• What is sexual assault?

  Sexual assault is any sexual act or behaviour carried out against a person without their free and voluntary consent. It can involve physical force, coercion, threats, intimidation, manipulation or where a person is unable to give consent (for example, due to intoxication, fear, being asleep or unconscious).

• What is sexual harassment?

  Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual behaviour that could reasonably make a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. It is against the law and against KOI’s values.

  Sexual harassment can include, but is not limited to:

  • Staring, leering or intrusive comments about someone’s body or appearance
  • Unwelcome touching, hugging or deliberately brushing up against someone
  • Sexually suggestive comments, jokes, images, memes or messages
  • Repeated unwanted invitations to go on dates or requests for sexual activity
  • Sending sexually explicit emails, texts or social media messages
  • Displaying or sharing sexual images or pornography in shared spaces or online

  Any behaviour of a sexual nature that may also be a criminal offence, such as stalking, indecent exposure or sexual assault.

  

• What is gender-based violence?

  Under the National Code, gender-based violence includes any form of physical or non-physical violence, harassment, abuse or threats that is based on a person’s gender, gender identity, gender expression or perceived gender, and that results in, or is likely to result in, harm, coercion, control, fear or loss of liberty or autonomy.

  Gender-based violence can occur in intimate, family, social, workplace, residential or online contexts. It can be a single incident or a pattern of behaviour over time.

  Examples include:

  • Sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence
  • Sexual harassment and unwanted sexual attention
  • Intimate partner, domestic and family violence
  • Stalking, threats, intimidation or coercive control
  • Technology-facilitated abuse (for example, image-based abuse, online harassment or monitoring).

• Understanding consent

  Consent means a person freely and voluntarily agrees to engage in sexual activity. Consent must be informed, mutual and ongoing, and can be withdrawn at any time.

  Consent is not present if:

  • A person is asleep, unconscious or significantly affected by alcohol or other drugs
  • A person is threatened, frightened, pressured or coerced
  • A person feels they cannot say no because of a power imbalance (for example, staff–student, supervisor–student)
  • A person is under the legal age or does not have capacity to understand or agree
  • A person has been deceived about what is happening.

You can seek support even if the incident:

• Happened off campus, online or in student accommodation
• Involved someone who is not part of KOI
• Happened before you enrolled
• Has not been reported to the police.

You do not have to make a formal complaint to receive support.

• Internal support

  Student Services – for study options, academic adjustments and practical support

  • Email: [email protected]
    

  Counselling – confidential emotional support, safety planning and referral

  • Email: [email protected]
    

  KOI can assist with safety planning, academic adjustments, extensions or alternative assessment arrangements (where appropriate), and referrals to specialist services.

• External support (24/7 in Australia)

  • 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) – national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service
  • Lifeline (13 11 14) – crisis support and suicide prevention
  • NSW Sexual Violence Helpline (1800 424 017) – specialist support in NSW
  • Local police or emergency services – 000 in an emergency.

You can choose how much information to share and what action, if any, you want to take. KOI will respond in a trauma-informed, person-centred way that prioritises safety and dignity, as required by the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence.

At KOI, you can:

• Make a confidential disclosure to Student Services or Counselling to talk about what happened and explore your options
• Make a formal report or complaint under KOI’s student conduct, grievance or sexual assault and sexual harassment procedures
• Seek advice only, without lodging a formal report.

You can also choose to report the matter to police. KOI staff can help you understand this option and, if you wish, support you to make a report.

• If you are worried about someone else

  Members of the KOI community are encouraged to be active bystanders when it is safe to do so. This can include:

  • Checking in with the person affected and asking if they are OK
  • Distracting or safely interrupting the situation
  • Seeking help from KOI staff, Security or emergency services.

• Confidentiality, safety and non-victimisation

  Disclosures and reports will be managed as confidentially as possible. Information is shared only with staff who need it to provide support, manage risk or meet our legal obligations.

  KOI will not tolerate victimisation of anyone who:

  • Makes a disclosure or report
  • Supports someone to disclose or report
  • Participates in an investigation or related process.

• Policies and further information

  More detailed information about how KOI prevents and responds to sexual assault, sexual harassment and gender-based violence is available in:

  • Prevention and Resolution of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • Support for Students Policy
  • Student Complaints and Appeals Policy
  • Student Code of Conduct