KUCHING – Frameworks on safety and health aimed to further improve the wellbeing of students and staff were recently launched at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus.
The Safer Community Program was unveiled by Swinburne Sarawak Deputy Vice-Chancellor and CEO Professor Anthony Cahalan.
Under the program is the Behavioural Risk Assessment and Management, the centre of enquiry for the university community to seek information, advice, and support in managing inappropriate or threatening behaviour that could compromise the safety of an individual and/or others.
It aims to improve safety by minimising the risk of students harming themselves and/or others; prevent incidents rather than responding to them; provide assessment, management and early intervention of students/staff identified as a potential threat to the safety and wellbeing of the campus community; and facilitate prompt and open communication across the university.
Also will be in place is a framework that manages complaints, reviews, appeal and misconduct. Committed to providing a positive educational experience, it welcomes feedback in order to improve the quality of teaching, administrative and support services.
The Safer Community program encourages the university community to play an active role on safety and health issues. It offers an avenue for voicing their concerns about their safety and wellbeing and that of their peers; personalise support, and referrals for victims of crime, violence, sexual assault, harassment, and bullying; and ways to manage behaviours that are of concern to them.
As part of the program, a series of campaigns and activities including those on self-defence, mental health, and cyberbullying, will be organised in collaboration with Swinburne’s Occupational Safety and Health team.
The programs and campaigns will be aligned with those of Swinburne Sarawak’s home campus in Melbourne, Australia.
During the launching of the Safer Community Program at the university’s multipurpose hall, whistles which are to be used as a call for help, were given out to both staff and students.
Staff and students pledged to do their part to keep the Swinburne community safe by thumb-printing on the Tree Of Life painting, at the launching of the event.