The Australian Human Rights Institute and the Australian Human Rights Commission hosted an online panel discussion reflecting on the results of the National Student Safety Survey, commissioned by Universities Australia.
The Institute and Commission have spearheaded efforts to address and prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment within Australian universities. In 2015, the Australian Human Rights Centre (now Institute) and Commission collaborated on the Strengthening Australian University Responses to Sexual Assault and Harassment Project, instigating the first national survey of university students to ascertain the prevalence of sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian universities.
In 2017, the Commission published Change the Course: National report on sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian universities and the Australian Human Rights Centre published the On Safe Ground: Strengthening Australian university responses to sexual assault and harassment - A Good Practice Guide for Australian Universities.
Drawing on this background and expertise, the panel reflected on the second survey results, what lessons have been learnt, what progress has been made, and what still needs to be done to better manage and prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment in Australian universities.
Panelists:
- Kate Jenkins, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission
- Aya Adel, UNSW SRC Women’s Officer
- Angela Griffin, recent UNSW Honours student, School of Social Sciences
- Allison Henry, doctoral candidate, Australian Human Rights Institute
- Anna Hush, doctoral candidate, Australian Human Rights Institute
Moderator:
- Emeritus Professor Andrea Durbach AM, former Director of Australian Human Rights Centre and co-author of On Safe Ground