Information and resources for staff and students.
Support for staff
Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a FREE counselling service for all for University employees. They provide:
- Crisis support: Available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week via phone +61 2 4926 5005
- Face-to-face: In Newcastle CBD or via affiliate rooms regionally
- Via telehealth: Phone or secure telehealth link
Staff Care
Staff may also contact Staff Care on staffcare@newcastle.edu.au or phone +61 2 4913 8232.
Staff Care brings together select representatives from Human Resources Operations, Workplace Relations, and Wellbeing, Health and Safety. The team can provide referrals, advice, guidance and support to both the complainant and respondent throughout any process. All Staff Care team members are trained to respond in a trauma-informed, respectful and person-centred way.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential, short-term, solution focused counselling service free for all for University employees and their immediate family members.
The EAP psychology team encompasses clinicians from diverse backgrounds and a wide array of clinical experience. Clinicians use evidence-based psychological strategies for a broad range of clinical issues, including having expertise in supporting clients who have experienced or are impacted by sexual assault, sexual harassment and sex-based harassment.
- All consultations are strictly confidential
- The EAP provider will not share information about you with the University unless you authorise for them to do so
- When making appointments, you may be asked for information about the organisation; This information may be used towards high level reporting on trends and utilisation rates
The choice is yours, however if you are hurt or unsafe you are encouraged to contact emergency services on Triple Zero (000).
You can seek support and/or make a report via any of the channels outlined on this page.
There is no right way to respond if you think you have been sexually assaulted or harassed but the University can provide support.
You can also seek advice and support from external agencies and can also report incidents of sexual assault and/or sexual harassment to NSW Police.
The University is committed to taking a trauma-informed approach to all reports of sexual assault, sexual harassment and sex-based harassment. In line with this, as a leader, you should take a people-centred approach to disclosures or reports of workplace sexual assault, sexual harassment and/or sex-based harassment. This means placing people (victim/survivors or witnesses/bystanders) at the centre of any response. This includes listening to, empowering and supporting people who are impacted by sexual assault, sexual harassment or sex-based harassment.
As a leader, you are obligated to respond to all disclosures or reports of sexual assault, sexual harassment or sex-based harassment. You must contact Staff Care and seek advice on making a formal report. Staff Care will also be able to assist you with connecting to relevant services to support your own and others mental health and wellbeing.
Our EAP provider is able to assist leaders via 1:1 support and also via the Leader Assist Service. Managers and supervisors are able to access immediate, professional and confidential consultation via the Leaders Assist Service for issues that may include assisting staff members whose work performance is affected by emotional or psychological factors, dealing with emotional issues at work and preventing and managing the impact of post-trauma stress following a critical incident.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.