Support school students affected by peer-on-peer sexual violence
Most of us believe that school students who experience gender-based violence should be supported. But currently, across Australia, many students who experience peer-on-peer sexual assault at school are left to cope alone. This can mean having to travel on a school bus with the person who harmed them, having to sit in a class together with that person, and falling behind with schoolwork.
A 2026 Monash University study found 78% of teachers have observed or experienced gendered violence in their schools, with over half reporting a rise among students. NSW public schools recorded 17,546 reports of problematic and/or harmful sexual behaviours between students over 6 years to 2024. In Victoria, an average of 3 sexual assaults a week were reported to police in 2022 and 2023.
When students aren't supported after experiencing sexual assault by a peer, they are more likely to disengage from education, withdraw from classes, lose trust in the adults around them, and experience long-term negative impacts, including leaving school altogether.
Every student deserves practical support from their school: help catching up on schoolwork, reasonable exam adjustments, arrangements so they don’t have to travel to or from school near the person who harmed them, and access to ongoing counselling.
Will you sign our open letter calling on our governments to introduce national standards so every student, in every school, gets a supported response? Add your name.
To Australia's Education Ministers,
Every student who experiences sexual assault by a peer deserves their school's support to continue their education safely. We call on you to establish minimum national standards to make this a reality in every school. Too many school students are experiencing sexual assault and gender-based violence.
A 2021 National Survey of Australian Secondary Students and Sexual Health found that more than one in three (39.5%) students in years 10 to 12 had experienced an unwanted sexual encounter. A 2026 Monash University study found 78% of teachers have observed or experienced gendered violence within their schools, with over half reporting a rise among students. But right now, there are no nationally consistent standards or guidance to ensure every student, in every school, receives support following an incident of peer-to-peer sexual violence.
When a student discloses being sexually assaulted by another student, many schools are only required to meet their mandatory reporting obligations. Beyond that, whether a student is supported can depend on individual school leaders' knowledge and goodwill. When students aren't supported after a peer sexually assaults them, they are more likely to disengage from learning, withdraw from classes, lose trust in the adults around them, and experience long-term harm. Schools play a critical role in student survivors' safety, wellbeing, and ability to keep learning.
Any police investigation or court process can take years, and in the meantime, the student still needs to go to class and sit exams. The police can't help a student feel safe in the classroom, or provide support to sit their exams away from the person who harmed them. This support can only come from schools. Parents and teachers know students need to feel safe to learn.
That’s why school students who are dealing with the impacts of sexual assault should be able to access: Academic accommodations (such as extensions on assignments, extra time on exams) Reasonable arrangements so they don't have to travel to or from school near the student who harmed them Access to counselling Support to catch up on schoolwork These standards will ensure students who are harmed can keep learning. It does not replace any police or legal processes.
We call on state, territory, and federal governments to develop and implement consistent, national standards that require every school to support students who have been sexually assaulted by another student.
To make this work in practice, governments must help schools meet these standards. Specialist sexual assault services must be funded to provide guidance to schools and build their capacity to support students impacted by sexual violence. Teachers and school staff also need training and resources to be able to support a student when they disclose peer-on-peer sexual assault. Because every school student deserves to feel supported when they need it most.