Partnering with DFAT

Bond University has a commitment to ensuring students live and study within a safe and respectful community. This commitment includes staff, students and downstream partners engaging in outbound student mobility (OSM) activities around the world. These activities include aid projects, education and research collaborations, and cultural exchanges and are done in partnership with the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Aligned with DFAT’s focus on shifting from response to prevention, Bond University is dedicated to preventing and addressing any concerns or incidents of sexual harm. We are committed to acting in accordance with and meeting the obligations outlined by DFAT’s Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) Policy for all DFAT-related activities.

This page provides comprehensive information on our policies and procedures for preventing and addressing sexual harm in the planning and execution of OSM activities. It also outlines the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in these initiatives. We aim to raise awareness of DFAT's PSEAH Policy and how it guides Bond's OSM activities and the wider community's involvement.

About DFAT's PSEAH Policy

In July 2019, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), issued its Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Harassment (PSEAH) Policy, outlining expectations and requirements for all DFAT partners to manage sexual harm risks and incidents. 

Bond University is committed to the prevention of and responding to concerns or incidents of sexual harm. The University supports DFAT’s shift of focus from ‘response’ to ‘prevention’ and is committed to meeting compliance obligations under the PSEAH policy for DFAT-related activities.

What is sexual harm?

According to the University’s Sexual Harm Policy, sexual harm is any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature including Sexual Assault, Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Harassment, and any other unwanted sexual behaviour, whether online or in person including image-based abuse. The harm may result in a person feeling uncomfortable, frightened, distressed, intimidated, or harmed either physically or psychologically.

According to the DFAT PSEAH Policy, sexual harm affects mostly women as victims/survivors and mostly men as perpetrators in OSM activities. But other factors also create power imbalances that can lead to sexual harm. These factors include the roles of worker/beneficiary; ability/disability; ethnicity; religion; gender and sexual orientation; age; health; and poverty. When gender combines with other kinds of inequality, it makes sexual harm more likely to happen.

Sexual harm can have serious and lasting consequences for victims, as well as for the reputation and integrity of the University and its partners.

  • Staff and students planning OSM activities have the following responsibilities:
    • Comply with the OSM-PSH Procedure
    • Undertake due diligence in selecting and working with partners, including assessing and mitigating the level of risk of sexual harm
    • Ensure that agreements with partners include specific clauses relating to the prevention and response of sexual harm
    Staff and students participating in OSM activities have the following responsibilities:
    • Complete all mandatory pre-departure training, including the PSH Training
    • Report any incidents or concerns of sexual harm promptly and confidentially to the University
    • Comply with any screening or background checks requirements

  • Downstream partners and contractors are any entities or individuals that are engaged by the University to deliver or support OSM activities. This includes suppliers, third-party providers, agents, and their personnel.

    Failure to comply with the PSEAH Policy could result in the termination of funding for DFAT-related work and activities. A lack of compliance from downward partners could place future agreements and partnerships in jeopardy.

    Downstream partners and contractors have the following responsibilities:
    • Acknowledge and comply with the OSM-PSH Procedure
    • Complete the PSH Training
    • Implement measures to minimise the risk of their staff, partners, or suppliers engaging in sexual harm
    • Report any incidents or concerns of sexual harm promptly and confidentially to the University
    • Comply with any screening or background checks requirements
Staff and students planning OSM activities have the following responsibilities:
  • Comply with the OSM-PSH Procedure
  • Undertake due diligence in selecting and working with partners, including assessing and mitigating the level of risk of sexual harm
  • Ensure that agreements with partners include specific clauses relating to the prevention and response of sexual harm
Staff and students participating in OSM activities have the following responsibilities:
  • Complete all mandatory pre-departure training, including the PSH Training
  • Report any incidents or concerns of sexual harm promptly and confidentially to the University
  • Comply with any screening or background checks requirements

Response to sexual harm

Bond University takes very seriously its responsibility to protect students and staff from sexual misconduct and provides a number of support services.

Safety | Respect | Care | Consent

Bond University is committed to being a learning and working environment that is a place of safety and respect. The university has a has a no wrong door approach to sexual and interpersonal violence and harassment.

Safe and respectful communities

Student wellbeing is a core focus of ours at Bond University. Understand Bond's response to sexual misconduct, learn more about Bond's Student Support Strategy and discover how we are creating a safe and respectful community.

Supporting someone who has been sexually harmed

Supporting someone who has been sexually assaulted

Reporting an incident of sexual harm

You are encouraged to report any incidents of sexual harm. Whether you are a victim, bystander or a support person; if you wish to report an incident now, we encourage you to make use of our updated BondCare reporting form. This form will be directed to a confidential email address for further action.

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