Raising a Concern (Gender Based Harm)

Important Information

This form is managed by Emverio, an independent external provider authorised by your organisation to recieve reports of Gender Based Violence / Harms.  Please note that no information is provided to them without your consent.    

Emverio's purpose is to support organisations to create and maintain safe, respectful and healthy workplaces where people feel able to speak up about concerns without fear.  This reporting process exists to support a robust reporting culture, that encourages early identification of risks, promotes respectful behaviour, and helps prevent harm before it escalates.

We recognise that concerns relating to gender-based harm can arise in many forms.  People may not always have the language, certainty or confidence to describe what they are experiencing.  

You do not need to know how to describe your concern or whether it meets a legal definition.  If something feels unsafe, harmful or concerning you can raise it here.

By providing this reporting pathway, the organisation seeks to:

  • encourage open and safe reporting

  • identify, manage and prevent psychosocial hazards and gender based harm and unsafe workplace behaviours

  • meet its obligations under Australian laws

  • support fair, proportionate and timely responses

Examples of Gender Based Violence / Harms

Some examples of gender based harms / violence is listed below for reference only, this is not an exhaustive list.  Gender based harm targets gendered stereotypes and undermines credibility and authority, can create a hostile work environment, is cumulative and injurous.  This is sometimes reported as 'stress, bullying, workload issues and interpersonal conflict'.

- being talked over repeatedly in meetings / presentations

- being second guessed and / or described as emotional, difficult or not authoritative enough in contrast to male colleagues displaying the same behaviour and being described as strong, assertive, passionate.

- being excluded from decision making, social events where decisions are made, tap on the shoulder opportunities, commonly justified as 'she wouldn't be interested, she is busy with family, or about to have a famiily and doesn't fit culture'

- sexualised behaviour framed as humour, comments about clothes, bodyshape, attractiveness

- disproportionate sexualised attention to junior staff member or student, messages outside work hours, framing interest as mentoring

- perfomance management as control; for example a woman who raises a concern is suddenly performance managed, exlcuded from committees, assisgned less favourable timetables

- inconsistant survellance of classes, emails, time on campus

- students making sexualised comments on staff, sexist remarks, online threats, and where the institution minimises behaviour, expects staff to manage it, prioritises student satisfaction over staff safety

- parent initiated, or 3rd party workers sending emails, insults and questioning of competence (where male educators in similar circumstances do not recieve the same treatment), institution may label the person as difficult or part of the job.

- online and digital gender and image based abuse / harm; online humiliation and pile-ons, ridicule, reputational harm, staff group chats and social media.  May occur outside the physical campus

- intersectional based harm - where gender / race / disability / age where harm may be compounded but often split into separate issues.

Privacy and Data Collection

We collect only the information to:

  • understand the concern raised

  • assess safety and risk

  • meet workplace health and safety and legal obligations

  • support appropriate prevention or response actions

Information may include:

  • details of behaviour, conduct or workplace conditions

  • impacts on health, safety or wellbeing

  • information about roles, locations, or work arrangements

Your information is handled in accordance with Australian privacy law and stored securely.  

We do not collect unnecessary personal information.

Confidentiality

Your information is treated as confidential.  Access is limited to authorised people involved in:

  • assessing risk and safety

  • meeting legal or regulatory obligations.

  • determining appropriate next steps.

Where possible, information is shared with the organisation in a limited or de-identifed way without consent.

There are some circumstances where confidentiality cannot be absolute.  These include situations where:

  • there is a serious or immediate risk to health and safety

  • disclosure is required by law or a regulator

  • limited information must be shared to ensure procedural fairness

If disclosure is required, we aim to share only what is necessary.

Anonymity and Identification

You may choose to:

  • submit this form anonymously

  • provide your identifying information to us only, request confidential handling and progress updates

  • consent to dislose your information to the relevant organisation

If you choose to remain anonymous your concern will still be assessed.  However, our ability to clarify information, provide updates and take actions will be limited.

You will not be pressured to provide identifying information.

How this Information is Used

Information provided through this form may be used to:

  • identify and manage psychosocial hazards and / or gender based violence

  • assess risk and prevent harm

  • support workplace safety and respectful conduct

  • meet legal duties relating to workpalce health and safety

Raising a concern does not automatically result in an investigation.  The response will depend on; the nature of the concern, safety risks, legal obligations and the information available.  

Support and Safety

If you concern relates to immediate danger or risk, please contact 

  • emergency services (000)

  • a trusted support service

  • local State based workplace health and safety department

  • Safework Australia    

  • check your orgnanisations Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counselling support.  

Retaliation and Victimisation

Retaliation or disadvantage for raising a concern is not acceptable and may breach a workplace law.  If you experience negative treatment after raising a concern, you can report this as a separate issue.

Your Choice

You can complete as much or as little as you feel comfortable with, stop at any time and / or report a concern via telephone or email info@complaints.emverio.com 



If you don't know you can just skip this question.
You can keep this brief. Share only what you feel comfortable sharing. If you are reporting anonymously, please remember not to include any identifying details. If you are unsure, you can call un on 1300 454 574. We won't store any identifying information without your consent.
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If you're unsure, that's okay. You don't need to be certain about how to describe this. These options help us understand risk patterns and respond appropriately. Just choose one that you think best fits.
For example, seniority, control over work, pay, performance or access to opportunities
Note: If you choose no, you are confirming that Emverio cannot disclose the information you have provided to the organisation, and under these circumstances no further action can be taken. However, please note that we may use generic information to report on trends, patterns and hazards.