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National Student Safety Survey: A collective challenge to creating a safer sector-wide environment

March 23, 2022

National Student Safety Survey: A collective challenge to creating a safer sector-wide environment

UOW pledges to do more to address sexual assault and sexual harassment

The University of Wollongong (UOW) thanks all UOW students who participated in the 2021 National Student Safety Survey (NSSS), released today (23 March 2022).

The sector-wide survey measured student perceptions of safety at Australian universities and experiences relating to sexual assault and sexual harassment. It was conducted between 6 September and 3 October 2021 and completed by 43,819 students from 38 universities across Australia, including 1052 UOW students.

The NSSS is the second national survey under the Respect. Now. Always initiative, building on the foundational 2016 National Student Survey and Change the Course Report released in 2017.

The NSSS shows the persistence of significant rates of sexual assault and sexual harassment in university contexts, as well as their pervasiveness in all corners of our society.

UOW apologises to students who have been sexually assaulted and sexually harassed on its campuses or in university-related contexts, while recognising and applauding the courage of victim-survivors who shared their experiences via the survey.

The University will use the information from the survey to help create safer, more respectful student environments, to educate and raise awareness about respectful relationships and to better understand and support survivors’ needs.

The survey found that Australia-wide, 16.1 per cent of respondents had been sexually harassed since starting university, and 8.1 per cent had been sexually harassed in the past 12 months; 4.5 per cent had been sexually assaulted since starting university, and 1.1 per cent had been sexually assaulted in the past 12 months.

Among UOW respondents, 18.5 per cent reported being sexual harassed since starting university and 9.6 per cent had been sexually harassed in the past 12 months; 6 per cent had been sexually assaulted since starting university and 2.1 per cent had been sexually assaulted in the past 12 months.

For both university students nationwide and those at UOW, female students and gender, sex and sexuality diverse students were more likely to be victim-survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Younger students were more likely than older students to have been sexually harassed or sexually assaulted. Students with a disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students were also more likely to have been sexually harassed or sexually assaulted than the general student population.

Speaking on the release of the NSSS report, UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Patricia M. Davidson thanked those students who had responded to it and those who shared their personal stories.

“The results of the survey are a difficult read and today marks a challenging day for our university community, particularly for victim-survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault,” Professor Davidson said.

“I want to thank those students who participated in the survey, and who had the courage to share their stories. Your contribution helps us to make changes, focus on addressing specific trends, and to recognise where we may have fallen short and where there are meaningful signs of progress and change.

“I’d also like to acknowledge all survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault. While the NSSS is focused on students, we know that experiences of sexual harassment and sexual assault are by no means limited to students. To every person who has experienced sexual harassment and sexual assault, we are deeply sorry.

“Every person at UOW has the right to feel safe and welcome and to be treated with respect, dignity and fairness. Any instance of sexual harassment or sexual assault is one instance too many.

“The survey results are part of a growing body of evidence showing that sexual harassment and sexual assault are pervasive in all corners of our society. Universities aren’t exempt and have a vital role to play in preventing sexual assault and sexual harassment and in finding the best ways to respond to survivors with compassion and support.

“At UOW we’ve already put a lot of measures in place to improve student safety. But we know we need to do more, and we will do it.

“We will continue to work with students, staff and the wider community to create a safer and more respectful community. We are determined to bring down the prevalence of sexual assault and sexual harassment within our University. A UOW Action Plan to address the NSSS findings will be developed in consultation with our students, staff and community partners.”

UOW endorses the key areas for continued action outlined in the NSSS Report:

  • acknowledging the role of gender as well as intersecting discrimination and marginalisation in driving sexual harassment and sexual assault;
  • taking proactive measures to improve inclusivity and safe learning environments for gender and sexuality diverse students and those with a disability;
  • promoting safety and respect within residential student accommodation settings;
  • preventing sexual harassment and sexual assault from university staff including in the context of postgraduate supervision;
  • raising awareness among students and staff of the reporting processes within the university and the avenues of support available;
  • improving reporting and support pathways for students who have both university context and other experiences of sexual harassment and/or sexual assault;
  • addressing attitudes that minimise, excuse, or blame the victim/survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault, particularly in higher-risk settings, and;
  • adequately resourcing sexual harassment and sexual assault response and prevention strategies.

WHAT IS UOW DOING TO IMPROVE STUDENT SAFETY?

In response to the 2016 National Student Survey and the resulting Change the Course Report, UOW has implemented a number of reviews of key student-facing functions, changes to our processes and policies, and a significant training and awareness-raising program for staff and students. Our response can be found on the UOW website.

Since August 2021, UOW has expanded its Safe and Respectful Communities (SARC) team and ensured its independence from other student operational areas and services. This has enabled the team to expand its community consultation and increase its education and awareness initiatives, with a focus on intersectionality.

The team has a number of initiatives and projects dedicated to improving student safety on and off campus. These include:

eSafety campaign: eSafety has been identified as an emerging area of concern and will continue to be a major focus for the SARC team in 2022. A working group will help to create an awareness of online harm and will roll-out campaigns and initiatives aiming to prevent online harm in our community.

Consent Matters: an online training module for UOW students and staff that covers sexual consent, communication in relationships, and bystander intervention. This module will become compulsory for all enrolled students in 2022.

Set the Bar: a free, interactive online training module created for staff working in pubs, clubs and licensed venues on how to recognise, report and call out undesirable behaviour. It was developed by the SARC team in consultation with the Wollongong Local Liquor Accord.

Ride with Respect: an initiative designed to improve awareness of reporting and support options, and safe bystander intervention strategies and techniques to encourage witnesses to speak out, act and report incidents of violence, abuse and harassment. Launching in early 2022, the campaign was created by the SARC team in partnership with UOW Security, and in collaboration with students and community transport partners.

Working with our communities: The SARC team is working with key community sexual assault and domestic violence service providers (such as the Illawarra Women's Health Centre) along with health and law enforcement teams and local pubs and clubs to devise joint initiatives, share best practices and promote information campaigns. Community, health, and police representatives are active members of the SARC Advisory Board. We welcome engagements from other community services.

Further information about the work of the SARC team and actions UOW has taken in response to the 2016 National Student Safety Survey and Change the Course Report is available on the University website.

SUPPORT FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT SURVIVORS

Recognising that reading about sexual assault and sexual harassment can trigger trauma, students or staff who experience any forms of violence, abuse or harassment at UOW are encouraged to speak out and seek support.

Our SARC team is available 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday and is on standby to respond to emergencies 24/7 on +61 2 4221 3344 or via email uow-sarc@uow.edu.au

Other key UOW support services include:

National support services and referrals include:

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