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University Contact Officers (UCOs)

University Contact Officers (UCOs) perform an important role by acting as an alternative support contact on matters related to harassment, discrimination and/or victimisation.

Trained UCOs are located on each campus and are available to provide assistance to students and staff who are, or feel that they may have been, the subject of bullying, harassment or discrimination at ECU. The role of the UCO is to listen to concerns, explain University policies and procedures and provide information regarding complaint options and services available to assist in resolving the issues of concern.

A UCO will maintain appropriate confidentiality and may:

  • Provide information to the staff/student to enable them to make an informed choice as to how to deal with their complaint
  • Provide information about the options available to resolve an individual's concerns
  • Note possible strategies an individual can use to discuss a situation directly with another person
  • Provide the individual with information relating to counselling and/or other support services that they are able to access
  • If the individual wishes to make a formal complaint the UCO will provide them with the appropriate information of how this can be completed
  • Document the person's concern in conjunction with the advice and information provided by the UCO

A UCO cannot:

  • Advocate for a complainant or respondent;
  • Provide counselling;
  • Investigate, conciliate or mediate complaints; or
  • Provide support on matters other than harassment, discrimination, or victimisation

Here are the current UCOs at ECU:

Joondalup Campus

Leisa Armstrong
School of Science
Senior Lecturer
Phone: (08) 6304 6506
Email: l.armstrong@ecu.edu.au

Rebekah Aspinall
Human Resources Service Centre
Senior Organisational Development Adviser
Phone: (08) 6304 2714
Email: r.aspinall@ecu.edu.au

Michelle Austin
Business Growth and Development 
Manager, Future Students Engagements
Phone: 0450 161 006
Email: m.austin@ecu.edu.au

Mairi Buchanan
School of Medical & Health Sciences 
Operations Manager
Phone: (08) 6304 3678
Email: m.buchanan@ecu.edu.au

Cath Ferguson
School of Education
Senior Research Fellow 
Phone: (08) 6304 6852
Email: c.ferguson@ecu.edu.au

Audrey Gan
School of Engineering
Operations Manager
Phone: (08) 6304 5927
Email: a.gan@ecu.edu.au

Lisa Holmes
School of Medical & Health Sciences
Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning)
Phone: (08) 6304 2456
Email: l.holmes@ecu.edu.au

Fiona Iredale
School of Medical & Health Sciences
Lecturer
Phone: (08) 6304 2259
Email: f.iredale@ecu.edu.au

Shams Islam
School of Science 
Senior Lecturer
Phone: (08) 6304 6300
Email: syed.islam@ecu.edu.au

Annette Koenders
School of Medical & Health Sciences  
Associate Dean Medical and Exercise Science
Phone: (08) 6304 5513
Email: a.koenders@ecu.edu.au

Jo Lucas
School of Business & Law 
Work Integrated Learning Relationships Adviser
Phone: (08) 6304 5547
Email: j.lucas@ecu.edu.au

Alex Rassau
School of Engineering
Associate Professor
Phone: (08) 6304 5026
Email: a.rassau@ecu.edu.au

Patryk Szewczyk
School of Science
Senior Lecturer
Phone: (08) 6304 6979
Email: p.szewczyk@ecu.edu.au

Ghialy Yap
School of Business & Law 
Lecturer
Phone: (08) 6304 5749
Email: c.yap@ecu.edu.au

Mount Lawley Campus

Sam Chester
WAAPA
Movement Lecturer Acting & Performance
Phone: (08) 6304 6630
Email: s.chester@ecu.edu.au

Gabrielle Metcalf
WAAPA
Senior School Officer
Phone: (08) 9370 6775
Email: g.metcalf@ecu.edu.au

Phil Monger
School of Arts & Humanities  
Operations Manager
Phone: (08) 6304 6383
Email: p.monger@ecu.edu.au

Megan Parker
WAAPA
Technical Officer - Costume
Phone: (08) 9370 6502
Email: m.parker@ecu.edu.au

Jac Paxton
WA Screen Academy
Production Coordinator
Phone: (08) 6304 6412
Email: j.paxton@ecu.edu.au

Elly Welch
WAAPA 
Academic Services Coordinator
Phone: (08) 6304 6845
Email: e.welch@ecu.edu.au

South West Campus

Julie Nyanjom
School of Business & Law
Senior Lecturer 
Phone (08) 9780 7750
Email: j.nyanjom@ecu.edu.au

For more information about resources and supports available, you can visit the equity resources and support page or contact the Equity Projects Team by emailing equity@ecu.edu.au or calling (08) 6304 6170.


We would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Noongar people, the traditional custodians of the land upon which ECU's campuses stand and programs operate.

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