Commitment to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade policy

The University of Melbourne is strongly supportive of enabling a safe, inclusive and respectful community and as a partner of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) does not tolerate sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment of any kind.

The University of Melbourne is committed to taking an active role in addressing SEAH risks and meeting its compliance obligations under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)  Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) policy (DFAT PSEAH Policy)

Preventing Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment on DFAT Projects

The DFAT PSEAH Policy sets out expectations and requirements for all DFAT partners to manage sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment risks and incidents in the delivery of DFAT business.

These requirements include evaluating and understanding the risk of SEAH occurring on DFAT activity, identifying steps to minimise risks and ensuring these steps are implemented and that the DFAT Minimum Standards are met.

PSEAH Risk Assessments

When assessing the risk of SEAH,  please refer to the

  • Guide on Assessing the Risk of SEAH (DFAT) - an important element of the risk assessment is understanding risks such as power dynamics and gender inequality, consider minimum standards based on your activity’s risk level (low, medium, high, very high); document steps to reduce or remove risks and regularly re-assess risks throughout the life of the project.
  • PSEAH Process – Melbourne University self-assessment tool for staff.
  • Sexual Violence Likelihood Tool (DFAT Programs) – self assessment tool for international contexts

Key Definitions

The PSEAH Policy uses the following descriptions of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual harassment, which combine international and Australian definitions:

  • Sexual exploitation: Any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust for sexual purposes. It includes profiting monetarily, socially, or politically from sexual exploitation of another.
  • Sexual abuse: The actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. It covers sexual offences including but not limited to: attempted rape (which includes attempts to force someone to perform oral sex); and sexual assault (which includes non-consensual kissing and touching). All sexual activity with someone under the age of consent (in the law of the host country or under Australian Capital Territory law [16 years], whichever is greater) is considered to be sexual abuse.
  • Sexual harassment: A person sexually harasses another person if the person makes an unwelcome sexual advance or an unwelcome request for sexual favours, or engages in other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, in circumstances in which a reasonable person, having regard to all the circumstances, would have anticipated the possibility that the person harassed would be offended, humiliated or intimidated.

Sexual harassment can take various forms. It can be obvious or indirect, physical or verbal, repeated or one-off and perpetrated by any person of any gender towards any person of any gender. Sexual harassment can be perpetrated against beneficiaries, community members, citizens, as well as staff and personnel.

Reporting

Staff and partners must report any alleged incident of sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment related to the delivery of a project within 2 working days of becoming aware of an alleged incident.  Reports can be made to the Safer Community Program or your local HR representative.  If you would like to disclose anonymously,  the Anonymous Register for Inappropriate Behaviour is available.

Staff and partners must report any alleged policy non-compliance; within 5 working days of becoming aware of an alleged incident.

Further information about mandatory reporting can be found on the Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) Policy webpage.

Useful Resources

Relevant Policies

Training

The University has implemented a number of initiatives and strategies to affirm that sexual assault and harassment is not tolerated at this institution or during the participation of overseas activities.

For Staff:

Appropriate Workplace Behaviour (available through TrainME)

For Students:

Consent Matters module (available through Learning Management System (LMS)


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