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Student Conduct Policy

Section 1 - Summary

(1) This Policy is designed to help students understand what is required of them regarding academic, research, personal and professional behaviour at Victoria University (VU), and what standards of behaviour they can expect from other students.

(2) Students who breach the conduct expectations in this Policy may be subject to disciplinary action under the University’s Student Misconduct Regulations 2019.

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Section 2 - TEQSA/ASQA/ESOS Alignment

(3) HESF: Standard 7.2: Information for Prospective and Current Students

(4) National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Outcome Standards for Registered Training Organisations) Instrument 2025: Standard 2.1 and 2.5

(5) National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018: Standards 2.1, 3.3, 6.9, 9.

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Section 3 - Scope

(6) This Policy applies to:

Students of Victoria University
Members of the Victoria University Community

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Section 4 - Definitions

(7) Bullying: is repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed at a person, or group of people, that creates a risk to health and safety, it is:

behaviour which a reasonable person in the circumstances would expect to victimise, humiliate, undermine, threaten, degrade, offend or intimidate a person or group of people;
not always intentional. Sometimes people do not realise that their behaviour is harmful to others and is victimising, humiliating, intimidating, undermining or threatening another person;
able to occur in many different forms, including face-to-face, over the telephone, via email, instant messaging, through mobile phone technologies including text messaging or via social media forums;
any other behaviour outlined in the Bullying Prevention and Management Policy.

(8) Discrimination: is when distinctions are made between individuals/groups so as to disadvantage some and advantage others. It can be classified as either direct or indirect:

Direct discrimination occurs if a person treats, or proposes to treat, a person with a protected attribute unfavourably because of that attribute;
Indirect discrimination occurs if a person imposes, or proposes to impose, a requirement, condition or practice that has, or is likely to have, the effect of disadvantaging persons with a protected attribute and is not reasonable;
Any other behaviour outlined in the Discrimination and Harassment Prevention and Management Policy.

(9) Harassment: is the act of systematic and/or continued unwanted and annoying actions of one party or a group, including threats and demands. Harassment includes actions such as stalking and can occur in a single incident or a series of incidents and any other behaviour outlined in the Discrimination and Harassment Prevention and Management Policy.

(10) Hazing: refers to any activity that is condition upon recruitment, admission, affiliation, or continued participation in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers someone, regardless of consent or a person's willingness to participate.

(11) Sexual assault: can be a range of unwanted sexual behaviours, which constitute a crime, whereby a person is forced, coerced or tricked into sexual acts without their consent, including when they have withdrawn their consent. This includes:

Rape;
Indecent assault (sexual acts that involve touching but not penetration);
Any sexual contact with a child;
Sexual servitude;
unwanted sexual behaviour not involving touching, e.g. forcing someone to witness a sex act;
any other behaviour referenced in the Sexual Assault Response Policy.

(12) Sexual harassment: is unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature that makes a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated, and which a reasonable person having regard to all the circumstances would have anticipated as likely to cause offence, humiliate or intimidate. It includes:

verbal forms such as making comments about someone’s appearance in a sexually suggestive way, repeated unwelcome requests for dates, continuous rude or sexist jokes/remarks, sexual insults or taunts, sending sexually explicit emails or text messages;
non-verbal forms such as staring at someone or making obscene gestures or noises, “flashing” or exposing body parts;
visual forms such as displaying materials that are sexually demeaning or pornographic in nature;
any other behaviour referenced in the Sexual Harassment Response Policy.

(13) Sexual harm: means misconduct of a sexual nature and includes:

sexual assault and rape;
sexual harassment;
sexual exploitation;
sexual abuse;
any conduct of a sexual nature without consent, including obscene, indecent, threatening language or behaviour;
observation, filming or distributing an image of a person’s genital or anal region or an intimate image without consent (e.g. revenge pornography).

(14) University community: includes:

VU students, including cross-institutional students and students on exchange from another institution
employees, volunteers and exchange staff
employees of controlled entities, Centres and Institutes, and affiliated clubs and associations
contractors and consultants performing work on University sites or on behalf of the University
visiting academics or persons with academic status
the Council and its committees

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Section 5 - Policy Statement

Student Responsibilities

Part A - Honesty and Integrity

(15) All VU students are expected to:

act with academic integrity, including research integrity where relevant, in all academic work at the University, in accordance with the Academic Integrity Policy, Research Integrity Policy and Academic Integrity Guidelines;
abide by any relevant ethical requirements or professional codes related to the area of practice for which they are studying;
complete any police record check, working with children check, health check or any other required check that may be required as part of the inherent requirements of studies and/or work placements;
comply with the rules, policies and procedures of external organisations, and the laws of other jurisdictions as applicable, while on any University placement or student mobility experience;
comply with government directives and advice relating to health & safety; and
not engage in fraudulent or corrupt behaviour including but not limited to:
1. impersonating someone else;
2. using forged, falsified or incomplete evidence of academic standing;
3. using falsified or misleading information regarding your immigration status or any other relevant matter in order to gain or maintain admission;
4. using another person’s bank account and/or credit card without authority to pay for student fees and/or services
5. accepting or seeking incentives (whether financial or not) for any kind of exercise of influence; and
6. offering incentives (whether financial or not) to any member of the University community in exchange for marks or any other kind of academic or other advantage.

Part B - Respectful Behaviour

(16) All VU students, whether on campus, online or both, are expected to:

treat all members of the University community with respect and fairness;
respect the rights of others to study, research, work and engage at the University free from bullying, unlawful discrimination, harassment and unreasonable impediment;
support an environment in which children and young people are safe, respected and engaged within the University community;
respect the confidentiality and privacy of others, including in placement settings, and ensure their communications (including on social media) are responsible, respectful, and comply with privacy, confidentiality, and copyright obligations;
consider their personal responsibilities to others, and the consequences of speech, when exercising their right to freedom of expression;
behave respectfully and in a context-appropriate way if participating in study abroad programs, and be responsible while representing the University abroad;
behave respectfully when engaging in student organisations and their activities on and off campus;
respect the rights of others to express themselves respectfully, and be willing to hear and receive information and opinions, including opinions that differ from their own;
not encourage, persuade or incite others to engage in poor conduct or behaviour;
not make vexatious complaints or reports of alleged misconduct or provide false evidence or information to the University during investigations of complaints or reports of alleged misconduct;
create an environment of equal opportunity, equity and social justice in line with the Student Equity and Social Inclusion Policy.

(17) Students must not engage (either directly or indirectly), or encourage others to engage in behaviour which constitutes or may reasonably be perceived as:

unlawful discrimination;
vilification;
bullying and hazing, including cyber-bullying;
harassment or assault;
stalking;
victimisation;
possession, supplying and dealing in illegal drugs on any VU premises or other instances outlined in the Student Alcohol and Other Drugs Procedure;
possessing or using weapons (or replica weapons) on any VU premises unless prior permission has been granted for an approved purpose (e.g. for a theatrical performance);
threatening/intimidating behaviour;
behaviour which poses a risk to the safety and welfare of others;
serious or repeated breaches of any government or university health directives in force;
sexual assault, sexual harassment, or any other gender-based conduct without consent.

Part C - Safety

(18) All VU students are expected to:

act safely and not endanger the wellbeing of themselves or others or cause harm to others while on University premises or involved in off-campus University authorised activities;
follow all relevant rules for working with humans, animals and biohazards;
not participate in any learning, research or engagement activity conducted by the University (including online, placements and field trips) while impaired by alcohol or any other substance;
provide name or age or show proof of identity or age or student identity card upon request by an authorised University staff member to support safety, security, academic integrity, or university operations;
not use, possess or supply a prohibited weapon or any prohibited substance at University premises; and
comply with any reasonable request or directions from University staff regarding safety, policy, procedure ethical requirements.

Part D - Respect for University Property

(19) All VU students are expected to:

use University property and resources, including communication technology resources, cooperatively, legally, sustainably, ethically and appropriately;
not intentionally or recklessly damage any University property, including facilities;
not use or obtain access to University property, premises, facilities or services without authorisation;
respect the property rights of others while on university premises; and
report any damage to University property.

Part E - University Reputation

(20) All VU students are expected to:

not make or publish false or misleading statements relating to the University;
avoid using the University's name, intellectual property, logo or resources for private or business purposes without appropriate authorisation;
conduct themselves appropriately when representing the University within the community.

Part F - Legal and Policy Compliance

(21) All VU students are expected to:

comply with the law, and refrain from illegal activities, including activities that may violate the copyright of another person;
follow any lawful direction provided by an authorised officer of the University with regard to the safety of people or property;
co-operate with any University investigation or process in which they are asked to provide information or be interviewed; and
follow the requirements of all University policies and procedures relating to students.

Part G - Reporting and Support for Addressing Inappropriate Behaviour

(22) Students can report and seek support about any inappropriate or concerning behaviour by:

Contacting Safer Community directly for support or to make a report
Lodging a complaint with the Integrity Office using the online complaint form
Accessing student support services, including counselling support

(23) For immediate assistance, students should contact campus security or the police

(24) Students who are the subject of a disciplinary proceeding in relation to allegations of inappropriate behaviour are strongly encouraged to seek the support of the Student Advocacy Service.

Part H - Responding to breaches of this Policy

(25) A breach of this Policy may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Misconduct Regulations 2019 and Student Misconduct Procedure.

(26) The University is committed to supporting appropriate student conduct and the prevention of misconduct. This commitment takes many forms, including:

education and provision of information and support to students;
professional development of staff; and
ongoing development of procedures and processes that detect misconduct and deal appropriately and fairly with those found in breach of expected conduct.

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