A new set of guidelines, released by Universities Australia on Friday, promises to put student safety and wellbeing at the centre of responses to sexual assault and harassment on campus.
“We want every student to be supported through their trauma and recovery — and know that their safety and wellbeing will be at the centre of their university’s response,” UA chief executive Catriona Jackson said.
“Advocates and experts have been integral to this work. Without them, this work would not have been possible and we thank them for their crucial input."
The document includes recommendations to streamline academic special consideration for victims, minimise the number of times victims are asked to recount traumatic experiences, and to offer multiple channels for victims to make formal reports.
“Every student should feel — and be — safe, both on campus and in the wider community," Ms Jackson said.
“Many of these actions and policies are ones that universities already have in place or are actively considering. These guidelines are not intended to replace institutional approaches to dealing with these unacceptable behaviours, but rather provide further advice."
The guidelines were developed with input from Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia, student leadership organisations, advocates, Professor Margaret Otlowski, the Society of University Lawyers, Dr Lisa Warren from Code Black Threat Management, Professor Andrea Durbach, university student services staff and Sparke Helmore Lawyers.
Further reading
- 11 Hunter women report assaults every day (July 14, 2018)
- How a new program is targeting perpetrators of domestic violence (July 20, 2018)
- The Hamilton Hawks tackle domestic violence with conversations about respect (July 20, 2018)
- Research shows random attacks are rare but “even one incident is one too many” (July 14, 2018)
- Hunter women turn to self-defence for strength in the wake of attacks (July 7, 2018)
Simon McCarthy
Simon McCarthy is a journalist working at the Newcastle Herald in NSW. He writes news and features, and produces video and multimedia, for the Herald and Herald Weekender magazine. He contributes regularly to the Newcastle Herald’s daily Topics column, and is the co-creator and producer of the Toohey’s News podcast. McCarthy has worked as a journalist in regional NSW since 2013. He joined the newsroom of the Newcastle Herald in 2017 from the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he worked from 2015 to 2016.
Simon McCarthy is a journalist working at the Newcastle Herald in NSW. He writes news and features, and produces video and multimedia, for the Herald and Herald Weekender magazine. He contributes regularly to the Newcastle Herald’s daily Topics column, and is the co-creator and producer of the Toohey’s News podcast. McCarthy has worked as a journalist in regional NSW since 2013. He joined the newsroom of the Newcastle Herald in 2017 from the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he worked from 2015 to 2016.
