Violence Prevention

The Violence Prevention Coordinator, Mikaela Walsh, is based at the Student Health Service building on the Hamilton campus.

The Violence Prevention Coordinator operates at a primary prevention level. This means that education and initiatives are aimed at the whole University population, and high-risk groups, with the intention of preventing interpersonal violence before it occurs.

Where can I find support?

For information on campus security go to Student Safety or call 07 838 4444 for 24/7 UniSafe (Campus Security).

The Student Health Service is able to provide on-campus support, resources and referrals for students experiencing interpersonal violence. This includes support from the General Practice (including the Tauranga Student Health Nurse) and the Mental Health and Wellbeing team (counselling and mental health support) or Bay Counselling and Therapy (Tauranga).

For more information regarding support both internally and externally, click on the red tabs above and scroll to the bottom of the page for support in your area.

What is interpersonal violence?

Interpersonal violence is an umbrella term that encompasses the varying degrees of relationships and violence used within them. Interpersonal violence includes Family & Intimate Partner Violence (close personal relationships) and Community Violence (people known and strangers).

Violence Prevention Strategy

The Violence Prevention Strategy outlines what Violence Prevention at The University of Waikato is working towards:

• Campaign to promote violence free campuses
• Provide a comprehensive education programme
• Integrated services are available to support staff and students
• Create connections with experts in the community
• Recognise and acknowledge the diverse communities, within the University, in Violence Prevention initiatives
• Implement a Sexual Violence Policy and Procedures
• Implement an Interpersonal Violence Policy and Procedures

The University of Waikato has a zero-tolerance stance towards violence. Violence impacts the health and wellbeing of students and staff and may be in breach of the Code of Student Conduct, Staff Code of Conduct, or Sexual Violence Policy.

If you would like to make a complaint, you can do this online via our Complaints page.

Alternatively, staff in the Student Centre and WSU student support can also help you.

As an International Student, if you need help understanding the formal complaint process you can speak with an International Student Advisor.

For Students and Staff

Bringing in the Bystander

A three-hour face-to-face programme aimed at empowering bystanders of sexual violence and family violence to intervene in a culture of accountability and responsibility. The programme objectives are:

• understand the concept of bystander intervention
• identify a continuum of inappropriate sexual behaviour
• develop empathy for those who have experienced violence
• understand your role in bystander intervention and commit to intervene in the case of sexual violence and family/intimate partner violence before, during and after an incident.
• understand personal barriers to bystander intervention and techniques to overcome them, including the role that factors of identity (i.e. sexual orientations, race, gender identity, etc.) play, and
• develop strategies for safely intervening in instances of sexual and relationship/family violence in ways that fit their given ability and skill set.

To request a workshop email: [email protected] or Register Here.

Consent Matters

• Following completion of the Moodle module, participants are encouraged to attend a 1.5-hour workshop to consolidate their knowledge.
• The workshop expands on the topics from the Consent Matters modules.

To request a workshop email: [email protected].

For Staff & Student Leaders

Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence

• Following completion of the Moodle module, participants are encouraged to attend a 1.5-hour workshop to consolidate their knowledge.
• The workshop expands on the topics from the Responding to Disclosures modules.

To request a workshop email: [email protected].

For Students

Consent Matters

Students at the University of Waikato have access to an online module via Moodle called Consent Matters. This module supports students' understanding of what consent is, and what their rights and responsibilities are. The module only takes one hour to complete.

For Staff & Student Leaders

Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence

Staff & student leaders at The University of Waikato have access to an online module called Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence. This module supports staff & student leaders with the knowledge to safely respond to someone who discloses an experience of sexual violence.