Empowering students with gender equity and safety training

Charles Sturt actively addresses gender equity and gender-based violence through comprehensive training programs. These initiatives include DV-Alert training for staff, seminars on consent and sexual assault for students, and online modules. Student accommodation and orientation leaders receive both face-to-face and online training on the Respect Now Always campaign, along with workshops on responding to sexual violence disclosures.

In recent years, the university has introduced initiatives to educate students on consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention. These efforts aim to instil understanding of respectful behaviour, empowering students to support a culture of consent and mutual respect. Among these is the MATE (Motivating Action Through Empowerment) online program, which develops proactive bystander skills and equips participants to identify and safely respond to gender-based violence and discrimination. To date, 2,535 students have completed the program. Awareness campaigns, via social media, posters, and events, complement these efforts by promoting a safe, inclusive university culture. Through these actions, Charles Sturt University continues to foster an environment where every individual feels secure, respected, and able to thrive.