Welcome message from Professor Richard Baker

Welcome to the Australian National University!

I'm Richard Baker and I'm the Pro Vice-Chancellor (University Experience).

I am a proud graduate of ANU.  I have wonderful memories of my time as an undergraduate at ANU and hope you are going to enjoy your time here as much as I did as a student.  Many of my closest friends to this day are people I meet in first year at ANU and the excitement I felt as a new student at ANU is something I can remember vividly to this day.

In enrolling at ANU you become part of a long and proud academic tradition that is shared by 100,000 graduates of this University.  When I meet our graduates I am always struck by their stories of how much their time here has shaped their lives.

As Pro Vice-Chancellor (University Experience) I'm committed to ensuring this campus is safe, and a welcoming and friendly place for students, staff and visitors. If the University is to be successful as a place where ideas are exchanged and debated and new knowledge created, it is vital that our relationships with each other be based on mutual respect.

Campus safety is everyone's responsibility and for a number of years ANU students have shown great leadership in making the campus a safe place and I ask that you contribute to this during your time here.  I would like to draw your attention to a number of important initiatives to enhance campus safety and services that you can access.

In 2017, ANU will be implementing Consent Matters: Boundaries, Respect and Positive Intervention which is a fully interactive and evidence-based course covering the areas of sexual consent, communication and relationships, and bystander intervention. The course explores the nature of sexual consent. It shows students how to seek consent, how to recognise it and how to identify situations where it can't be given. Using activities, quizzes and relatable character scenarios, it teaches students the importance of good communication, clear boundaries and mutual respect. Within the context of social norm and bystander intervention theory, students will learn how to recognise difficult situations and possible ways of stepping in if others need help.

The course is comprised of four modules:

• Thinking about consent
• Communication skills and relationships
• Looking out for others
• Support

I strongly encourage you log in to Wattle and do the course.

There is also support and assistance available if you or one of your friends has been sexually assaulted.  These resources are listed at http://www.anu.edu.au/students/health-wellbeing/counselling/finding-help-and-support-if-you-have-been-sexually-assaulted

Note in particular:

• The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre is available on 02 6247 2525. 7am-11pm, 7 days/week.
• After 11pm the student can contact a counsellor at Forensic and Medical Sexual Assault Care (FAMSAC) on 02 6247 2184 or the police on 131 444.
• 1800RESPECT. 24 hours, 7days. Information and support for people who have experienced sexual assault or domestic and family violence.
• The ANU Counselling Centre on 02 6125 2442. Between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday provides counselling and referral for students who have experienced sexual assault.

Once again, welcome to the ANU family. I look forward to meeting you around campus soon.

Richard.