Information for Students

If you are notified of an allegation of misconduct, you can contact any of the following people to discuss the matter: 

• A case manager in the Conduct and Investigations Office. 
• Support services available here.

Yes. The University offers a range of support services for students. You can find out more by visiting the Student Support page. 

If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you are encouraged to contact the Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education, which can provide counselling and support. You can call the Badanami Infoline on 1300 897 669 or visit Badanami website for more information. 

International students can also access help through the International student support website. 

All students are entitled to bring a support person or an advocate (for example, a family member or welfare officer) with them at any interview or hearing for misconduct. The University recognises that this can be a stressful experience for students and strongly encourages students to seek support or help. 

Students are encouraged to utilise the University's welfare and counselling services available which are confidential and available for all students at no cost. Please visit the services and facilities for current students webpage for information on how to access this. 

The University has policies and procedures to guide students to understand expected behaviour and conduct. These policies and procedures apply in all situations, including when you are on placement, doing fieldwork, or carrying out research. Relevant policies include: 

• Bullying Prevention Policy and Bullying Prevention Guidelines
• Discrimination, Harassment, Vilification and Victimisation Prevention Policy
• Respect and Inclusion in Learning and Working Policy
• Sexual Misconduct and Gender based Violence Prevention and Response Policy
• Student Code of Conduct
• Student Misconduct Policy
• Student Misconduct Procedure
• Motting and Hazing Prevention Policy

Misconduct is managed under the Student Misconduct Policy and the Student Misconduct Procedure following a trauma-informed approach. 

The misconduct process is as follows: 

1. Education and Reporting: The University helps students understand expected behaviour. When conduct fails to meet expectations, a misconduct allegation can be reported.
2. Review and Triage: If a concern is raised, it is reviewed to decide how serious it is and what to do next. 
3. Engagement and Explanation: You will be contacted and given the chance to explain your side of the story. 
4. Investigation: The relevant information obtained will be assessed and considered. Finding: A decision will be made about whether misconduct occurred. 
5. Appeal: If you believe there was a failure of procedural fairness in the process, you can seek appeal of the process. Reflection and Improvement. The University reflects on the process and makes any adjustments to improve the student experience. 

If your alleged conduct has been referred for misconduct, you will be notified at the commencement of the process.

The best approach is to ensure you are aware of what the process involves and that you are supported through the process to give yourself the best opportunity to respond to the allegations.

Supports are available to help you through the process. You will be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations against you. There are several actions you can take: 

• Seek support. You can access free and confidential counselling and welfare services through the University. Please visit the services and facilities for current students webpage for information. 
• Access the free advocacy services by booking here at access Student Wellbeing Services Booking Support | Western Sydney University
• Seek free legal advice and referrals here: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/schools/sol/student-legal-services. 
  • Contact details:
    • Phone: (02) 9685 4788
    • Email: studentlegalservices@westernsydney.edu.au
  • The legal service can assist with matters such as employment, tenancy/accommodation, consumer rights, debt issues, traffic offences, and minor criminal matters. It does not provide advice on complaints against the University, migration/visa matters, family law, or major criminal matters.
• Review the Student Misconduct Policy and the Student Misconduct Procedure so you can engage effectively in the process. 

A substantiated finding of misconduct may be on your academic record and have an impact on any potential professional registration. 

If you are studying a professional degree, you may need to tell your professional body about the misconduct, or the University may be legally required to report it.  

It is your responsibility to understand what your future profession requires. The University is not responsible if there are consequences because you did not disclose a misconduct finding. 

The University aims to make sure the misconduct process is fair for all students. 

Your rights: 

• To be told about the allegation in enough detail so you can understand it 
• To have a sufficient opportunity to respond
• To see and respond to the evidence 
• To present your own evidence 
• To appeal a decision or outcome (on certain grounds) 
• To expect fair and unbiased treatment 
• To access student support services for help 

Your responsibilities: 

• Treat everyone involved with respect 
• Do not pressure or threaten witnesses 
• Do not interfere with evidence or the investigation 
• Behave politely and calm throughout the process

You can find more information about procedural fairness on the University website. 

The outcome of an allegation of misconduct can be either dismissed or partially or fully sustained.

The sanction applied to a sustained outcome includes:

• A warning. 
• Being directed to complete an educational activity (for example, additional training regarding academic integrity). 
• Loss of marks or grade of zero for an assessment task. 
• Grade of zero for a unit. 
• Suspension from the University for a period. 
• Exclusion from the University. 
• Explusion from the University

All sanctions are decided based on a proportional response to the severity of the conduct. Examples of the types of sanctions that may be applied can be found in the Student Misconduct Procedure. 

Yes. Interviews and hearings are treated as confidential. Only the people involved in managing the process will have access to this information. If an allegation of misconduct is sustained and a sanction imposed, some University staff will need to be notified so that so they can action the outcome. They will only be given general information, not full details. In some cases, the University may be legally required to report misconduct to external bodies, such as law enforcement or government agencies. 

If an allegation of misconduct against you is sustained, it will be recorded on in the Universities Complaints and Misconduct Management System (CMMS).

You can lodge an appeal if you believe the process was not conducted with procedural fairness. Procedural fairness, means that you must be given an opportunity to respond and have the information you provide considered before a decision is made, and the decision needs to be made by someone not affected by bias.

You cannot lodge an appeal because you disagree with the decision.

To submit an appeal, you must: 

• Submit a request for appeal within 20 business days of receiving the misconduct finding.
• Provide evidence to support your claim that the process was not fair.  If you don’t provide evidence, your appeal may be dismissed 
• Your appeal will be reviewed by a senior University staff member who was not involved in the original decision. 
• Once an appeal decision is made, it is final and cannot be appealed further or be the subject of a complaint. You can seek external review by the National Student Ombudsman (NSO)

If you have any questions, please email studentmisconduct@westernsydney.edu.au. 

If you are involved in a misconduct allegation and think the process was not handled fairly, there are steps you can take. First, you should follow the University’s processes, including responding to the allegation and, if needed, lodging an appeal. You are open to seek external review via the National Student Ombudsman.

Report misconduct online via the Complaints and Misconduct Reporting Portal. 

If the suspected misconduct involves conduct that may be a criminal offence you can also contact Campus Safety and Security on 1300 737 003.

• If the matter is an emergency call 000.  
• You will be asked to provide an account of what you saw or heard to assist the University in dealing with the matter. If you decide to later withdraw your complaint, the University may continue to investigate. 

You can report a sexual offence or gender based violence via the Complaints and Misconduct Reporting Portal. If you would prefer to speak with someone call +61 2 9678 7900. If you need to leave a message, we will return your call as soon as we can.

Additional information can be found here Respect.

The University manages misconduct in accordance with the Student Misconduct Procedure. The Procedure comprises seven stages, shown below: 

If you have any questions, please email studentmisconduct@westernsydney.edu.au