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.
Online spaces make university life more connected and accessible. Group chats, social media, gaming spaces, dating apps and online study groups are an everyday part of student life. Everyone should be able to use online spaces, feeling safe and respected.
Unfortunately, sometimes, online behaviours can make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. When that happens, it can impact how you feel on campus, and it can also affect how you feel at home, in your relationships and wider community.
That is why online safety is an important part of building a safe and respectful La Trobe community. Running from 13 July to 14 August, the Safe and Respected campaign reminds us that our online interactions can shape how safe and respected people feel across campus, while helping raise awareness of behaviours that constitute sexual and online harm.
What is online harm or abuse?
Online harm or abuse can include:
- repeated unwanted messages, threats, intimidation or harassment
- pressure to send intimate images or videos
- sharing or threatening to share intimate images without content
- Monitoring, controlling or tracking someone online without their consent
Online harm can also include sexual harm.
Did you know that there are Online Safety Laws in Australia?
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
Online safety laws address the most severe types of online abuse and enable the eSafety Commissioner to remove severely harmful online content.
How can you ensure safety online?
If online spaces feel unsafe, report and seek support early. You can also regularly check and update your privacy and location settings on online media. Use the restrict, block or report options where possible. If someone threatens you, do not continue engaging with them and cut all contact.
If you are supporting someone experiencing online harm, check in with them privately and encourage them to seek support or report the issue. Understanding what online harm looks like can make it easier to respond effectively and get the right support. Check out the e-safety guide or Young People | eSafety Commissioner to help you navigate social platforms safely.
Learn what you can report to eSafety and how to report abuse or content to eSafety.
Have you seen our campaign videos on MyLaTrobe socials?
Watch our campaign video on the E-safety Commissioner. Week 3 – Online Safety 1 – e-safety commissioner.mp4)
Get involved in the campaign
- Sign up for Respect at La Trobe Student Leaders Training (open for all students).
- Explore the new RESPECT AT LA TROBE webpage for events and resources.
- View the Safe and Respected at La Trobe campaign website to learn more.
- Watch out for updates on the National Student Safety Survey where you can have your say on safety. Visit the NSSS page to learn more.
For more information about this article and the Safe and Respected campaign, email respect@latrobe.edu.au.
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