Gender Based Harm (GBV) | Risk Preparedness, Assessment and Safety and Support Planning

Specialist support for preventing and responding to gender-based violence

Code Black Psychology provides independent, trauma-informed and clinically informed support to higher education providers, student accommodation operators and affiliated organisations responding to disclosures, formal reports and complex matters involving gender-based violence.

We work alongside student and staff safety, HR, legal, conduct, residential and executive teams to strengthen decision-making, manage risk, and deliver safe, defensible and person-centered responses.

Our team brings expertise in behavioural risk and threat management, psychology, social work and law, with experience in pattern-based harms including stalking, harassment, family violence and coercive control.

How we can help

We provide practical, evidence-based services across the full response pathway — from initial consultation and risk assessment through to investigation, safety and support planning, staff capability building and complex case review.

Our services are available for matters involving students, staff, contractors, residents and other members of a provider community, including matters arising in study, work, living and accommodation settings.

Independent investigations

We conduct independent, trauma-informed investigations into disclosures and formal reports of gender-based violence and related harmful behaviour.

Our investigations are designed to be fair, proportionate and defensible. We work carefully with all parties, apply trauma-informed and person-centered practice, and provide clear, structured reports containing findings, reasoning and practical recommendations.

We can support providers to:

• Investigate formal reports involving students, staff and accommodation communities.
• Conduct independent reviews of complex, contested or high-risk matters.
• Provide clinically and legally informed analysis of disclosures, reports and behavioural patterns.
• Prepare defensible investigation reports with clear findings and recommendations.
• Work alongside internal legal teams and external legal advisers as subject-matter experts.
• Support fair, transparent and trauma-informed decision-making throughout the process.

The National Code requires providers to ensure that staff involved in responding to formal reports, conducting investigations or determining disciplinary proceedings have appropriate knowledge, experience and expertise, including in trauma-informed practice, procedural fairness and handling reports and disclosures.

GBV risk assessments

We provide specialist gender-based violence risk assessments to support providers to understand risk, prioritise safety and make informed decisions following a disclosure or formal report.

Our assessments use evidence-based structured professional judgement frameworks and tools to consider relevant risk and protective factors, patterns of harm, context, safety needs and available supports. We provide clear recommendations for risk management, safety planning and ongoing monitoring.

We support providers to meet the capability expectations in Standard 3.14 by providing assessments conducted by practitioners with expertise in gender-based violence risk assessment and experience working with diverse communities, including First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability, and people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity.

Where a provider identifies that it does not have the internal expertise or experience required to conduct a risk assessment, Standard 3.15 requires engagement of an external person with the necessary expertise and experience. We provide that independent specialist capability.

Our risk assessment services include:

• Initial and ongoing GBV risk assessments following disclosures or formal reports.
• Structured professional judgement assessments using evidence-based frameworks and tools.
• Assessment of risk and protective factors, patterns of harm, escalation indicators and safety needs.
• Recommendations for interim safety measures, monitoring and case management.
• Risk assessment reviews as circumstances change or new information emerges.
• Support for accommodation-based risk assessment and safety decision-making.

Safety and support planning

We support providers to develop practical, tailored safety and support plans for people who have experienced gender-based violence and, where appropriate, for respondents.

Our approach is person-centered, trauma-informed and safety-focused. We work collaboratively with provider teams to identify appropriate supports, safety measures, academic or workplace adjustments, accommodation actions and monitoring arrangements.

We can assist with:

• Safety and support planning for disclosers and respondents.
• Support planning in student, staff and student accommodation matters.
• Recommendations for academic adjustments, workplace arrangements and residential safety measures.
• Case planning where matters involve ongoing contact, shared environments or complex risk.
• Review and escalation of safety plans as risk changes.
• Coordination with internal teams, external support services and legal advisers.

The National Code requires providers to undertake a risk assessment in response to all disclosures and formal reports, manage identified risks on an ongoing basis, and develop tailored support plans with appropriately skilled staff.

Case consultation and complex case support

We provide confidential case consultation for providers managing complex, high-risk or sensitive matters involving gender-based violence.

This service is designed for teams that need independent specialist input to test their thinking, strengthen decision-making, identify risks, and develop a safe and defensible response.

We can provide:

• One-off or ad hoc consultation on individual disclosures, reports or emerging concerns.
• Ongoing retainer-based access to specialist advice for complex or high-risk cases.
• Case formulation and analysis of patterns of harm, risk and safety needs.
• Advice on investigation scope, interim measures, safety planning and case management.
• Support to internal and external legal teams through subject-matter expertise.
• Independent review of existing assessments, plans, decisions or investigation processes.
• Support for matters involving students, staff, residential communities and affiliated providers.

Retainer arrangements can provide your team with reliable access to specialist advice when matters escalate, while ad hoc consultations remain available for urgent or discrete matters.

Training and staff development

We deliver practical training and development programs to build staff knowledge, confidence and capability in preventing and responding to gender-based violence.

Our training is evidence-based, trauma-informed and tailored to the roles, risks and operating context of your organisation. We support teams to understand their responsibilities, respond safely to disclosures, apply structured risk assessment approaches, and manage complex cases with confidence.

Training can be tailored for:

• Student safety, respect and conduct teams.
• HR, employee relations and workplace safety teams.
• Residential and student accommodation staff.
• Investigators, decision-makers and disciplinary panels.
• Leadership, executives and governing bodies.
• Frontline staff who may receive disclosures.

Our training programs include:

• Understanding the requirements of the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence, including Standard 3.14.
• Responding safely and compassionately to disclosures.
• Trauma-informed and person-centered communication.
• Recognising patterns of gender-based violence, coercive control, stalking and harassment.
• Using evidence-based structured professional judgement GBV risk assessment frameworks and tools.
• Developing safety, risk management and support plans.
• Managing complex cases, confidentiality, information sharing and legal considerations.
• Building capability for staff involved in investigations and formal report responses.

The Code requires providers to deliver ongoing education and training, including specialised training on responding to disclosures, and to ensure relevant staff have the knowledge and expertise needed for their role.

Who we work with

We work with:

• Universities and higher education providers.
• TAFEs and vocational education providers.
• Student accommodation providers and residential communities.
• Affiliated colleges, residential halls and campus partners.
• Legal teams and external counsel.
• HR, student safety, Safer Community teams, conduct, security and wellbeing teams.

Why Code Black Psychology

• Independent and trauma-informed practice.
• Clinically, legally and forensically informed expertise.
• Experience with complex interpersonal harm, stalking, harassment, family violence and coercive control.
• Evidence-based structured professional judgement approaches to risk and safety.
• Clear, defensible reports and practical recommendations.
• Capability to work alongside internal teams, legal advisers and external support services.
• Flexible engagement through ad hoc consultation, project-based support or retainer arrangements.

Engage Code Black Psychology

If your organisation needs specialist support with a disclosure, formal report, risk assessment, investigation, safety planning or staff training, contact Code Black Psychology to discuss a tailored approach.

We can provide immediate consultation, ongoing retainer-based support, or a structured program of assessment, investigation and capability development.