Respect at Federation

Discrimination refers to unfavourable treatment based on actual or assumed protected attributes (such as age, gender, disability, physical features, race or sexual orientation). The motive is irrelevant. Direct discrimination is when a person treats or proposes to treat a person unfavourably because of a protected attribute. Indirect discrimination occurs when an unreasonable requirement, condition or practice is imposed that will disadvantage someone with a protected attribute, and it is not reasonable to have these conditions imposed. Discrimination often exists in institutions where laws, policies and barriers create inequality for people based on protected attributes.

Racism is a type of discrimination where a person or group of people are treated unfairly because of their ethnicity or race. According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, racism 'often takes the form of actions, attitudes, systems and policies that treat people unfairly ... [and] can come in the form of harassment, abuse or humiliation, violence or intimidating behaviour.'

The University and Council have formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition: 'Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.'

According to Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, there is no universally accepted definition of Islamophobia. It's an umbrella term that means several things. Some define it as anti-Muslim hatred, anti-Muslim sentiment and anti-Muslim prejudice. Increasingly, many academics, activists and community leaders define it as anti-Muslim racism. Institutionalised and systemic Islamophobia involves policies, practices and norms within organisations and systems that unfairly disadvantage Muslims, reinforce stereotypes and perpetuate discrimination. 

Anti-Indigenous discrimination (also referred to as anti-Indigenous racism) is recognised as a distinct form of racism targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. It stems from historical injustices of colonisation, dispossession, and assimilation, and continues to manifest in prejudice, unequal treatment, and systemic inequities faced by Indigenous communities. 

According to the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence 2025, gender-based violence means 'any form of physical or non‑physical violence, harassment, abuse or threats, based on gender, that results in, or is likely to result in, harm, coercion, control, fear or deprivation of liberty or autonomy.'

Sexual assault is a broad term that captures any sexual act or attempt to engage in a sexual act where consent is not obtained or not freely and voluntarily given. This includes unwanted sexual touching. Sexual assault includes acts defined in the Crimes Act 1958.

Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual behaviour that could make a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. It can be physical, verbal or written, and may be a single incident or repeated behaviour. Suggestive comments, offensive jokes, inappropriate touching, staring or leering, sexual gestures and repeated requests for dates or sex are all considered sexual harassment.

Family and relationship violence is any behaviour that causes physical, emotional or psychological harm to someone within a domestic setting. It includes controlling behaviour such as restricting access to money, preventing employment, limiting socialising, restricting access to devices, tracking movements and threatening harm.

Coercive control is a form of family and relationship violence. It is an ongoing pattern of behaviours used by an individual to dominate someone and take away their freedom and autonomy. Coercive control may include verbal and physical abuse, emotional abuse, harassment, financial abuse, stalking and technology-facilitated abuse.

Bullying is when someone repeatedly directs unacceptable behaviours at an individual or group, specifically to cause distress. It is usually a misuse of power, designed to belittle victims who may feel unable to speak up. Bullying can be verbal, physical or written.

Examples of bullying include:

• using offensive language to insult or put down
• spreading gossip
• excluding someone from an activity or conversation
• online trolling
• harming someone under the guise of playing a prank.