Training and education
Training and education are key elements in creating cultural change and preventing sexual harm, prejudice, discrimination and violence. The University has a range of training opportunities for students and staff.
Available to all students
Consent Matters
Consent Matters
Consent Matters is an online module available to all students in Canvas. Consent Matters provides up-to-date education around understanding and seeking sexual consent; skills for communication to support safe and respectful relationships; and ways to safely intervene in situations where sexual harassment or sexual assault may occur.
Go to course Find out more about consent
Respect at Uni Peer Leaders
Respect at Uni Peer Leaders
Our Respect at Uni Peer Leaders are a dedicated group of students committed to helping create a safe, inclusive, and respectful campus community. Trained in key areas such as consent, respectful relationships, and bystander intervention, they work to raise awareness and provide opportunities for engagement, conversation and learning with their peers.
Keep an eye out for the Respect at Uni Peer Leaders on campus. They want to hear your ideas on how we can all contribute to a safe and positive uni culture.
SBS Inclusion Courses
SBS Inclusion Courses
The SBS Inclusion Courses are online inclusion education courses designed to build your capability around inclusion and diversity.
They have been developed by SBS and partnering agencies such as International Education Services, Multicultural NSW, ACON, Queensland Workforce Equity and Inclusion Team, Carbon Creative. The available course for University of Newcastle students and staff are:
Students can access the modules though Canvas.
Lived Experience Expertise
The Lived Experience Student Consultants program brings together students who use their lived and living experiences to inform the University of Newcastle’s strategies for preventing gender-based violence.
These consultants provide valuable insights to ensure university policies, programs, and initiatives are survivor-centered and trauma-informed. Their work includes:
- Providing feedback on existing policies and programs to enhance support for survivors.
- Assisting in the creation of educational materials and resources that reflect real student experiences.
- Engaging in outreach activities to promote awareness and support within the university community.
- Evaluating respect and consent initiatives to improve their effectiveness and inclusivity.
By contributing their expertise, Lived Experience Student Consultants play a crucial role in shaping a safer, more supportive campus.
For more information or to collaborate contact respect@newcastle.edu.au
Respect at Uni Resource Hub
Want to be part of a campus that’s respectful, safe, inclusive, and free from sexual and gender-based violence? The Respect at Uni Resource Hub is your go-to for resources to help you learn about consent, respect, and speaking out about harmful behaviour. Check out the Respect at Uni Resource Hub and be part of creating a better uni community.
Available to all staff
Staff can access training in Discover. Other courses that support creating safe and respectful communities and workplaces include:
- ALLY Training
- Accidental Counsellor
- Cultural Capability
- Disability Confidence Training
- eSafety – Take Control Online
- Mental Health First Aid Training
- Respect and Resilience
- Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence
- SBS Cultural Competence Program
- Understanding Gender Equality
- Understanding the LGBTIQ+ Community
ALLY Training
This 6.5 Hour session includes ACON's 4 Hour LGBTQ Awareness Training Package along with a better understanding of our commitment to our ALLYship of broader LGBTIQA+ communities together with University Specific Case Scenario's and a Panel.
This in-person training will introduce you to the acronyms and expand your understanding of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics and insight into experiences of staff and students.
Accidental Counsellor
The Accidental Counsellor course aims to provide essential counselling skills and knowledge to individuals who may find themselves in a supportive role for others, even though they aren't professional counsellors. The course covers active listening, providing emotional support, recognizing signs of distress, and referring individuals to appropriate professional help. It's designed to equip individuals with the tools to provide initial support and guide them on when and how to refer someone to a mental health professional.
Cultural Capability
Cultural Capability is the understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and their histories, and the integration of those cultures into work practices.
Cultural Capability adds value to the ways we conduct our business here at the University of Newcastle. It involves all staff and students and impacts how we operate as an institution.
Disability Confidence Training
From this training, you will:
- Gain an improved understanding of disability and modern perspectives
- Learn practical strategies for supporting students with disability
- Develop awareness of how to be a great ally to colleagues with disability
- Understand how to create accessible and inclusive environments, activities and communication
eSafety – Take Control Online
Safe access to technology is crucial for women so they can stay connected to their family and friends, engage with the world and get information and support. The eSafety Commissioner’s eSafetyWomen team has developed a two-hour technology facilitated abuse workshop for frontline specialist staff and support workers in the domestic and family violence field.
Mental Health First Aid Training
In this course you will learn about the signs and symptoms of common and disabling mental health problems in adults, how to provide initial help, where and how to get professional help, and how to provide mental health first aid in a crisis situation using a practical, evidence-based action plan.
Respect and Resilience
icare in collaboration with the University of Newcastle’s Health and Safety Team invites you to participate in the Respect & Resilience course. As businesses including the University face multiple challenges to operate in today’s environment, frontline workers interfacing with customers are often presented with unique health and safety hazards. Whilst we know customer misbehaviour can be caused by several factors, including environmental, organisational as well as the customer themselves; this course focuses on how we can influence the interaction between the frontline worker and the customer. The course includes how to:
- Reduce the incidence of customer misbehaviour through early detection and awareness,
- Apply strategies to get a customer on side,
- Enhance skills to contain or de-escalate customer misbehaviour,
- Better cope if exposed to customer aggression.
Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence
UON in partnership with Epigeum and leading experts across the UK and Australia has developed this online course to support staff and student leaders in responding to disclosures of sexual violence.
This course is designed to help staff understand consent, and some of the common misconceptions around sexual violence. It identifies the needs of the reporting individual and how to best support them. Additionally, it covers best practices for handling a disclosure, including the responsibilities of the staff member and how to handle the disclosure in line with institutional policies.
SBS Cultural Competence Program
Interact with different cultures meaningfully at both an organisational and a personal level.
Understanding Gender Equality
The Gender course is designed to improve your understanding of gender equality in the workplace.
Drawing on the research and experience of organisations within Male Champions of Change and the University of Queensland, the course provides tools and information to encourage the conditions and cultures that will enable women to thrive in the workplace.
Understanding the LGBTIQ+ Community
The LGBTIQ+ course is designed to improve your understanding of the LGBTIQ+ community. It also provides tools to apply your knowledge to promote a fairer, more LGBTIQ+ inclusive society.
Find out more
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.