Our strategy
The strategy to realise our commitment to respectful relationships is to:
1. Create a culture of respectful relationships
We do this by:
Creating an overall culture that has respectful relationships as an integral part of it.
- We operate on the basis of a values-based community model that focuses on every person taking responsibility for living in the community on the basis of the College’s values and embrace their role to work actively to sustain the community built on those values. Integral to values of Community and Integrity are respectful relationships.
- We work to maintain a culture that is supportive of respectful relationships through focusing on creating an Orientation Week that is a week of genuine welcome, celebrating diversity of all kinds, supporting a student culture where all students regard each other as peers without hierarchy, nurturing a culture of mutual care for physical and mental well-being, and focusing on responsible management of alcohol.
Encouraging all students to engage in ongoing discussions and activities that support an environment of respectful relationships.
- Over the course of the year, there is a program of educational events featuring guest speakers and experts – issues addressed include: respect for sexual diversity, healthy relationships, and other relevant topics.
- Participation in gender focussed groups and activities, such as OrMa’am and OrMan, and related off-campus programs are encouraged.
- We maintain an internet pornography filter to emphasise institutional commitment to promoting healthy sexuality.
Developing leaders with the skills to support a culture of respectful relationships.
- Student leaders are trained by the Centre Against Sexual Assault on responding to disclosures of sexual assault, bystander interventions and prevention of sexual violence and there is a promotion of a culture of helping anyone at risk.
- Senior staff mentor student leaders, encouraging them to be positive role models and honour the responsibilities that leadership entails.
2. Ensure all students have clear information about the College’s approach to respectful relationships and what to do if sexual harassment or assault ever occurs
- During orientation programs, students are informed about the College’s values regarding respect for others and self, sexual diversity, consent, and safe sex and the importance to never be a bystander.
- The College’s policies have standards and processes if a student wants to report an incident. It is communicated to all students at the start of the year and repeated at specific times during the year.
- Incidents can be reported via the online reporting system or by contacting staff or the SAFE coordinator.
- The Sexual Harm Policy and the Discrimination, Bullying and Victimisation Policy are made readily available on the College’s website and intranet.
3. Ensure students have an active understanding and the skills to maintain respectful relationships
- All students are expected to attend workshops throughout the year which address issues of gender equality, gender-based violence and the prevention of sexual harm.
4. Provide Professional Support and Response
- Ormond has psychologists on staff to provide support. The College also provides all staff access to external counsellors through its Employee Assistance Program.
- The College’s intranet has a Help page with resources and details of support for victims of sexual harassment and assault if a student wants to seek external support.
- The College has a Sexual Harm Policy and a Discrimination, Bullying and Victimisation Policy, which sets out what constitutes sexual assault and harassment and the process to report an incident. Students are introduced to the policies when they arrive, all students are sent the policies each year, and they are accessible on the College’s website and intranet.
- The College provides access to internal and external professionals to further support students.
- Any student who wishes to go to the Police to report an incident, or who wants to contact an external body for help or advice, will be given the full support of the College.
- All reports will be thoroughly investigated in accordance with College policies, and any student in breach of College values and policies will be required to leave.
5. Ongoing development – Strategy Review
Strategy and policies are regularly reviewed, seeking input from students and staff from across the College, and in consultation with external experts.
