Education and training
I'm a student
Respect Matters is a compulsory course for all students at the University of Newcastle and must be completed annually in your first term of study.
The course is delivered over 4 modules, each containing a short quiz. You do not have to complete all modules in one sitting and may complete them over several sessions.
You must complete and obtain 100% in all 4 quizzes to successfully complete the Respect Matters course. You may attempt the quizzes as many times as needed to obtain 100%.
We also know that for some people, this content can be particularly hard because of lived or living experiences of gender-based violence. If the material feels unsafe for you to complete, you can request an exemption by completing this form.
Please note: exemptions are not offered for things like professional experience, age, relationship status, program of study, time constraints or workload, or religious or cultural reasons.
Support
The University has a range of support options available to all students. Visit our Personal Support web pages to access the support you need. You will also find links to national support services throughout the Respect Matters course – look for the ‘Support’ button within the course materials.
What you will learn
Respect Matters is designed to empower you and your peers with the skills and knowledge to prevent, identify, and respond to gender-based violence – helping to create a culture of respect, safety and support across campus life.
The topics to work through include:
- Understanding gender-based violence and its impact
- Consent, respect and healthy relationships
- Supporting others and the bystander response
- Addressing social drivers, discrimination and cultural factors
By completing the course, you will be contributing to making our campus a safe and comfortable space for everyone.
Here are some helpful articles about the Respect Matters module:
I'm a staff member
The University offers a range of training and learning opportunities to support the prevention of and response to gender-based violence.
This is part of the University’s commitment to creating a culture of safety, support and equity in our communities.
Respect Matters: Addressing Consent and Gender-Based Violence training is part of the University's broader approach to preventing gender-based violence through education and culture change, and must be completed by all staff, including casual staff, during work time.
The training helps build a shared understanding of gender-based violence as a systemic issue shaped by culture, social norms and power imbalances.
You can learn more about other courses available to staff that support creating safe and respectful communities and workplaces on the Health, Safety and Wellbeing SharePoint Intranet pages.
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.