JCU Safety and Wellbeing webpage at

Sexual assault and harassment is traumatic and can lead to symptoms of trauma as well as grief and loss due to the loss of personal safety. Seek help early. There are a number of services within JCU and the community that can provide assistance following sexual assault:

Townsville Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)(07) 4775 7555

Cairns Sexual Assault Service (07) 4031 3590

QLDSexual Assault Helpline on 1800 010 120

National Respect Service on 1800 737 732

DV Connect Mensline 1800 600 636

JCU Student Equity and Wellbeing Service TSV: (07) 4781 4711; CNS: (07)4292 1150

Further information about services and resources available to support you are available at the JCU Safety and Wellbeing webpage

Report to JCU

Sexual assault is both a crime and against JCU student and staff policies including Codes of Conduct and the Discrimination, Bullying and Sexual Harassment Policy. Reporting sexual assault and/or harassment to JCU can assist you to gain support and ensure you feel safe on campus.

How can I report?Sexual assault can be reported to JCU with or without reporting to Police. You can make a report, or a complaint.

If you make a report to JCU, the report is recorded. JCU may not respond immediately or directly to you. Reports are valuable to JCU and students as they allow JCU to identify patterns in behaviors or in areas of the University that they may then be able to action collectively.

If you make a complaint to JCU, the complaint will be actioned and responded to appropriately in line with the most appropriate policy or policies.

Who can I report to?You can make a report to any front line staff member as well as to JCU Campus Security, Student Equity and Wellbeing, or an Equity Contact Officer.

If you want to make a report:

  • The staff member will complete a form including only information that you consent for them to share. This form will be sent to senior management for the report to be addressed.
  • Other than if you make the report anonymously, a Student Equity and Wellbeing Counsellor will make contact with you to see if you would like any further information or support.

If you want to make a complaint:

  • Make an appointment with, or you will be referred to, an Equity Contact Officer (ECO) or a Student and Wellbeing Counsellor. They will discuss your options and the process with you.
  • Or, go to JCU’s Feedback and Complaints webpage provides information on the complaints process.
  • JCU Student Association Advocates. TheJCUSA employs Student Advocate and Welfare Officers who provide free information, advocacy and referral on a range of issues relating to students, you can contact the JCUSA on 1800 330 021.

Important Notes

JCU takes any incidents of sexual assault very seriously. When you first disclose or report information to a JCU staff member, their role is to ensure that you are safe and have the information you need to make informed choices and decision. Your confidentiality is very important and JCU staff members must follow JCU’s guidelines on confidentiality. It is not the role of staff members to be an advocate, or to direct or compel you in your choices. It is also not their role to verify or provide an opinion on any information provided by you. If you make a report or a complaint, it is during these processes that more information and clarification may be sought.

JCU Student Equity and Wellbeing
CRICOS Provider No. 00117J
Published December 2017 / jcu.edu.au/student equity and wellbeing

TSV: (07) 47 814711 CNS: (07) 42 321150