"Your Safety Matters"

What is Safer Community

Safer Community is a free and confidential service available to all students at Bendigo TAFE.  We respond to any behaviour that has made you or someone else feel unsafe or uncomfortable on or off campus. We aim to resolve these concerns in a fair, respectful and non-judgemental manner. 

Our Commitment to you 

Safer Community is here to keep you safe while you learn and to make sure our campuses are inclusive, respectful, and welcoming for everyone. We are committed to:

• Helping students understand their options and where to get help both on and off campus. 

• Working to address issues before they happen through early intervention and prevention. 

• Educating students and staff about respect, consent and appropriate behaviour. 

• Working with specialised services at TAFE for students with diverse learning needs, different cultural backgrounds, gender diverse and when under the age of 18.

Your Rights

As a student, you have the right to:

Feel safe - You have the right to always feel safe on campus, in class, online and during any activities. 

Be treated with respect - You have the right to be treated fairly and with respect by students and staff. 

Be heard  -You have the right to speak up about concerns and be listened to without judgement. 

Support - You have the right to access support if something doesn’t feel right or if you need help. 

Speak up -  You have the right to report unsafe behaviour or incidents, for yourself or someone else. 

Privacy and confidentiality - You have the right to have your information handled sensitively and respectfully. 

Free from harm - You have the right to learn in an environment free from bullying, harassment, discrimination, and violence. 

Extra support if you’re under 18 - Students under 18 have the right to additional support, and to have parents/carers involved where appropriate.

Your Responsibilities

We all play a part in creating a safe and respectful community. You can do this by:

Treating others with respect - Be respectful and inclusive towards other students and staff at all times. 

Helping keep the community safe - Speak up or report concerns if you see something that doesn’t feel right. 

Follow rules and policies - Follow institute guidelines and behave in a safe and appropriate way. 

Take care of your own behaviour - Make choices that support a safe, respectful, inclusive and positive learning environment. 

Respect personal boundaries - Understand and respect consent, personal space, boundaries and differences. 

Use support services - Reach out for help when you need it and engage respectfully with support services. 

Look out for others - Support your peers and encourage them to seek help if needed

Getting Help

If you feel unsafe or have a concern you can get support by:

What happens when you contact Safer Community 

Initial contact 
You will be contacted by a Safer Community team member, who may ask you for more information to understand the situation. 

Your privacy respected 
Your concern will be dealt with fairly and with respect to your privacy, with Safer Community working at your pace, and lead by your consent, wherever reasonably possible.

Collaboration 
We may work with key internal stakeholders, including Education Delivery areas, the Child Safety Officer (for students under 18), and other relevant services at TAFE. 

Interim safety measures 
Temporary measures may be put in place to ensure the safety of everyone involved while the matter is being addressed. 

Outcome 
An outcome will be decided to address the identified concerns and support those involved. 

Get Involved

We encourage all students to:

• Share your ideas and feedback, your voice matters! 

• Be involved in activities available to all students. 

• Help make Kangan Institute a safe and welcoming place for everyone. 

How can I contact Safer Community?

You can call during business hours 13 TAFE (13 8233) or email at safercommunity@bendigotafe.edu.au