An active bystander is a person who takes action to prevent and respond to sexual harm, playing a key role in preventing and minimising the impact of dangerous, problematic, or disrespectful behaviour. Active bystanders can intervene before a situation escalates, challenge problematic attitudes, or respond to the incident after it happens.
Talk directly with the people involved, calling it out and/or raising awareness.
Intercept the behaviour to allow you to ensure the person at risk is safe, without directly addressing the behaviour.
Engage someone else to help who is more qualified or with more authority, such as campus security or police.
Take notes, record details of the situation, and consider making a report to UniSA.
Event occurs
Notice the situation
Interpret event as requiring intervention
Assume responsibility
Decide how to help
Have confidence in capacity to help
Intervene and offer assistance
Adapted from Latane and Darley, 1970
Active Bystander in Everyday Sexism has been adapted from Monash University and explores the vital role you can play as an active bystander in preventing everyday sexism. Taking only 30 minutes to complete, it has been designed to provide you with: