The federal government has released a draft action plan to address high rates of gender-based violence at Australian universities.
The plan has been released for “consultation and design work” with several advocacy organisations, which have praised the government’s multi-layered approach to gender-based violence at tertiary education institutions.
In the draft action plan, which falls under the ten-year National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2023, the government proposes for a National Code to be implemented in universities and campus residencies. The Code would be evidence-based to champion prevention and management of sexual violence reports.
The government also proposes to establish a National Student Ombudsman, which would handle student complaints about student safety, adjustments and HECS administration.
Universities need to get on board and back a student ombudsman with teeth or risk even more students facing sexual violence on campus. Students need universities that care about their safety, not just their money. https://t.co/aFauPbvI9R
— Bailey Riley (@NUS_President) November 22, 2023
The courses of action outlined in the draft action plan comes as sexual harassment and sexual violence at universities continues to be a significant problem in the country.
There are approximately 1.5 million students in the higher education sector in Australia, with over 150,000 staff members. In the 2021 National Student Safety Survey (NSSS), one in six students reported they experienced sexual harassment since starting university, while one in 12 have experienced it in the past 12 months.
According to the survey, half of the respondents know nothing or very little about the formal reporting process for sexual harassment and sexual assault.
The NSSS reported, on average, 275 students are sexually assaulted every week. That totals to 14,300 sexual assaults every year.
‘I’m as hopeful as any time in history’
Patty Kinnersly, the CEO of Our Watch, spoke with Women’s Agenda about the ten-week process of collaborating with the government, along with other organisations, to draft this action plan.
“(The plan) reflects the ten weeks of work with the government, advocacy groups and universities,” Kinnersly said.
“But it also arises from a decade of work from these advocacy groups.
“Even though ten weeks seems fast, this work has been informed by a long period of work.”
The key themes that emerged from the draft action plan was transparency, accountability and genuine leadership, which Kinnersly believes are reflected in the action plan.
Kinnersly said leadership in Canberra have been committed to this work since Education Minister Jason Clare called for an action plan addressing gender-based violence at Australian universities. She said it gives her hope that change will come if the plan is implemented.
“I’m as hopeful as any time in history,” Kinnersly said, “because the right set of circumstances have come together.”
The results of the potential implementation of this action plan would be “safer and more equal” university campuses for women and people from marginalised communities.
“Universities are really important institutions in our community,” Kinnersly said.
“They have a responsibility to make their campuses a safe place for everyone.”
While Kinnersly recognises the work some universities have already done to prevent and manage gender-based violence, the CEO of Our Watch said the action plan would only strengthen this work.
“The universities aren’t starting from zero – many are doing good work, many are committed to the cause,” she said.
“The difference is that this will be a regulated requirement to lift the bar, requiring them to meet both the legislative and community standards we need them to meet.”
‘Pleased and relieved’
Several other advocacy organisations, who helped shape the draft action plan, released a joint statement on Wednesday to praise the draft action plan.
Camille Schloeffel, the founder of The STOP Campaign, said in the six years she has worked in advocacy – as a victim-survivor herself – helping draft this action plan was the first time she felt heard.
“(It was) the first time I haven’t been told that I need to be quiet, that I need to get over it, and that it’s not that bad,” Schloeffel said.
“This Action Plan has the potential to make a massive difference for students, and help move us towards a system where victim-survivors can get the support they need to continue their studies, no matter which uni they go to.”
Sharna Bremner, the founder and director of the End Rape on Campus Australia, said the action plan can finally bring institutions to account in addressing gender-based violence on campus.
“I’ve supported 200 students who have been harmed by their university’s response to their sexual assault,” she said.
“They deserved so much better – but their universities were never required to do anything differently. This proposed Plan could change that, and stop universities causing further harm to rape survivors.”
Renee Carr, the executive director of Fair Agenda, said their years of advocacy has paid off.
“For years we have been calling for the government to deliver transparency, oversight and accountability of university and residences failures in this area,” she said.
“We’re pleased and relieved to see a pathway to deliver these, through the Draft Action Plan put forward.
“Students deserve so much better than what they’ve been getting from universities and residences. This Plan finally offers a viable strategy to change that.”
Bailey Riley, the president of the National Union of Students, said it’s time for tertiary education institutions to take this issue seriously.
“If universities really do take this issue very seriously, as they have claimed to for the past seven years, they won’t have anything to worry about and will endorse the Plan in its entirety, without any changes,” she said.