What to expect when you contact Safer Community

Safer Community is a La Trobe support service designed to protect your safety and wellbeing.  

The free and confidential service supports students who experience or witness concerning, threatening, inappropriate or uncomfortable behaviour. 

Safer Community is about creating a safer campus environment for all students and staff in the La Trobe community. 

Contact Safer Community if you: 

• Have safety or wellbeing concerns for yourself or someone else, regardless of whether they are a staff member or student, or want to report or seek advice 
• Feel like you have experienced unacceptable or concerning behaviour and want to seek support or advice about what to do 
• Have witnessed or have information about unacceptable or concerning behaviour. 

What you can expect when accessing Safer Community 

When you first approach Safer Community, they will work with you to determine how to best proceed. Here are some steps that you might go through.  

*Please note that every case is different, and this is a guide only.  

• Meet with Safer Community – You can choose to initially meet your Safer Community staff member face to face, online, or over the phone. It is about whatever option you would prefer!  They will discuss your concerns with you in a private and confidential environment.  

• Bring a support person – You can bring a support person! Someone, like a friend, who makes you feel more at ease is welcome to join you. The La Trobe Student Union offer a free, independent and professional Student Advocacy Service and can arrange for an advocate to attend meetings as a support person. Students can also access a support person through Student Wellbeing Connect along with a range of other support services detailed on the website.  
• Confidentiality and privacy – You and the Safer Community staff member will go over general confidentiality and privacy. The distinctions between a disclosure and a formal report will be explained. The Safer Community staff member will talk you through the obligations Safer Community has to share information with the university or authorities, for example, if there are child protection or occupational health and safety issues disclosed. This information will be shared with you up-front so you can make an informed decision about whether to go ahead with a disclosure or report. The link below provides further information.  
• Option to opt-out – You will be given the option to opt-out and leave the session at any time. You are welcome to resume at any point in the future, Safer Community work at whatever pace you are comfortable with. If you have previously made an informal disclosure, but have then decided you would like to make a formal report, you can do this at any time. There is not a time limit, or ‘statute of limitations’ when it comes to this. 
• Investigations – if you have made a formal report or your disclosure has initiated internal processes such as an investigation, you will be given options about how you would like to participate in this process. You will never be forced to participate in an investigation. 
• Additional steps for safety – Safer Community can take additional steps to increase your safety whilst an investigation takes place, such as relocation, increased protective measures, or a reasonable direction of no contact.  
• Information on how they can help – You will be provided with information on how Safer Community can support you, including safety planning and referral to university support services including Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion and support to access external services. You will receive updates and follow-up appointments where appropriate to keep you advised of stages of the investigation (with respect for privacy and confidentiality), and any additional safety planning and safety/wellbeing referral support you may require. 

What is the difference between disclosing and reporting to Safer Community? 

• A disclosure is when you tell sensitive information to a Safer Community staff member, or any member of staff to seek support or advice. Disclosing information for help and support is an option when you do not wish to have the incident or matter investigated. 

• A formal report is when you disclose sensitive information that you do want to be investigated by the University. You may also seek advice and support when making a formal report. 

We’ve written a whole article on the difference between reporting vs disclosing to Safer Community. View it in the below link. 

Difference between reporting vs disclosure to Safer Community 

Sexual Harm and the Safe and Respected Campaign 

Sexual harm is an umbrella term for any behaviour of a sexual nature that makes someone feel uncomfortable, frightened, intimidated, threatened, or coerced, or occurs without consent. This includes sexual assault, rape, sexual harassment, and other non-consensual sexual behaviours.  

Starting on 26 February La Trobe launched Safe and Respected at La Trobe –  a campaign that aims to raise awareness about behaviours that constitute sexual harm and the support available to staff and students at La Trobe.

You might see posters and digital signs around our campuses. Safer Community is here to help you if you experience or witness sexual harm. 

View the Safe and Respected at La Trobe campaign website to learn more.  

Contact Safer Community 

• Report online 
• Call: 03 9479 8988 Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm 
• Email: safercommunity@latrobe.edu.au 

Not sure if Safer Community covers your issue? Get in touch for a consult or check out the Safer Community website for information.    

Please note: Safer Community is not an emergency or critical response service, and reports, emails and voicemails are not reviewed outside of operating hours. For after-hours assistance please contact the La Trobe Crisis Line on 1300 146 307 or text 0488 884 100 or Security on campus at 9479 2222.    

University support services: 

• Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion provide free, confidential personal emotional support for students. Fill out their form to make an appointment. 
• La Trobe University Crisis Line offers free, confidential after-hours support, call 1300 146 307 or text 0488 884 10 (5pm – 9am weekdays, 24 hours weekends, and public holidays).  
   

Community Sexual Harm Supports 

• 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732 
• NCASA: 03 9496 2369, a sexual assault service located in Heidelberg. A NCASA counsellor also visits the Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus weekly. 
• Sexual Assault Services Victoria: to find your local sexual assault service. 
• Sexual Assault Crisis Line-After Hours: 1800 806 292, provides crisis response, support and advocacy for people who have experienced sexual violence. This is a state-wide and after hours, confidential telephone crises counselling service. 
• Daisy app: This app connects women who are experiencing or have experienced sexual assault, domestic and family violence to services in their state and the local area. 

• Thorne Harbour: 03 9865 6700, LGBTI specialist support and health service for health and wellbeing of members of LGBTIQ+ community. 
• Mens Line: 1300 78 99 78, free professional 24/7 telephone counselling support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), addiction, relationship, stress and wellbeing.