The Hunting Ground

Uni Residences: Invest in training to prevent sexual assault

Young women attending universities are being sexually assaulted at horrifying rates - and a recent Australian Human Rights Commission report shows that those living in uni residences are at a particularly high risk.

Training in consent and sexual violence is absolutely critical to address sexual violence on campus. Students should be taught about informed and active consent; how to intervene safely if they think someone else might be unsafe; and how to respond if one of their friends discloses that they've been assaulted.

Can you join the call for university residences to do everything possible to create a safe environment for students -- starting with training all students and relevant staff in consent and the prevention of sexual assault?

You can view the results of Fair Agenda's 2018 residence training survey here.

*If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for 24/7 support.

 

Find out more (click to view)

A Human Rights Commission Report into sexual violence on campus revealed that 1 in 10 female university students had been sexually assaulted in 2015 or 2016, and that women living on campus are at particularly high risk.
Only 7% of students were living on campus in 2015/16. But those students made up 34% of those who were sexually assaulted in the same two year period.

Why do we need training? Too many students don’t know what it means to get informed consent; and genuinely want to know more about how to have good, consensual sex. They need the tools to understand how to ethically approach decision making around their sexual relationships; and also how to safely intervene if they think a friend might be at risk. What’s more, students say that staff dealing with disclosures often don’t know how to respond - training welfare staff is important to ensure that a student who has worked up the courage to come forward isn't re-traumatised by the process. 

3,785 SIGNATURES SO FAR

Sign the petition

Dear Australian university residences,

We are calling on all university residences to do everything possible to prevent sexual assault on campuses across Australia.

We urge every university residence to ensure that all students and relevant campus staff are provided with best-practice training in sexual consent and prevention of sexual assault.

Signed,

* required fields

Latest activity

Adrian , 5118  /  signed 2016-10-10 11:26:09 +1100
Peter , 7184  /  signed 2016-10-10 11:25:47 +1100
"Peter Thompson"
Adrienne , 3106  /  signed 2016-10-10 11:25:44 +1100
Suz , 2315  /  signed 2016-10-10 11:25:37 +1100
"I’m a parent of a current student, my daughter needs to be able to study in a safe environment as does every student/woman.
Thank you for doing this."
Eddie , 3085  /  signed 2016-10-10 11:25:37 +1100
noelle , 6157  /  signed 2016-10-10 11:25:33 +1100
"noelle johnston"
Eden , 3782  /  signed 2016-10-10 11:25:31 +1100
"We all have a right to feel safe. Sexual harassment inhibits one’s confidence and sense of place, as well as the way in which we interact with a space. Of all places, university should be a progressive, safe place for people to feel comfortable, accepted and confident to extend themselves as they learn and grow."
Carmen , 2203  /  signed 2016-10-10 11:25:26 +1100
"Another example of violence against women and the lack of care taken by institutions to protect women and expose the rapists."
max and jacqueline , 5253  /  signed 2016-10-10 11:25:23 +1100
"Sexual assault is “stage one” of the larger problem of national family violence. If we can’t teach our undergraduates respectful attitudes and behaviour towards one another, we’re accepting the violence in society and particularly in family structures."
Renee , 2871  /  signed 2016-10-10 11:25:21 +1100
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