Universities partner on sexual assault survey

A nation-wide survey to assess the extent of sexual assault and sexual harassment of university students will be launched today by the Australian Human Rights Commission and Universities Australia.

A representative sample of students from Australia’s 39 universities will be asked to participate in the survey, which is supported by the National Union of Students and the National Tertiary Education Union.

“This unique collaboration between Australia’s universities and the Australian Human Rights Commission is another important step to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment in Australia’s universities,” said Commission President, Professor Gillian Triggs.

“It will also build on the important work of the National Union of Students in their ‘Talk About It’ survey released earlier this year.”

The Respect. Now. Always. national university student survey on sexual assault and sexual harassment will assess the prevalence, nature and reporting of sexual assault and sexual harassment among university students.

“Over the past year, we have heard a great deal about sexual assault and sexual harassment of university students. These reports are worrying. As universities themselves have observed, one sexual assault on campus is one too many,” said Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.

“The data we expect to collect from this survey will provide the evidence needed to continue to develop effective prevention strategies and responses to sexual harassment and sexual assault of university students,” Commissioner Jenkins said.

Collaborative work between The Hunting Ground Australia Project, the National Union of Students, the Australian Human Rights Centre at the University of NSW and Universities Australia underpins this survey. The project is primarily funded by Universities Australia with seed funding from the The Hunting Ground Australia Project.

The Respect. Now. Always. national university student survey on sexual assault and sexual harassment will be launched at 10am on 23 August 2016 at the University of New South Wales, in the John Niland Scientia Building.

Any student who wishes to have their voice heard can also make a confidential online submission at www.humanrights.gov.au/universitysubmissions.

Speakers at today’s launch are Australian Human Rights Commission President, Gillian Triggs; Chair of Universities Australia, Professor Barney Glover; Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Kate Jenkins; the National Union of Students Women’s Officer, Heidi La Paglia; and UNSW Vice-Chancellor and University Australia’s Lead Vice-Chancellor of Equity and Diversity, Professor Ian Jacobs.

Media are invited to attend this event. Broadcast crews are asked to advise numbers to ensure A/V capacity.

Media contacts:

Sarah Bamford for Commission President, Professor Gillian Triggs: 0417 957 525

Dominic O’Grady for Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins: 0419 258 597

Note to media:
When publishing materials about the survey, please include contact numbers for support services such as 1800 RESPECT.

Watch live

We're streaming the launch of this project live. Watch online from approx 10.15am, Tuesday 23rd August 2016.