Content Note: The following article contains sensitive content, including themes of sexual harm. This may be distressing for some people. Visit Safer Community or Wellbeing Services to seek support as needed.
Technology is an important part of our everyday lives, but it can also be used in harmful ways. Tech-facilitated abuse includes behaviours such as cyberstalking, non-consensual sharing of intimate images and online harassment. Tech facilitated abuse can also be sexual harm. It’s important to understand that these actions can be just as damaging as crimes that occur in person and can have serious long-lasting effects.
Did you know that there are Online Safety Laws in Australia?
Online safety laws address the most severe types of online abuse and allow the eSafety Commissioner to remove severely harmful online content.
The laws protect against:
- sharing explicit images or videos without consent
- illegal and violent content including the sexual abuse of children or encouraging terrorism
- cyberbullying – when someone uses the internet to humiliate, harass, intimidate or threaten a person under the age of 18
- severely abusive content that is menacing, harassing or offensive and intended to cause serious mental or physical harm to someone who is 18 or older
Staying safe online
It is important to have safe and positive online experiences. Think before you engage online, set boundaries on tagging and check your privacy settings.
- Take a look at e-safety’s detailed advice for staying safe online
- For navigating social platforms safely, check out the e-safety guide
Did you know you can report online harm to the eSafety Commissioner?
What’s happening at La Trobe?
We are running the Safe and Respected campaign at La Trobe, which focuses on highlighting the prevention and response to sexual harm. The campaign also sheds light on online harm and abuse.
Look out on the My La Trobe social media channels over the coming weeks to understand more about sexual harm and online safety.
View the Safe and Respected at La Trobe campaign website to learn more.
Supports:
- La Trobe’s Safer Community Service, a free and confidential support service for all La Trobe students and staff. If you witness or experience inappropriate, threatening or concerning behaviour of any kind, online, or in-person, please visit the Safer Community website to contact the service.
- Connect with La Trobe’s Wellbeing Services, including Student Wellbeing Connect.
- Out-of-hours mental health and wellbeing support can be accessed anytime 24 hours a day by calling 1300 146 307 or texting 0488 884 100.
External supports:
- 1800 RESPECT: National sexual assault, domestic, family violence counselling service. Tel: 1800 737 732
- ESafety Commissioner: Information and reporting about online abuse.
- CASACV: Trauma-informed counselling, advocacy and support for students who have experienced sexual assault.
- NCASA: Sexual assault service located in Heidelberg. An NCASA counsellor also visits the Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus weekly and can be accessed through Health Wellbeing and Inclusion. Tel: 03 9496 2369
- Sexual Assault Crisis Line: Crisis response, support and advocacy for people who have experienced sexual violence. After Hours Tel: 1800 806 292
- Djirra: Support for Aboriginal women and particularly to Aboriginal people experiencing family violence. Tel: 1800 105 3030
- Daisy app: Connecting women who are experiencing or have experienced sexual assault, and domestic and family violence to services in their state and the local area.
- QLife: Counselling for LGBTIQ people, by LGBTIQ people. Tel: 1800 184 527
- Men’s Line: Free professional 24/7 telephone counselling support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), addiction, relationships, stress, and wellbeing. Tel: 1300 78 99 78