Reporting unwanted behaviour on campus

You have the right to work, study and live in an environment where you feel safe. Everyone has the right to be treated with respect.

Understanding unwanted or inappropriate behaviour

  • Unwanted behaviour: behaviour that you do not want or welcome, or which continues when you have asked someone to stop.
  • Inappropriate behaviour: behaviour that does not suit the situation; it may seem rude, bizarre or unreasonable.

These behaviours can happen online or face-to-face. They can affect your emotional health and study.

Forms of unwanted or inappropriate behaviour

What is unwanted or inappropriate for one person, may not be for another. It often becomes a problem when the person doing the unwanted or inappropriate behaviour refuses to stop.

Some forms of unwanted or inappropriate behaviour are very aggressive or intrusive, and threaten your safety, for instance:

Other forms of unwanted or inappropriate behaviour are more subtle. It often becomes a problem when the person doing the unwanted or inappropriate behaviour refuses to stop.

Some examples are:

  • Sending repeated emails to another student or staff
  • Asking you a lot of personal questions
  • You feel like the other person ignores you, or talks over you
  • You believe the other person is gossiping or saying bad things about you to others.

You can also be affected if you see unwanted or inappropriate behaviour happening, and you don't know what you can do about it. Bystanders can experience distress or find their studies affected because of, for example, bullying in a group.

Reporting

If you feel that your safety is threatened, you are very distressed, or the other person’s behaviour is significantly affecting your study, you can submit a report or discuss this confidentially with staff at Student Wellbeing or Student Diversity and Inclusion.

Submit a report regarding inappropriate or unwanted behaviour

How we can help

Our staff will confidentially discuss the situation with you and work with you to find a strategy to solve the issue. For example:

  • Staff could assist you to discuss the behaviour with the person whose behaviour is unwanted or inappropriate.
  • Staff could discuss the behaviour with the person.
  • Staff could assist you to make a complaint about student misconduct, get legal advice or approach NSW Police.

Handling the situation directly

It is not your responsibility to confront the person. If someone’s behaviour is aggressive or intrusive, it may not be safe to address it directly with them.

However, if you wish, you can speak directly to the person whose behaviour is causing you problems. It may be that they are not aware this is happening.

  • Let them know that you feel uncomfortable about their behaviour and explain that their behaviour is not wanted.
  • You can also ask somebody you trust, such as another student or Macquarie staff, to help you tell the person.

Emergency contacts

If you require immediate help or medical attention, contact: