Sexual Assault and
Sexual Harassment (SASH)
Sexual Assault and
Sexual Harassment (SASH)
Information, Support and Reporting
HELI has zero tolerance for sexual assault and harassment. We maintain the right of every student and staff member to feel safe and respected at all times on HELI campuses. HELI is committed to supporting students and staff affected by sexual assault or harassment, regardless of where and when it takes place.
Sexual Harassment
Definitions
Sexual harassment can be defined as:
- unwanted sexual advances, or unwelcome requests for sexual favours; or
- other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature; and
- in the circumstances, a reasonable person would have expected you to be offended, humiliated or intimidated by this behaviour.
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual behaviour which is likely to offend, humiliate or intimidate. It has nothing to do with mutual attraction or friendship. Examples include:
- unwelcome physical touching including deliberately brushing up against a person;
- uninvited kisses or embraces;
- requests for sex;
- staring or leering;
- sexually explicit conversation;
- suggestive comments or jokes;
- unwanted requests to go out on dates, especially after prior refusal;
- emailing pornography or rude jokes;
- sending sexually explicit texts;
- intrusive questions about your private life or body;
- displaying posters, magazines or screen savers of a sexual nature;
- making promises or threats in return for sexual favours;
- "flashing" (exposing private parts of the body) or sexual gestures;
- sex based insults, taunts, teasing or name-calling;
- touching or fiddling with a person's clothing e.g. lifting up skirts, flicking bra straps;
- offensive phone calls or letters;
- stalking, sexual insults or taunting;
- offensive messages through new technologies such as mobile phone cameras, social networking websites, emails or SMS/MMS communications.
Sexual Assault
Definitions
Sexual assault is a legal term used to describe a range of sexual offences, from showing indecent images to another person, to kissing or touching them, as well as penetration of the person’s body with a body part or object.
If someone does something sexual that makes you feel uncomfortable or touches your body when you do not want them to, it may be a sexual assault.
“Sexual assault’ is often called other names like:
Sexual abuse, rape, indecent behaviour, indecent assault, sexual molestation, incest, child sexual abuse, child sexual assault, touching, ‘feeling up’, sexual harassment.
If someone does something to make you feel that you have been assaulted, you can seek help from health and counselling services, including sexual assault services (see contact details below). This applies even when you don’t want to report to police, or if you have reported to the police, but they do not believe that a crime has been committed.
If you are not sure whether you have been sexually assaulted or not, you can contact a sexual assault service or legal service. There are specially trained people who can help you understand what has happened to you and what your options are.
Some people blame victims or make victims feel that they somehow asked to be raped because of how they looked or dressed, or where they were at the time. This is not right. It is never a victim’s fault. Sexual assault is always a crime.
For definitions and examples of sexual assault:
https://www.wlsnsw.org.au/resources/sexual-assault/what-is-sexual-assault/
HELP and more information
If you are in immediate danger call 000.
If you would like to speak to the HELI external counselling service, Converge, who have counsellors and psychologists trained to support victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment call 1300 687 399. Calling or contacting the service does not mean you are reporting the incident. These services offer support and help and will be able to provide you with the information you may require if you decide you do want to report the incident.
In person (confidential and private)
The following services are specialised and external to the Institute. Calling or contacting the following services does not mean you are reporting the incident. These services offer support and help. If you want to report the incident or incidents, then these services can also help you through that process and offer you advice.
There is more information on the webpages of these organisations.
national telephone line for victims of sexual assault and family violence (available 24 hours)
All reports of sexual harassment and or sexual assault are treated in the strictest confidence and privacy.
Informal reporting to the Institute: please speak to the Student Services Co-ordinator above who will be able to assist you.
For information on formal reporting to the police:
Anonymous reporting:
To report an incident anonymously please click complete this form (to be provided) and a member of the SASH Taskforce will be in contact with you within 24 hours. Please note; submissions for this form are monitored only Monday-Friday 9am-5pm (AEST), excluding public holidays. If it an emergency please contact 000.