SEXUAL assault and harassment were found to be rife on Australian university campuses just one year ago by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
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The University of New England has adopted all nine recommendations of the commission since.
Acting vice-chancellor Todd Walker said there is no greater priority for UNE than the safety and wellbeing of students.
“UNE plays a leading role in shaping the conversation and changing attitudes and behaviours on campus and in the wider community around the issue of sexual assault and harassment,” he said.
The University of New England had the highest rates of sexual assault in the country, the report found, with 4 per cent of local respondents claiming to have been sexually assaulted at UNE in 2015 or 2016, compared to a 1.6 per cent national average.
Now, updates to the Residential College Code of Conduct will ensure immediate escalation of matters referred to the university’s independent investigative unit.
More than 160 staff and students have undertaken training to properly respond to disclosures of sexual violence and assault, and there is now an anonymous reporting system for students and staff to notify the university of sexual assault and harassment.
Sex Discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins led an independent review into sexual harassment at UNE earlier this year.
Mr Walker said the expert-led review will examine the factors which contribute to sexual assault and harassment in their college system.
“We expect this to be completed by the end of the year,” he said.
“The review findings will further inform our ongoing efforts into making the UNE experience a respectful and safe environment for all students and staff.”
The university has introduced new student event protocols to reduce alcohol use on campus, moved counselling services to the residential colleges for easier access and increased counselling and crisis support services for all students.
Now, students who have experienced sexual assault or harassment have access to an after-hours support line, a free bus service between college and the CBD at night and new student event guidelines.
‘Students were concerned’, assault rife on campus, says Williams
IT WAS well-known among students that sexual assault was a problem at the University of New England, Vice Chancellor Advisory Committee member Koady Williams said.
The university has since adopted all nine recommendations of the Australian Human Rights Commission report on sexual assault and harassment on campus.
“Students were definitely concerned, we were well aware that it was an issue, but the actual figures were quite startling,” Mr Williams said.
“But a lot has changed, UNE has committed and delivered on the recommendations.”
New student event protocols that reduce the influence of alcohol have made a huge difference to student safety, Mr Williams said.
“A lot of cases of sexual assault and harassment were alcohol-fuelled, and it’s commendable the priority the vice chancellor gave to policy changes,” he said.
“Alcohol leads to increased vulnerability for all parties, when you’re under the influence of alcohol you’re impaired in your decision making.
“It’s harder to understand the impact you might have on another person, and when you are impaired you’re more vulnerable in a situation where you’re intoxicated.”
Student received training on responding to incidents of sexual assault, and also undertook workshops on consent.
Mr Williams said by the end of Wellness Week every student understood the meaning of consent.
“There were students learning what consent was and having it reaffirmed, the way it was dealt with provided a much broader understanding of what you need consent for,” he said.
“I definitely think it was valuable and important for them especially when you do have cultural differences and that’s in many perspectives, it’s providing them with an understanding of the Australian context of consent.
“We have international students on the advisory committee, through communicating with them they grew an understanding of the differences in consent, variations in culture mean you need to understand what’s friendly and what’s not.”
The university will soon undertake another college audit to better understand where issues lie and how to approach them.