By AMANDA ROBSON, ANNIE LIU and CAIT CEFAI
It has been almost two years since the 2021 National Student Safety Survey (NSSS) revealed 275 students are being sexually assaulted at Australian universities every week.
Funded by Universities Australia (UA), the NSSS exposed the magnitude of sexual assault and harassment in university-related settings, with women and gender-diverse people experiencing violence at alarming rates.
But no amended processes or concrete actions were implemented by the Australian Government until August 9 this year, when federal Education Minister Jason Clare formed a Working Group to tackle the issue.
MOJO News spoke to three MPs about progress— and whether the Working Group's recommendations will hold universities accountable, to stop the horrific trajectory of abuse.
Who is campaigning for change?
Independent MPs Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan are pushing for reform.
The two crossbenchers believe the Working Group is not addressing all of the problems of institutional sexual assault and harassment.
They argue that, should it fail to create a plan of action, an ongoing task force is needed for more holistic problem-solving.
Ms Daniel says sexual assault and harassment are societal issues that need to be addressed through the education of young people — especially men — on how to call out inappropriate and violent behaviour when they witness it.
Ms Daniel represents the Goldstein electorate, in which Monash University’s Caulfield Campus resides. The former ABC journalist believes universities need to lead the change and now is the time for institutions to step in.
“It’s a community-wide issue. What is happening in universities is a reflection of a much bigger cultural problem,” Ms Daniel says.
Ms Daniel is calling for a uniformed approach, whereby the health and safety of university students are prioritised over preservation of prestige.
“Young women came [to us] and they were explaining that the reporting mechanisms are really fragmented or ineffective — that the universities don’t seem to actually hear what was happening, and were not taking responsibility,” Ms Daniel told MOJO News.
Supporting her is Monique Ryan, Member for Kooyong, the electorate where Swinburne University is located. Prior to becoming an MP, Dr Ryan was the director of neurology at the Royal Children's Hospital.
She points to the outdated nature of the NSSS data, upon which the Australian Universities Accord (a nation plan to improve the higher education system) is acting — and on which the Working Group is acting, too.
“If you can’t count it, you can’t identify how much of a problem sexual assault is,” Dr Ryan says.
“So, the first thing universities need to do is work out exactly where things are right now, in terms of incidents and nature — as far as we can determine those details — of adverse events on campuses."
In addition to more updated and accurate statistical and demographic data, Dr Ryan sees the task force as a potential watchdog that could hold institutions accountable for implementing measures.
“We need to make sure that universities are putting in place appropriate safeguards for their students, and not only mandate that but also monitor how effectively they are [employing preventative measures] and the impact of those interventions,” she says.
What is the Working Group?
The Working Group established by the government is based on ministerial callouts and recommendations of the Universities Accord Interim Report.
The report, produced by a panel of seven experts, is based on their review of the higher education system. This data shows the extent of sexual assault was taken from the NSSS survey.
The report acknowledges sexual assault and harassment on universities campuses as a systemic institutional issue, and highlights the universities' inadequate prevention of sexual violence.
It reveals that student wellbeing and the pursuit of success in higher education is also impacted long-term.
In response, the panel recommends the government work through a cabinet process with states and territories to improve universities' governance.
Where does the Labor Government stand?
Labor MP Carina Garland is the Member for Chisholm, which is the electorate in which Deakin University’s Burwood campus and Monash University’s Clayton campus reside.
Dr Garland, the former assistant secretary for Victoria's Trades Hall Council, says the Working Group is seeking to establish a consistent framework in all states and territories, based on consultations with key advocates such as STOP, End Rape on Campus, and Fair Agenda.
“We're all horrified at the reports that one in 20 students experiences sexual assault during their undergraduate career," Dr Garland told MOJO News.
"And so, we need to do something to stop that. This expert panel and this national approach will be part of that,” she says.
While Dr Garland believes the Labor Party is working with parliamentarians and the appropriate organisations to achieve reform goals, any approaches made will still be guided by the Working Group.
“We’ve already got an interim report and an expert panel for the accord process under way with people who are real experts in the field ... They are guiding a lot of the reform in the broader university space,” she says.
“We will work with everyone in the Parliament to achieve reform that meets the objective of improving student safety," Dr Garland says.
While the Working Group, guided by an expert panel, is a step in the right direction, Ms Daniel believes it does have not the intensity or urgency of a task force that young women are calling for.
“I think that there has to be a cohesive structure between the students and the universities. There needs to be a real listening exercise on behalf of the universities,” Ms Daniel says.
“[The institutions] need to get away from the risk-management approach of ‘we just don’t want to hear about it, because it's a reputational problem’; it’s a problematic attitude,” she says.
“The government can come in with an enforcement view, but the universities have to actually accept responsibility.”
If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence or assault, these phone numbers can be contacted 24/7.
Victorian Sexual Assault Crisis Line: 1800 806 292
1800 Respect: 1800 737 732
Lifeline: 13 11 14
More contact information for specific states and territories can be found here.