Deakin VC: AHRC Report a line in the sand for nation

As part of the world-first Respect. Now. Always. initiative, all of Australia’s universities, representing more than one million students and over 100,000 staff asked the AHRC to conduct the landmark national survey and provide robust data to guide further improvement in policies and services.

In publishing Deakin’s survey data Professor den Hollander said sexual assault and sexual harassment was a significant issue for the wider community.

“The AHRC’s national report, and Deakin’s own data, confirm that we must continue to confront the scourge of sexual assault and sexual harassment at universities, and also beyond our campuses into the communities we serve,” Professor den Hollander said.
“Just one instance of violent and intrusive behaviour is one too many and we affirm our commitment to prevention, to compassionately supporting victims and survivors, and to ensuring our campuses continue to be safe places for all.

“I deplore the national statistic that on average at least one woman a week is killed by a partner or former partner in this country. We will continue to work with and train our staff and students to build a strong culture of safety, mutual respect and inclusion.

“I thank each and every one of the 649 Deakin students who completed this important survey – I know it was not easy – but you have helped us to draw a line in the sand, and we now know where to focus our energy.

Survey Results

The AHRC data showed the experiences of the Deakin students who completed the survey were broadly consistent with the national findings. Based on the responses of the Deakin students who participated:

• Half of the Deakin students who participated in the study had experienced some form of sexual harassment in the last year either at Deakin or in the community.
• 17 per cent of respondents had experienced sexual harassment at Deakin in 2016 (excluding while travelling to and from University).
• 8.2 per cent of respondents were victims of sexual assault in 2015 and/or 2016 either at Deakin or in the community.
• 2.3 per cent of respondents were victims of sexual assault at Deakin in 2015 and/or 2016. “This response from 15 students is 15 too many, but reflects the society we live in and we must act now to stop this behaviour,” Professor den Hollander said.

Deakin's Response

“We have a moment in time to now do something about this issue. We have improved our information on our websites regarding our code of conduct and values, we have also made sure that access to support and information is clearer and easier to access,” Professor den Hollander said.

“We have strengthened our existing policies and procedures to ensure that when incidents happen, victim-centred support is provided to staff and students, regardless of where it occurred. Staff and students are being trained to improve knowledge and better equip trusted members of the Deakin community to appropriately handle disclosures.”

Deakin’s extensive training and support programs include:

• Deakin has identified and briefed 350 of its staff most likely to receive sexual assault disclosures ahead of the release of the AHRC report. Those key staff will also receive further specialist training.
• A stronger partnership with Barwon Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) and Minerva Community Service will deliver further face-to-face training to more than 1000 Deakin staff, to improve understanding of sexual violence and provide new skills and greater confidence to respond to disclosures in a victim-centred and supportive way.
• Deakin students have been automatically enrolled – and all staff invited to participate – in an online training module Consent Matters to learn how to seek sexual consent, recognise what consent looks like and identify situations where it can’t be given.
• Increased availability of counselling and support services, so that a student requiring urgent psychological or trauma support will be seen the same day.
• Stronger links with the Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) who provide specialist support on and off campus.
• Stronger relationships and clearer processes have been established with key service partners and the police to minimise further trauma and ensure priority access to counselling and other support for victim survivors.

Professor den Hollander said Deakin’s offer of support extends to people who might have reported incidents in the past, but were not satisfied with the response.

“I urge those people to come forward and talk to us, we will listen. The AHRC report and our data has helped us learn and improve our specialist support for victims and survivors,” Professor den Hollander said.

“The AHRC report clearly shows that we need to increase student awareness about access to support services and where to go to report incidents. We have already made this information more prominent online and on-campus, and we will work with our students to continue to improve communication and understanding.”

Important Contacts

Any Deakin staff or student wishing to report a sexual assault or sexual harassment – recent, historical and either on- or off-campus – should contact the Safer Community service.

• If you are in immediate or imminent danger on campus, contact Deakin Security on 1800 062 579 or Victoria Police on Triple Zero (000).
• To report sexual assault or sexual harassment, and/or to access support, contact the Safer Community service on 03 9244 3734 (business hours) or confidentially at safercommunity@deakin.edu.au.
• Download and make use of our free Safe Zone App whenever you feel unsafe or threatened.

Off-campus specialist services are also available:

• A new Universities Australia support line can be reached on 1800 572 224. The support line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will operate until 30 November 2017.
• Victorian Sexual Assault Crisis Line – available 24 hours - 1800 806 292.
• 1800RESPECT.

Link to further information

To access the AHRC national report, read more. To access the Deakin-specific data, download the PDF report.

To view Deakin’s response to each of the nine recommendations in the AHRC national report, read further.

ENDS