Leaders Institute promotes and fosters a safe environment on campus and online for staff, students, and visitors. Health, wellbeing, and safety are primary responsibilities of both the Academic Board and the Executive Management Team. For more information, please see the Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Policy.

During Orientation you will be introduced to the Institute’s health, safety, and wellbeing protocols. We are committed to ensuring your wellbeing throughout the learning journey. The Student Support Team can assist with:

• Security and safety;
• Health services;
• Counselling services;
• Legal services;
• Reporting misconduct;
• Reporting hazards and critical incidents;
• Sexual misconduct and gender-based violence prevention and response;
• Health and wellbeing.

For further information, please contact:

studentsupport@leaders.edu.au
+61 (07) 3161-5566 (Brisbane campuses)
+61 (02) 8766-3959 (Sydney campus)

If you feel as though your safety is compromised or have witnessed or experienced any form of harassment or assault, please contact our Head of Safety, Mr John Varghese:

john.varghese@leaders.edu.au
+61 (07) 3161 5566
or
0450 010 203 (after hours)

In the case of an emergency please dial 000 for the police, fire, or ambulance. For more information please see Australian Emergency and External Services on our website.

Code Of Conduct

Our Code of Conduct Policy defines expectations for behaviour as part of the Leaders community. It is outlined during staff induction and student orientation. If the Code is breached, the Institute will implement appropriate and measured action. This may include dismissal of staff or discontinuation of students from a course. The severity of disciplinary action is consistent with the severity of any breach of the Code. For grievance procedures, please see:

• Complaints, Grievances, and Appeals Policy
• Staff Grievance Policy

Safety On Campus

We are committed to providing equipment, services and facilities that ensure your safety on campus. All our campuses are close to public transport and monitored 24/7 by CCTV. Face-to-face classes are only delivered 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday.

Safety Officers

There are designated Safety Officers at each campus who can:

• Escort you to public transport or your car after evening classes;
• Respond rapidly to critical incidents and emergencies.

Safety on Public Transport

Public transport can be a great way to get around in Australia. There are lots of measures in place to help keep you safe. These include security officers, guards, help points, good lighting and security cameras.

Follow the below tips to stay safe on buses, trains, ferries and trams.

• If travelling at night, plan to travel with someone you know;
• If travelling alone by train or tram at night, choose the carriage closest to the driver or guard;
• Inform the driver if you’re feeling threatened by others;
• Tell a friend your travel route and let them know when you have arrived;
• At night, wait for transport in a well-lit area with CCTV (security) cameras;
• Check transport timetables to avoid long waits, particularly at night.

Parking on Campus

• Make sure your vehicle is locked;
• Park in well-lit areas as close to campus as possible;
• Move your car closer when you plan on being on campus after dark. Check what parking zone restrictions apply;
• Never leave valuables where someone can see them;
• Never put personal identification on your keyring.

First Aid

All our campuses have trained First Aid Officers who can provide care on site. Our staff in charge of field trips or professional experience placements are responsible for:

• Conducting a risk assessment to ensure appropriate first aid equipment is provided;
• Determining the need for and level of training for first aid personnel.

Staff, students, contractors, and visitors are responsible for reporting all workplace injuries and illnesses to their direct supervisor or contact person within 48 hours.

To report a first aid incident, please complete the First Aid Incident Report Form.

Hazards

A hazard is a situation that has the potential to cause injury or illness, harm to health and/or danger to property or the environment. To report a hazard or potential hazard, please complete the Hazard Report Form.

For more information, please see:

• Delivery Site and Mode Policy
• Facilities and Infrastructure Policy
• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Policy

Critical Incidents

A critical incident is a traumatic event, or the threat of such (within or outside Australia), which causes extreme stress, fear, or injury to you. We classify critical incidents as:

• Minor – localised impact and little or no potential to escalate. These can be resolved through standard procedures and be managed by our staff.
• Moderate – localised impact that could potentially escalate into a major incident, such as serious injury or death of a student or staff member.
• Major – substantial or catastrophic impact on the Institute’s operations with long-term or profound effect, such as threatening to cause multiple fatalities or serious injuries and/or significant property damage or adverse media reporting.

The Critical Incident Management Policy notes that we conduct regular risk assessments regarding the likelihood and impact of potential incidents. In accordance with the ESOS Act and National Code 2018, the Institute documents critical incidents in respect to international students.

To report a critical incident, you may either:

Complete and submit the Critical Incident Report Form on our website or contact our Head of Safety, Mrs Kasia Duch:

safety@leaders.edu.au
+61 (07) 3161 5566
or
0450 010 203 (after hours)

For more information, please see:

• Risk Management Policy

Offsite Safety

Work Integrated Learning

As outlined in the Work Integrated Learning Policy, it is the Institute’s responsibility to ensure appropriate insurance arrangements are in place when students are engaged in learning activities off campus. Our Work Integrated Learning Handbook and Memorandums of Understanding note that the host organisation must adhere to workplace health and safety legislation. The quality of the site is monitored by a visit from the Program Director.

Please complete the Excursion Form as instructed by your lecturer.

To make a claim under Leaders Institute’s Public Liability or Professional Indemnity insurance, please contact the Accounts Department (accounts@leaders.edu.au) as soon as practicable after the event to which the claim relates.

Beach Safety

• Always swim at beaches that have surf life-saving patrols and only between the red and yellow flags;
• Read the safety signs and understand the meaning of the flag colours which will explain the conditions of the water;
• If you are unsure about the conditions, ask a lifesaver or lifeguard before entering the water;
• If you are unsure about how confident you feel about the water, please stay in shallow water where you feel in control;
• Swim with a friend where possible;
• If you find yourself in trouble, stay calm and put your hand up for help.

For more information on beach safety check out Surf Life Saving Queensland.

Sun Safety

• SLIP ON PROTECTIVE CLOTHING – Slip on protective clothing that covers as much of your body as possible. If you’re swimming a Lycra long-sleeve shirt can protect you from the sun;
• SLOP ON SUNSCREEN – Slop on sunscreen that is SPF30 or higher. Apply to your skin at least 20 mins before leaving the house. Ensure it is water-resistant and reapply every 2 hours;
• SLAP ON A HAT – Slap on a hat, ideally a wide-brimmed hat that covers your face, nose, neck and ears;
• SEEK SHADE – Seek shade! This can be under a sun tent, a tree or other cover from the sun. If there is no shade, take breaks from the sun and avoid the sun during the highest UV-rated times of the day;
• SLIDE ON SUNGLASSES – Slide on some sunglasses that meet Australian standards.

For more information on Sun safety check out Surf Life Saving Queensland.

Online Safety

It is important to stay safe online! Breaches of online security include, but are not limited to cyber abuse, cyberstalking, trolling, fake accounts and impersonation, online hate, oxing and swatting, image-based abuse, and sexual extortion.

Online safety training is a compulsory component of staff induction and student orientation programs at Leaders Institute. Sessions include:

• managing security settings;
• using software to protect private information;
• physical actions with regards to the devises used;
• how to report concerns to the relevant social media service or platform.

For anyone targeted by online abuse there are several ways to address the issue. Try not to respond or retaliate. People who post hurtful comments and messages online often do so just to get a reaction. Collect evidence that documents what is happening and report the abuse before you block or delete it.

The Australian government’s eSafety has legal powers to help protect people who live in Australia from the most serious online abuse and harmful content. Make sure to collect evidence such as screenshots, web page addresses, and account profiles or usernames. Image-based abuse should be reported to eSafety Report immediately. Then block anyone abusing you. If they reappear online under a different name, block them again.

Tips to stay safe online:

• when creating passwords, it is safest to use unique passwords;
• never share passwords with anyone;
• make sure you think before you click! Most cyberattacks start with an email. If students are not sure if an email is safe, then do not click on it. Clicking a dodgy or unsafe link are common ways of being hacked;
• back up your data! This can be done by USB, external hard drives, the Cloud, and other online storage options. If you are targeted by an attack your files are at risk. Having files backed up means you will not lose important files;
• keep your laptops, smart tablets, and smart phones updated. Many cyberattacks target old devices that do not have updated protection software;
• be careful about Wi-Fi. LI has free safe Wi-Fi available for students. Often hackers gain access to devices through unsafe Wi-fi;
• keep your personal information private;
• minimise risk of inappropriate contact using student email addresses, report unauthorised communication, and block unknown email addresses;
• be careful what you share on social media. Hackers use social media too!

Respect and Disrespect

‘Stop it at the Start’ is an initiative between the Australian and state governments, designed to simulate a young person’s

engagement with social media. This initiative provides resources around the hidden trends of disrespect and tools for engaging with young people to encourage respect online and in the real world. LI seeks to clearly identify disrespectful attitudes and behaviours and proactively talk and teach about positive relationships.

Our emotional and physical wellbeing affect how we think, feel and act. Wellbeing also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Leaders Institute provides scaffolding for dealing with personal challenges, developing a healthy study-life or work-life balance, accessing mental health support services and building an inclusive campus community. We promote awareness and understanding of mental health issues in work, research and study environments, so that staff and students feel supported.

We have dedicated services for staff and students seeking support about experiences of violence, sexual harm, as well as unwanted, uncomfortable or threatening behaviour. This includes threats or hate speech, discrimination, assault, stalking, image-based abuse/doxing/catfishing or partner and family violence.

If you experience harassment, bullying, unlawful discrimination or assault (sexual or otherwise), Leaders Institute recommends that you:

• seek support from a trusted source such as a family member, counsellor, one of Leaders Institute’s Student Support Team members, or an external provider;
• seek to appropriately limit the number of people you inform so that any investigations are impartial and your own privacy is protected;
• report the incident by making a complaint using the Sexual Misconduct Incident Form. This can be done independently, or with the help of a trusted Leaders Institute staff member.

If you are not satisfied with the way your complaint is dealt with, you can seek further advice from an outside agency such as the Human Rights Commission or the Equal Opportunity Commission (QLD, NSW) or other relevant government agency.

Students and staff members may choose to report the incident to the police. In the case of an emergency please dial 000 for the police, fire, or ambulance. If the situation is not an emergency please call your local police station or you can make a report in person at your nearest station. You may wish to make a formal report or draw upon the informal or anonymous reporting options offered by the different state police forces. You can take a support person with you when making a report to the police.

Wellbeing Support

The Institute provides access to trained counsellors on campus or online. Further details regarding counselling services can be found in the Student Portal.

For external support, please see:

• Beyondblue Support Service – Support. Advice. Action Information and referral to relevant services for depression and anxiety related matters. Phone: 1300 22 46 36
• Black Dog Institute is a world leader in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder.
• Blue Knot Foundation Helpline (formerly Adults Surviving Child Abuse). The Blue Knot Helpline provides information and short-term counselling nationally via telephone for adult survivors of childhood trauma on 1300 657 380 and email helpline@blueknot.org.au 7 days a week 9am to 5pm AEST.
• Carer Gateway: Are you one of the 2.5 million Australians who care for a loved one, friend or neighbour? Find out information about the support services available to you, on the Carer Gateway.
• Gambling Helpline: Starting to think gambling might be a problem? Find out about the signs of a problem and assess gambling issues and spending. Phone: 1800 858 858
• Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation. We help young people who are going through a tough time.
• Kids Help Line: Confidential and anonymous, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25. Phone: 1800 55 1800
• Lifeline: 24-hour telephone counselling service. Phone: 13 11 14
• Mensline Australia is a dedicated service for men with relationship and family concerns. Phone: 1300 78 99 78
• MI Networks offers access to relevant, up-to-date information, peer support and connections to local community networks, Mi Networks members provide a personalised response to the needs of individuals living with mental illness, as well as their carers, friends and family members. Phone: 1800 985 944
• 1800RESPECT: National sexual assault, domestic family violence counselling services 24-hour online support for workers and professionals. Phone: 1800 737 732
• Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (formerly VVCS). Open Arms provides free and confidential counselling to anyone who has served at least one day in the ADF, and their families. Phone: 1800 011 046
• PANDA – National Perinatal Depression Helpline, funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments, provides vital support, information, referral and counselling to thousands of Australian parents and their families. Callers do not need to have a diagnosis of antenatal or postnatal depression to contact the Helpline, PANDA is keen to support any new parent struggling during pregnancy or after the birth of their baby, as well as their partner, family and friends. Phone: 1300 726 306 from Mon – Fri, 9am –7.30pm (AEST/AEDT).
• Parentline is a telephone service for parents and carers of children 0-18 in New South Wales. Phone: 1300 1300 52
• ReachOut.com is Australia’s leading online youth mental health service. It is an initiative of the Inspire Foundation, an Australian non-profit with a mission to help young people lead happier lives.
• Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities. Phone: 1300 364 277
• SANE Australia is a national charity helping all Australians affected by mental illness lead a better life – through campaigning, education and research. SANE conducts innovative programs and campaigns to improve the lives of people living with mental illness, their family and friends. It also operates a busy Helpline and website, which have thousands of contacts each year from around Australia. Phone: 1800 187 263
• The Butterfly Foundation provides support for Australians who suffer from eating disorders and negative body image issues and their carers. Phone: 1800 33 4673

Please remember that you are not alone. Your Leaders family are here to support you through the journey of life and learning.