Domestic and family violence support

EAP provides current employees and their immediate families with access to professionally qualified and experienced psychologists. The University will meet the cost of four confidential counselling sessions with provision for an additional two sessions on request.

Appointments are available via telephone, face-to-face, Skype or eCounselling.

To arrange an appointment or for further information about the program, please contact Assure Programs on 1800 808 374 (this is a 24 hour service) or visit assureprograms.com.au to request an appointment.

Further information and contact details are available on the employee assistance program webpage.

The issue of domestic violence may be difficult to discuss with supervisors. Confidential support is available through HR Services.

The WHS Team are our dedicated contact. This team is able to provide advice on the assistance offered by SCU and help employees access support services. If requested by an employee, WHS will liaise with the employee's supervisor on their behalf. WHS can be contacted on:

Email: whs@scu.edu.au

Domestic and family violence leave

• Full-time employees are entitled to 15 days domestic and family violence leave per annum.
• Part-time employees are entitled to domestic and family violence leave on a pro-rata basis.
• Casual employees are entitled to 10 days paid domestic and family violence leave.

Domestic and family violence leave does not accrue from year to year.

An employee who has exhausted their entitlement to domestic and family violence leave may access available personal leave or carers leave as additional domestic and family violence leave. 

The University may request evidence to support an application for domestic and family violence leave. Evidence can be in the form of an agreed document issued by the Police, a Court, a doctor, a domestic violence support service or lawyer, or other appropriate document.

The leave provisions are in line with the Domestic and Family Violence Leave and Support Procedure (Southern Cross University Enterprise Agreement 2024 see page 16) and  National Employment Standards.

In order to provide support to an employee experiencing domestic or family violence and to provide a safe work environment to all employees, the University will support all reasonable requests for:

• flexible work arrangements including changes to span of hours or pattern of hours and/or shift patterns;
• job redesign or change to duties;
• relocation to suitable employment within the University;
• a change to telephone number or email address to avoid harassing conduct;
• removal of contact details from public access, including the website; and
• any other appropriate measure including those available under existing provisions for family friendly and flexible work arrangements.

Options should be discussed with your supervisor or HR Business Partner in the first instance.

• Domestic & Family Violence Tool Kit

All people who may have difficulty speaking or understanding English have the right to request support services.

If you need a translator:

• TIS National Interpreter Service (Tel: 131 450)

If you need a relay service:

• National Relay Service (Tel: 1300 555 727)
• National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (Tel: 1800 246 945)

Lifeline (Tel: 13 11 14) National Crisis Support

13YARN (Tel: 13 92 76) Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Support

QLife (Tel: 1800 184 527) LGBTIQ+ Peer Support, available 3pm to 9pm

Men's Referral Service (Tel: 1300 766 491) Support for men who use violence to change their behaviour

Suicide Call Back Service (Tel: 1300 659 467) Phone and online counselling for anyone affected by suicide

Kids Helpline (Tel: 1800 55 1800) Support for people aged 5 to 25 years old

Helplines, telephone and online counselling services for children, young people and adults from the Australian government

Australian Sexual Violence Support Directory by the National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence (NASASV)

Find A Service Directory of specialist family violence services in Victoria by SAFE+EQUAL

The Australian Human Rights Commission Respect@Work Information Service (Tel: 1300 656 419) A free, confidential, trauma-informed service that supports individuals, employers and organisations with information on workplace rights and responsibilities around sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination

Domestic and family violence and your workplace by Our Watch (YouTube series)

Safety planning from 1800RESPECT

Self-Care – Centre Against Sexual Violence Inc. (Tel: 07 3808 3299) How to self-care from the Centre Against Sexual Violence Inc.

Self-care for survivors (Tel: 1300 657380) How to self-care as a survivor from Blue Knot

Useful resources Safe Response Toolkit, The STOP Campaign

Tertiary institutions | eSafety Commissioner

MensLine (Tel: 1300 78 99 78) Free 24/7 phone and online counselling for men.

Men's Referral Service (Tel: 1300 766 491) Support for men who use violence to change their behaviour

The Line A long-running campaign that supports young people in understanding what's okay and what's not when it comes to sex, dating and relationships

The Man Box 2024 A comprehensive study of the attitudes of Australian men aged 18–45, compiled by Jesuit Social Services

White Ribbon A resource hub for men and boys who want to prevent men's violence against women

Brother to Brother (Tel: 1800 435 799) Provides phone support for Aboriginal men who need someone to talk to about relationship issues, family violence, parenting, drug and alcohol issues or who are struggling to cope for other reasons. Staffed by Aboriginal men, including Elders, who have a lived experience in the issues that the line offers support for.

Being an ethical bystander from The University of Queensland

Bystander Intervention Scenarios from Alan Berkowiz

How to be an active bystander by VicHealth

The 5Ds of Bystander Intervention by Right To Be

The College Program: Workbook for Participants by The STOP Campaign

How to respond to a disclosure of sexual violence in a safe and supportive way from Safer Me Safer You

Responding to disclosures from SAFE+EQUAL

Responding to Disclosures | Safe Response Toolkit video from The STOP Campaign

Responding to disclosures of sexual violence from alleged perpetrators by The STOP Campaign

Responding to Disclosures of Sexual: Violence Prompts (Victims and Survivors) by The STOP Campaign

Supporters advice from Blue Knot about how to support someone who has experienced complex trauma

The Safe Response Toolkit: A toolkit for sexual violence victim-survivors and their supporters from The STOP Campaign

Report online harm via the Australian government eSafety Commissioner

National Student Ombudsman (Tel: 1300 395 775) Works to resolve student complaints about higher education providers

Tertiary institutions | eSafety Commissioner