Statement from the President: National Student Safety Survey Results Released Content Warning: Sexual Assault, Harassment, Discrimination
Yesterday Universities Australia (UA) and the Social Research Centre released the results for the 2021 National Student Safety Survey (NSSS), conducted in September last year. The survey, which focuses on sexual assault & sexual harassment prevelance and reporting on campus, was undertaken by students anonymously & nationally, almost 5 years after the 2017’Change the Course’ survey. The NSSS results are incredibly distressing and disappointing, showing the clear discrimination against & vulnerability of, particular communities including the LGBTQIA+ community & students with accessibility needs. International students were also left largely out of the results, despite the fact that they are more vulnerable than many domestic students, due to the lack of knowledge of, and cultural stigma against accessing support. Furthermore, the separation of First Nations’ students from VU’s report shows the outstanding lengths that need to be taken to ensure that Indigenous students are accounted for. VUSU stands with all survivors of sexual assault & harassment, whether they are staff, students, or members of the VU Community. We, as student representatives, are ensuring that the University takes these results seriously, and are working with staff & current students to ensure that tangible outcomes are taken from this survey. After similar results 5 years previously, we believe that gaps in survivor focused support specifically regarding reporting and wellbeing are clear, and cannot be ignored. Our advocacy through our ‘Be A Better Human’ and ‘It’s My Bit’s Campaigns’ will be heightened in response to these results, and we are pushing for further action by the university directly. If you wish to view the results including the VU specific results, head here: https://www.vu.edu.au/current-students/campus-life/advice-support/safer-community/national-st udent-safety-survey To learn more, and join VUSU’s fight against sexual assault & harassment, head to our website: https://vustudentunion.com/its-my-bits If you have been affected by the results of the survey please do not hesitate to access the support services below:
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WESTCASA 24/7 Support line for VU staff & students: +61 3 9216 0411 VU Counselling: +61 3 9919 5400 Safer Community: safer.community@vu.edu.au / +61 3 9919 5707 1800RESPECT: https://www.1800respect.org.au/ / 1800 737 732 QLife (LGBTQIA+ specific support): https://qlife.org.au/ / 1800 184 527 Djirra (First Nations specific support): 1800 105 303
Yours in solidarity, Kate Benesovsky (She/her) VUSU 2021/2022 President president@vustudentunion.com