Fair Agenda

Right now many students who have been raped or sexually assaulted while studying at Australian universities are being told they have to wait up to four weeks for a university counselling appointment. Others who have dropped out of their degrees because of the impact of the assault are being refused access to university counselling services altogether.

Student advocates say university counselling facilitates are “already stretched beyond capacity”. And that demand is set to increase further, with a pending report into the issue expected to trigger further disclosures from victim-survivors when it is delivered in August.

That's why more than one thousands Fair Agenda members have signed onto the call for Universities to make sure they provide timely, adequate, and trauma informed counselling services for students and former students affected by violence on campus. (You can add your support here)

Here is a copy of the letter Fair Agenda has sent to Universities Australia and all Vice Chancellors to alert them to this growing call for action:

29 May 2017

Dear Ms Robinson, on behalf of Universities Australia,

I am writing on behalf of Fair Agenda – a community campaigning organisation made up of 37,000 Australians concerned about equality and fairness for women.

One of the biggest issues of concern for our members is violence against women. In light of the escalation in recent reports about sexual violence being perpetrated against young women at universities, Fair Agenda members are increasingly concerned about risks to the safety of students.

We are particularly concerned about recent reports that many students affected by this violence and trauma aren’t able to access adequate and timely service support.

We are aware that End Rape on Campus has launched a call for universities to address this problem by funding a dedicated specialist counselling hotline for affected students.

I am writing on behalf of Fair Agenda members to share the messages of the 1,012 people who have signed the petition backing that call so far.

Specifically, to share their message to Universities Australia, and all Australian universities that,

“We are extremely concerned that victim-survivors affected by sexual violence at university aren’t able to access timely and appropriate service support.  

We urge you to ensure that all students and former students affected by sexual violence at university have access to adequate, timely and trauma informed counselling services.  

We particularly note our support for the call to establish a specialist and trauma informed 24/7 counselling hotline to be run by sexual assault experts like Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia ahead of the Australian Human Rights Commission report in August.

Of those who have signed the petition so far, more than 472 are people who have attended or are currently attending an Australian university.

On behalf of Fair Agenda members, we write to call on all Australian Universities to make sure they have timely, adequate, and trauma informed counselling services for students and former students affected by violence during their university studies.

We further note that several parents, students, alumni, academics and student and alumni victim-survivors have shared their personal reasons for supporting this call. We have included a selection of these messages as an addendum for your information.

We urge you to treat this issue as a priority; particularly given there is anticipation that disclosures from victim-survivors and demand for counselling services will increase further when the pending report from the Australian Human Rights Commission is released in coming months.

Yours sincerely,

Renee Carr
Executive Director
On Behalf of Fair Agenda 

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Some of the messages shared by those who urge you to ensure that all students and former students affected by sexual violence at university have access to adequate, timely and trauma informed counselling services. And who back the call for a specialist and trauma informed 24/7 counselling hotline to be run by sexual assault experts like those at Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia: 

“I was sexually assaulted by a fellow student at the [Uni name redacted]. Despite reporting the incident I was not given adequate support or protection by the university. I do not want any other student to suffer through the hell I went through ever”.

“This hotline would have changed my life and saved me years of suffering if it had existed years ago. Let's make things better for future.”

“I was raped and would want anyone else in that situation to be provided with sufficient support and care, either on their campus or in their surrounding community.” 

“Research has shown that victims of sexual assault and domestic violence benefit from specialist rather than general trauma counselling. Undoing the impact of significant trauma is neither easy nor simple. Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia have been supporting those affected by sexual violence for over forty years with specialist sexual assault and domestic violence counselling services nationally, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week” 

“I am deeply concerned that graduated students like myself and students that drop out due to the trauma of campus sexual assault are not able to access ongoing support, something that will be desperately needed in August when the AHRC report is released. I have experienced the process of receiving counselling on campus, so I am also concerned about the overburdening of campus counselling services, especially with regard to wait times for an appointment and staff without specific training in counselling someone traumatised by sexual assault.”

“I have a grand daughter at Uni and I worry for her safety!”

“I have a daughter at University. A campus should be a safe haven for students not a place of violence and menace, where she needs to always be looking over her shoulder. Students should not have to worry about being attacked whilst trying to get an education. Counselling should be on hand at all times and all students should attend a compulsory unit about sexism, appropriate behaviour and respect of others.” 

“Through a traumatised friend I know that the effects of sexual assault are both immediate and ongoing. Through research, I know that the effects can be reduced with counselling and more efficiently reduced when counselling comes early. It is important both to deter sexual assault and also to address it effectively when it happens.” 

“I am a retired senior medical academic. These tales of sexual violence are horrific and early counselling is essential.” 

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Can you help build the pressure on universities to take action? Add your support and share your message here: http://fairagenda.org/uni_counselling