University welcomes national ‘Respect’ survey

The University of Melbourne has welcomed the launch of a ground-breaking national student survey on sexual assault and harassment.

The University will partner with other universities nationally as part of Universities Australia Respect. Now. Always survey, to be conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The confidential survey aims to gain greater insights into the nature, prevalence and reporting of sexual assault and sexual harassment. It is the first comprehensive survey of its kind to be undertaken by university students in Australia.

University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Glyn Davis said the survey would help shape the University’s approach to these issues.

“This survey should tell us more about what we can do as a university community to prevent sexual assault and harassment, and how to best support students who do seek our help on these matters,” Professor Davis said.

“That this is the first time a comprehensive survey of students has been conduced on these issues speaks volumes of the type of improvement the university sector needs to make in how it responds to these issues.

“A clearer picture of the prevalence and the nature of these issues and university responses to these incidents will enhance not just Melbourne’s effectiveness in dealing with these but that of the sector, and will continue to build on the longstanding work by universities to prevent and address sexual assault and harassment."

A representative sample of students from the University of Melbourne will be selected to participate in the national survey.

All students selected will be asked to complete the survey – even if they have not experienced these behaviours – to ensure a clear picture is developed of the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment in the student community.

Any university student who has not been selected in the survey sample but who would like to share their experience can do so confidentially via the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

All the information provided by students is strictly confidential and will not be provided to the University of Melbourne, with all responses de-identified to protect student privacy. The survey is being run by the independent Australian Human Rights Commission, with assistance from Roy Morgan Research.

Responses from both the survey and independent website submissions will be analysed and reported by the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The survey has been developed with input from experts including the Australian Human Rights Centre at the University of NSW, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Roy Morgan Research and the Australian Human Rights Commission.

University of Melbourne students who experience harassment or assault are encouraged to access support via the Safer Community program.