*The article was published 23/3/2022 and updated 25/3/2022 to include a link to the Safe and Respectful Communities website.
Near one in twenty UOW students have told a survey they were sexually assaulted in university settings since starting their studies,
One in five said they experienced sexual harassment, more than a quarter in the university library.
That’s the results of the 2021 National Student Safety Survey, conducted by The Social Research Centre, which surveyed over 40 000 students last year, including 1000 at UOW.
In a statement this afternoon, UOW apologised to students who experienced sexual violence on it’s campuses and applauded those who shared their experiences.
UOW Vice-Chancellor Prof. Patricia Davidson said the results were “a difficult read.”
“Today marks a challenging day for our university community, particularly for victim-survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault,” Prof. Davidson said.
“I want to thank those students who participated in the survey, and who had the courage to share their stories. Your contribution helps us to make changes, focus on addressing specific trends, and to recognise where we may have fallen short and where there are meaningful signs of progress and change.
“We are determined to bring down the prevalence of sexual assault and sexual harassment within our University. A UOW Action Plan to address the NSSS findings will be developed in consultation with our students, staff and community partners.”
Welfare Officer at the Wollongong Undergraduate Students’ Association Tiana Myers said the results were disappointing, but not a surprise.
She said UOW’s information for victims/survivors needs to be more accessible.
“A lot of students don’t know where to go. That one of the biggest problems,” Myers said.
“I know that they do have a dedicated website for it, but it would be nice to have all the information in one place.
“When I had a similar incident happen, I didn’t know where to go, what I was looking for. I was googling and I had to go onto about five different websites.
“I just think that having one succinct website would be nice and also having that information readily available on SOLS.
“You know how they have that drop down menu at the side from the mobile app? It would be nice to maybe just have a section of that reporting sexual assault.”
Only 5.5 per cent of students who said they were sexually harassed made a formal complaint to UOW. About half of all students surveyed said they knew nothing or very little on where to make a complaint.
Myers said she encourages students to report their experiences to UOW.
“However I do under that it’s an extremely triggering situation.”
“They may not feel like their experience is worthy of being talked about, even though it always is. So, I think that if would like to report it, I would 100 per cent encourage them.
“I want them to feel like they’re not alone and that they can talk if they feel comfortable.”
The survey found 16 per cent of students across Australia had experienced sexual harassment and 4.5 per cent sexual assault.
UOW student can report incidents and contact support through the Safe and Respectful Communities website.
*If this article has brought up something for you, there are services out there.
1800RESPECT
Phone and online counselling for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse, available 24/7.https://1800respect.org.au1800 737 732
Lifeline
Phone and online confidential crisis support, available 24/7.https://lifeline.org.au13 11 14
University safety services
Find support and safety services at your university.https://universitiesaustralia.edu.au/our-universities/student-safety