Safety and Respect

Security Officers provide security and advice for students, staff and visitors across our campus network. If you are in immediate danger or feel unsafe on campus, contact Security or emergency services.

To contact security:

• Dial extension 1331 from a CQUniversity landline phone
• Dial mobile 0418 792 982

For any life threatening or time-critical emergency: 

• Dial 000 for Police, Fire or Ambulance

SafeZone allows staff and students to quickly request security or first aid help and receive emergency alerts in the event of an emergency. 

The SafeZone App can be downloaded and accessed for free from any mobile device store. Please download the app and sign-up using your CQU student or staff email address. Once you have signed in select your campus region to receive alerts or report an incident. If you are travelling between campuses, you can also reset your location.

CQUniversity is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all members of our community. The Safer Communities Unit supports students who experience or witness harmful behaviour and leads the University’s prevention, education and response work.

If something has happened to you, or you are concerned about someone else, you are not alone and support is available.

Support, reporting and disclosures

The Safer Communities Unit provides confidential, trauma-informed support to students who experience or witness harmful behaviour, including sexual violence, gender-based violence, harassment, discrimination and bullying. You can contact the Safer Communities Unit to:

• Talk through what has happened
• Access emotional support and safety planning
• Explore your options, including formal and informal pathways
• Make a disclosure or formal report 

You can engage with the Safer Communities team by completing the Safer Communities Referral form and our trauma-informed team will make initial contact with you.  All Safer Communities referrals are responded to within 24-72 business hours. 

You can also contact Safe Communities directly at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +61 7 4930 9456 (Press Option 4), Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (AEST)

Remember, outside of hours student support can also be contacted via phone 1300 226 987 or text 0480 097 747.  

Safer Communities approach

Following the implementation of the National Higher Education Code to Prevent & Respond to Gender Based Violence and the recommendations of Project RESPECT, CQU has expanded Safer Communities into a dedicated specialist Unit within the Student Success Division, reporting to the Vice-President (Student Success). This reform strengthens prevention and early intervention, reduces fragmentation, and embeds survivor-centred, trauma-informed responses across the University.

The Safer Communities Unit takes a whole-of-organisation approach to preventing and responding to harm. Our work is guided by:

• Trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice
• Survivor choice, dignity and autonomy
• Transparency, accountability and procedural fairness
• Prevention, education and early intervention

Safer Communities Unit

The Unit brings together critical safety-related functions under a single, coordinated structure.

Support and Response Team

Provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive support to students who disclose harm, including:

• Emotional support
• Safety planning
• Referrals to internal and external services
• Case coordination

For matters relating to support and response, including disclosures and referrals contact [email protected].

Support is always available whether or not a formal report is made.

Prevention, Education and Training Team

Leads proactive initiatives to prevent harm and build safer communities, including:

• Respectful relationships and consent education
• Bystander intervention training
• Anti-racism, anti-discrimination, bullying and harassment prevention
• Staff and student capability-building

For prevention programs, training, and education enquiries email [email protected]. 

Conduct and Investigations Team

Oversees formal student misconduct investigations, ensuring:

• Procedural fairness
• Risk-informed decision-making
• Clear separation between support and investigation functions

For matters relating to student misconduct investigations contact [email protected]. 

We take the health and welfare of our students very seriously, providing a wide range of support services and assistance to students on campus and online across our footprint.

Services include:

• Counselling and Wellbeing that is delivered by a team of highly skilled counsellors, students can access to free and confidential counselling services at CQUniversity – either on-campus or online. 
• Afterhours crisis support is available within Australia, weekdays from 4.30pm to 9.00am, weekends and public holidays this service can be accessed by phone 1300 226 987 or text 0480 097 747
• Indigenous Student Support team provides culturally relevant support, spaces and other services to help students achieve their academic and career goals.
• LGBTIQA+ support through CQUniversity Ally Program. The program aims to create a safe and supportive atmosphere for all students with a zero tolerance approach to bullying and discrimination.  
• Study supportincluding academic support, accessibility, careers support, and student advocacy helps students to improve their study experience and realise successful outcomes.
• CQUniversity’s Multi-Faith Chaplaincy is an inclusive service where students can access spiritual guidance and support from chaplaincy officers. Multi-faith spaces are also offered on campuses to provide students and staff with quiet, safe spaces for reflection, worship and spiritual practice. Please contact your local campus for more information on multi-faith spaces.

Health Clinics in Rockhampton and Brisbane (Indooroopilly) provide affordable physiotherapy, podiatry and chiropractic services to students and the general public.

Our Indigenous Student Support team provide a great range of support and other services to help students to SEE IT, BE IT.

Students can access virtual Yarning events including wellbeing and connect, success and equip students, deadly graduation, exam wellbeing and deadly feedback. Students can also access culturally safe study and support spaces across some campuses, contact the Indigenous Student Support team for more information.

CQUniversity takes online safety very seriously with policies, processes and systems in place to protect staff and students.  CQUniversity manages information in accordance with the Cybersecurity Management and Privacy Policies.

Creating a safe and respectful university is a shared responsibility. All members of the CQUniversity community must treat others with dignity and respect in all physical and online spaces. This includes participating in required training and safety programs, speaking up or seeking help when something does not feel right, referring peers or colleagues to support services and reporting harmful behaviours.

CQUniversity has in place strict Student and Staff Codes of Conduct and enforces these codes to ensure all members of the University community have an opportunity to engage in learning and work activities. The codes of conduct for staff and students can be accessed via the links below:

• Student Conduct Policy and Procedure
• Student Residences Conduct Policy and Procedure
• Code of Conduct for staff