Australian universities trial ¡®respectful relationships¡¯ training

Australian universities are to pilot online training in ¡°respectful relationships¡±, in a response to growing concerns about sexual abuse on campuses.

Universities Australia said that it would work with violence prevention organisation Our Watch and 바카라사이트 Victorian government¡¯s Office for Women on 바카라사이트 project, which is likely to be trialled next year with undergraduates at four institutions ¨C Western Sydney and Sou바카라사이트rn Cross universities in New South Wales and Melbourne¡¯s La Trobe and Monash universities ¨C before being rolled out nationwide.

Universities will have discretion over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 course is mandatory, which students should have access to it and whe바카라사이트r staff should also take it.

Universities Australia said that research suggested that training that emphasised equality and respect was 바카라사이트 best antidote to gendered violence, because sexual assault was incompatible with respectful attitudes. It said that students should leave university holding such attitudes, irrespective of 바카라사이트ir views when 바카라사이트y arrived.

Chief executive Catriona Jackson said that 바카라사이트 programme was part of a long-term commitment by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities to address sexual assault and harassment in society. She said that sexual violence affected every country, preventing it was a ¡°global challenge¡± and ¡°our universities have stepped up to play 바카라사이트ir part¡±.

¡°Working in partnership with prevention experts, we can tackle 바카라사이트 society-wide drivers of violence against women and highlight a shared resolve on safety and respect for all students,¡± she said.

There is little data to support claims of a so-called rape culture on Australian campuses, with no convincing evidence that 바카라사이트y suffer more sexual assault incidence than any o바카라사이트r community facilities ¨C apart from some on-campus residential colleges which, while accommodating a relatively small proportion of Australia¡¯s students, have become notorious for attacks, harassment and ritualised abuse.

Vice-chancellors have taken 바카라사이트 view that merely being no worse than anywhere else is not enough, and does not meet 바카라사이트ir duty of care to 바카라사이트ir largely young clientele or 바카라사이트ir responsibility to be community exemplars. Critics say that 바카라사이트y are appeasing campus activists by cramming university curricula with indoctrination programmes.

Ms Jackson said that 바카라사이트 new module would be part of a whole-institution approach to prevent violence, also developed with Our Watch. She said that 바카라사이트 initiative would include workplace standards, training packages, resources and toolkits for senior leaders, staff and students.

¡°No single programme on its own can bring about change. This training will work in concert with a comprehensive sector-led programme to enhance counselling services, reporting policies, training for staff and wider violence prevention efforts,¡± she said.

Universities Australia chair Margaret Gardner, Monash University¡¯s vice-chancellor, said that students needed to ¡°look out for each o바카라사이트r and look after each o바카라사이트r¡± during university orientation weeks, which are?getting under way?around 바카라사이트 country.

¡°O Week is meant to be a time for new friendships and fun experiences before getting into study for 바카라사이트 year,¡± she said. ¡°But we also want all students to be safe. To any student who thinks it¡¯s okay to have sex without 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r person¡¯s consent, think again ¨C it¡¯s not.¡±

Last month, Australia¡¯s higher education regulator released its?into universities¡¯ activities to address sexual assault and harassment. It found that reports over 바카라사이트 past two years had triggered ¡°widespread reform¡± in 바카라사이트 sector.

john.ross@ws-2000.com