August 31, 2023

Safe and Respectful Communities annual report highlights progress against sexual harm

UOW committed to continual improvement to make campuses safer and more respectful

The University of Wollongong (UOW) is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all members of its community while transparently addressing issues of sexual misconduct.

UOW recognises the need for further action to make students feel safe on campus, as addressed by the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report, and supports efforts to confront gender-based violence more broadly.

In line with this commitment, UOW has published the Safe and Respectful Communities 2023 Annual Report: Sexual Harm Response and Prevention. UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Patricia Davidson said the report details UOW’s actions to combat sexual assault and sexual harassment on campus and in the wider community and to support students who have experienced sexual assault or harassment.

“Creating safe and respectful communities is critically important for UOW and this report delivers a transparent account of the initiatives we’re undertaking to make a meaningful and lasting difference,” Professor Davidson said.

“Our approach is to address the issue on all fronts: prevention, support, response and education. We understand there is always more to be done and we will continue to work diligently in making UOW a place where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected.”

The 2021 National Student Safety Survey (NSSS) indicated that many students were not aware of avenues of reporting and the supports available within the University. In response, UOW bolstered its Safe and Respectful Communities (SARC) initiative to undertake an awareness campaign and to respond to the increased demand for support that resulted.

The inaugural UOW Respect Week, held in 2022, promoted respect and understanding, celebrated diversity and raised awareness of sexual assault and harassment. Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame delivered a keynote address, sharing her powerful story with the University community. Respect Week has now become an integral part of UOW’s annual student events calendar.

Other awareness raising activities include targeted initiatives, evidence-based prevention and education, and training for staff and students. The online learning module Consent Matters, focusing on sexual consent, relationship communication, and bystander intervention, was made compulsory for all students, with more than 20,000 completing it to date.

The intense focus on increasing awareness saw a significant increase in the number of students reporting incidents and seeking support from SARC. In 2022, 183 disclosures were made compared to 22 in 2021. Of these, 122 related to incidents that occurred more than a year prior, indicating greater awareness of reporting avenues and that people felt better supported in making disclosures.

Of the incidents reported in 2022, 37 occurred on campus and 86 occurred off campus. The location of the other 60 incidents is not known.

Chief Integrity Officer Professor Trish Mundy said UOW was committed to continual improvement to make its campuses safer and more respectful.

“We appreciate the courage of victim-survivors, their allies, and those who advocate for cultural change. We hear you, we see you, and your voices are central to our ongoing work in this space,” she said.

“We strive to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone. We constantly review our policies, training programs and support services to ensure they meet the needs of our community. There's always work to do, but please know we are actively doing it.”

Since the NSSS results were released, SARC’s dedicated efforts have built trust with victim-survivors of sexual harm. SARC’s trauma-informed case-management model provides supports for anyone disclosing experiences of violence, abuse or harassment – regardless of when or where the harm occurred. Students are informed of all the supports and options available to them guided by their individual needs and choice.

SARC provides ongoing support including academic consideration, personal safety plans, and referrals to UOW counselling, legal clinic, student advocacy and other services, without the need to retell traumatic experiences. SARC also assists with reporting to police, victims’ services payments applications and counselling and other community-based supports as needed.

SARC is committed to working in an inclusive and collaborative way in partnership with UOW’s Woolyungah Indigenous Centre, Ally network and the Disability Inclusion Network, and acknowledges and addresses the additional challenges that students from minority backgrounds face.

Recognising that sexual assault and harassment is a society wide issue, and that many of the reported incidents happened off campus, SARC has built strong external relationships and launched programs like ‘Ride with Respect’ to counter harmful behaviour on public transport, and ‘Set the Bar’ to combat inappropriate conduct in licensed venues.