Restorative engagement

The Restorative Engagement Program is designed to enable RMIT to respond to the needs of current and former students who have experienced sexual harm and feel aggrieved by the University’s historical response to their disclosures.

Restorative engagement is based on restorative conferencing practice where the person who disclosed sexual harm (the Reportee) meets a senior leader of the institution to outline their personal account of abuse, its impact, the ongoing effects and to receive a personalised and genuine acknowledgement of the resulting harm.  

Research consistently tells us that victims/survivors of sexual harm need a voice, validation, accountability, information and prevention of future harm. When justice processes meet a victim/survivor's full range of justice needs, higher levels of satisfaction, healing and recovery result. 

Developed by the RMIT Centre for Innovative Justice, the Restorative Engagement Program was modelled on the Defence Abuse Restorative Engagement Program. Feedback from Defence representatives and reportees has been overwhelmingly positive.

If you think you could benefit from participating in a restorative engagement conference, please contact restorative.engagement@rmit.edu.au to arrange a confidential discussion.