Supporting Student Survivors

Safety comes first 

If you have been recently sexually assaulted, you are encouraged to seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you do not have apparent injuries.

You can contact the Victoria Sexual Assault Clinic where you can arrange to meet with a support worker and a specially trained forensic nurse examiner. Here you may receive the appropriate medical examination, medication, crisis support, connections to community resources and reporting options. The Clinic provides immediate emotional support and information to people of all genders, 13 years and older, who have been sexually assaulted within the past 7 days.

To access the Clinic 24-hours a day, call the Vancouver Island Crisis Line: 1-888-494-3888.

In an emergency, you can also go to a hospital emergency department.

To preserve evidence, do your best to avoid changing your clothing, toilet use, showering, eating, or brushing your teeth.

How the Office of Student Support Can Help

We offer free, confidential support for Camosun students who have experienced sexual or gender-based violence. We also assist students who have witnessed sexual violence or who are providing support to someone else. Students of all gender and sexual identities are welcome to connect with our services. 

We want you to know that: 

You do NOT need to submit a formal report to the college to access our support.

You can access support through the OSS regardless of when or where an incident of sexual violence occurred.

How to connect with us: 

You can email oss@camosun.ca or call 250-370-3311 and indicate you would like to set up an appointment.

We can set up appointments by phone, virtually, or at either campus location depending on your preference.  

Some of the Ways We Can Help: 

• Referrals to on- and off-campus support services and resources as needed 
• Help with academic considerations 
• Information on reporting options available to you and help with accessing these options 
• Understanding your privacy rights and confidentiality 
• Personalized safety planning 
• We also provide support and advice for students who have been accused of causing harm 

Anonymous and Third-Party Disclosures  

Anonymous and third-party disclosures of sexual or gender-based violence are also welcome; individuals may choose how much of their personal information (i.e. student number, name, contact information) to share. This option is suitable for individuals who may want to understand college process and options for reporting before being identified, and/or who want an incident of harm to be recorded by the college and kept on file.  

How to Remain Anonymous 

• When contacting the Office of Student Support identify up front that you would like to remain anonymous and not include any personally identifying information. You can still meet with us in-person, virtually, over the phone or via email 
• Use a non-Camosun, non-identifying email account when emailing oss@camosun.ca 
• Call our office from a blocked number  

Contact us: Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm, by phone or email at 250-370-3311 or oss@camosun.ca 

Our Support for Survivors printable PDF includes information for survivors to understand the impacts of sexual violence, strategies for healing, and how the college can be a supportive resource.  

When someone discloses to you that they have been subjected to sexual violence, listen to them, believe them and validate them.

It can help to use the acronym CLEAR to remember these steps. Our printable document provides fulsome information for supporting survivors of sexual violence. 

• Have you caused harm to someone else?
• Has someone told you that you have violated their boundaries?
• Have you been named as a respondent in a complaint about sexual violence at the college?

It can be very difficult process to accept being accused of hurting someone and to assume responsibility for one’s actions. Often, counselling is very helpful in making sense of these difficult personal situations.

In order to ensure fair process, the college provides support and referral for individuals named as a respondent in a sexual violence complaint.

Contact the Office of Student Support to discuss processes and options for support.