Complaints
If you want to speak up about something you’ve seen or experienced that doesn’t feel right, we’re here to support you. There are many ways you can safely speak up and get the support you need. Raise an issue as:
Want more information before raising a complaint? See below.
Speak up when something is unacceptable
You may raise a complaint if you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the university’s operations, activities, services, process or conduct of its community. This may include unacceptable behaviours at the university, such as:
- Discrimination
- Antisemitism
- Islamophobia
- Indigenous racism
- Other forms of racism and religious vilification
- Cheating, including unauthorised use of AI, cheating in exam or submitting work done by someone else
- Bullying and harassment of staff or student
- Gender-based violence
- Corrupt conduct
- Research misconduct
Step 1: Speak to the person or area responsible
Most concerns may be resolved by having a respectful, direct conversation with the person or area involved. But if that doesn’t feel appropriate, safe, or effective, you can speak with, or get support from, someone at the university.
Step 2: Speak with someone at the university
You will not suffer detriment or disadvantage as a result if raising your concern with the university.
If you are a student and your issue relates to your course and you are not comfortable having a conversation with course staff, you should speak to the Grievance Officer at your School. Their role is to assist with any issues related to your study or experience at UNSW. A list of contacts and suggestions on what to say is available on the university’s student complaints page.
If you are as staff member, you should speak to your supervisor, manager or a HR Business Partner team. A list of contacts and useful reference materials are available on the university’s staff complaints page.
Step 3: Speak up by raising a complaint
If you have tried steps 1 and 2 and your issue or concern is still not resolved you may lodge a complaint here.
You may lodge your complaint anonymously but please keep in mind that the university’s ability to investigate an anonymous complaint may be limited and we may not be able to contact you for further information or to provide you with the outcome of your complaint.
To help find what you need, please select which best describes you or the subject of your complaint:
Student
Student
As a student of UNSW, if you experience or see anything that doesn’t seem right, big or small, we want to hear about it. Speaking up allows us to understand your concerns, take necessary action, and help you find the support you need. Your voice also contributes to building a culture we all want.
Staff
Staff
As a UNSW staff member, you can speak up about a variety of concerns affecting you, from the conduct of another staff member or student, a breach of the Research Code of Conduct, to discrimination, bullying, sexual harassment, and criminal acts.
Researcher
Researcher
UNSW researchers are required to report potential breaches of the UNSW Research Code of Conduct. UNSW encourages members of the public, as well as other UNSW staff, to raise any research integrity concerns.
UNSW researchers are expected to be committed to high standards of professional conduct in accord with the accepted practice of their disciplines, codes of relevant external funding bodies and legislative requirements. Allowing people to do the wrong thing can have a detrimental impact on the reputation of UNSW and the excellence of research more generally.
General Public
General Public
As a member of the public, you can raise a variety of concerns with UNSW regarding the conduct of UNSW people, activities, services, actions, and processes.
We are always looking at ways to improve our complaint handling.
If you have feedback about your complaints experience at UNSW, click here
SpeakUp Strategy & Campaign Development
The SpeakUp Strategy is the University's way of creating and fostering a culture of respect and integrity. The University does this by ensuring our community knows the expected behaviours and how to speak up when they experience or see unacceptable behaviour.
If you or someone you know has experienced gendered violence, the UNSW Gendered Violence Portal is a way get support and find out response options.
