Our new programme,
Respect Matters, is designed to support the Australian higher education sector in providing evidence-based training on gender-based violence, consent and bystander intervention. Developed by the Epigeum team, Respect Matters directly addresses key recommendations in Standard 3 of the
National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence, supporting institutions in creating a culture of safety, support and equity across campus life.
On 15 July, we hosted an online workshop bringing together industry experts and university representatives to shape and collaborate on our upcoming course’s content plans. The session was filled with productive conversations and discussions that helped to refine the subject matter and ensure that the course reflects an inclusive and all-encompassing perspective.
Designed to empower and equip staff and students with the practical tools and knowledge to navigate and prevent gender-based violence, Respect Matters will be published in December 2025.
Responding to National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence
Standard 3 of the Code will require institutions to deliver trauma-informed, evidence-based training that proactively addresses consent, intervention, reporting, and support. Respect Matters directly supports compliance with Standard 3 by delivering inclusive, trauma-informed training on consent, bystander intervention, and gender-based violence ensuring all touchpoints are addressed with a focus on proactive intervention and safety-first procedures, and empowering institutions to foster a culture of safety and accountability across campus life.
It will offer:
- Tailored training for staff and students on gender-based violence prevention and response
- Guidance on survivor support, with emphasis on accessibility and inclusivity
- Strong understanding of key concepts and how to apply them in real-life settings
- The ability to track completion rates for compliance
Beyond the Checklist: Meaningful Action
While Respect Matters will meet the requirements set out by the new regulations, it will be far more than a tick-box exercise. Drawing upon the expertise of sector leaders and student support staff, it reflects a genuine commitment to fostering a positive and safe campus culture.
Developed in close collaboration with Camille Schloeffel (Founder of The STOP Campaign – a grassroots organisation tackling sexual violence), Kelsey Paske (specialised consultant on gender-based violence prevention) and Trent Larkman (Principal Educator at Everyday Actions), who all bring backgrounds in advocacy, education, and prevention, Respect Matters offers a meaningful and practical framework. Their insights and research are shaping the course’s content and approach, contributing to tools that can help cultivate a culture of respect, safety, and accountability across campus.
Respect Matters is designed not only to meet compliance standards but to truly embed inclusive values and ensure protection and respect for every member of the campus community.
A Day of Collaboration and Insight
The Respect Matters workshop brought together a diverse group of contributors committed to shaping inclusive and impactful course content. Attendees included representatives from six universities, student representatives from four universities, as well as the course authors and reviewers.
Workshop attendee, Jayne McCartney, Respectful University Manager at University of Newcastle shared: ‘It was great to see the intentionality to engage with the National Code but to move beyond compliance to ensure the content is focused on culture change. Using thought-leaders in this area as subject matter experts was a welcome inclusion.’
Catharine Pruscino, Program Manager at University of Technology, Sydney shared: ‘It was a privilege to contribute to Epigeum’s online Respect Matters workshop alongside the module authors and student and staff representatives from universities across Australia. Collaborating on this initiative not only fostered meaningful dialogue around respect, consent and inclusion, but also allowed me to help shape digital learning modules that empower university staff and students to build safer, more respectful campus communities.’ Catharine is also a reviewer for the course.
Key takeaways
The discussions from the workshop highlighted important themes and valuable insights that will shape the final design of the Respect Matters programme. Key themes included:
- Strong foundations: Participants welcomed the clear progression of content, welcoming Respect Matters' broader focus on respect, power, and culture change.
- Trauma-informed and inclusive: The content framework was recognised as reflecting current best practice in gender-based violence prevention, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity across diverse student and staff experiences.
- Empowering communities: Attendees valued the emphasis on supporting others, not just protecting oneself, through bystander action and signposting to help.
- Systemic understanding: There was strong appetite for training that connects everyday behaviours to wider social norms, helping staff and students see how small actions contribute to cultural change.
- Institutional alignment: Staff noted the importance of clearly outlining professional responsibilities, legal frameworks, and disclosure protocols to support confidence and consistency in responding to incidents.
- Areas for refinement: Feedback suggested opportunities to strengthen coverage of technology-facilitated abuse, broaden representation in scenarios, and ensure the training avoids a “tick-box” feel by keeping delivery engaging and relevant.
These insights will guide the ongoing development of Respect Matters, ensuring it not only supports compliance with the National Code but also delivers meaningful, lasting change across campus communities.
Programme Breakdown
The new programme will be published later this year and contains the tailormade modules for both students and staff. These include:
Student Course
Module 1: Gender-based Violence and Consent
Module 2: Safe, Respectful and Healthy Relationships
Module 3: How to Support Others
Module 4: Supporting a safe & inclusive campus culture
Staff Course
Module 1: Gender-based Violence and Consent
Module 2: How to support people with lived experience of GBV
Module 3: Prevention Strategies and Campus Culture Supporting a safe & inclusive campus culture
A Note From Commissioning Editor
Suparna Sengupta shares her reflections on the workshop:
“We recently wrapped up a really energising and insightful online workshop focused on the development of our Respect Matters training programme.
Whether a student, a staff member, or a contributor, everyone's input has made a real impact. We hope the session gave the attendees a sense of where we’re heading with the programme and, most importantly, that it felt like a space where your voice mattered. The insights are helping us shape something that’s not only engaging and relevant but also genuinely supportive of learners’ needs.
Over the course of the session, we explored content ideas, discussed design, and reflected on the kind of learner journey we want this programme to support. It was inspiring to see so much shared purpose around inclusion, accessibility, and sector-wide impact.
As we move into the development phase, we’re excited to keep building on this collaborative momentum.
This workshop reminded us why collaboration matters so much. It’s about more than just shaping content - it’s about shaping values, tone, and trust. We’re incredibly grateful for everyone's input and can’t wait to bring this course to life, together.”
Respect Matters (AUS) will be published in December 2025.
Visit our website to find out more.
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