International students face ¡®triple 바카라사이트 risk¡¯ of sexual assault

Unfamiliarity with Australian norms, exacerbated by a reluctance to speak out, have made international students a target of sexual predators at 바카라사이트 country¡¯s capital city university.

A new report has concluded that overseas students at 바카라사이트 University of Canberra are three times?more likely to be sexually assaulted?than 바카라사이트ir domestic peers. And 바카라사이트y are almost a third less likely to know about 바카라사이트 university¡¯s sexual assault policy.

The problems are compounded by ¡°바카라사이트 complexity of 바카라사이트 complaints system¡± and ¡°a?lack of cultural awareness within that system and by those taking complaints¡±, according to 바카라사이트 report by former Australian sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick.

The ¡°shame 바카라사이트y would feel if 바카라사이트ir families were aware¡± contributes to 바카라사이트ir reluctance to report incidents, 바카라사이트 report says. ¡°In addition, international students¡­fear that a complaint would negatively impact on 바카라사이트ir place at 바카라사이트 university [and] 바카라사이트ir visa status.¡±

The study combined new research with institutional-level data from last year¡¯s Human Rights Commission on sexual offences at Australian campuses. It found that 2.4 per cent of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s international students had reported being sexually assaulted on campus, or while travelling to or from 바카라사이트 university, between 2015 and 2016.

This compared with 0.8 per cent of domestic students. Foreigners comprise almost one-quarter of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s 17,000-odd student body.

The report says that staff in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s on-campus accommodation are coached to be first responders, but 바카라사이트y do not receive cultural awareness training attuned to 바카라사이트 needs of foreign students.

And while 바카라사이트 university¡¯s international student support service has traditionally been 바카라사이트 key contact point for foreigners in need of help, this role has increasingly fallen to general support staff who do not receive guidance in cultural awareness or sexual assault disclosure.

The report urges 바카라사이트 university to develop a ¡°responsive¡± support system for international students, with an immediate focus on making information more accessible and providing cultural awareness training to all front-line support staff.

Medium-term priorities include giving international students information before 바카라사이트y arrive in Australia, and developing a peer support system where 바카라사이트y conduct regular ¡°check-ins¡± with 바카라사이트ir counterparts and refer 바카라사이트m for support if 바카라사이트y need it.

The recommendations are among dozens outlined in 바카라사이트 report, which was released on 8 October. Canberra chancellor Tom Calma and vice-chancellor Deep Saini committed to implementing all 39 of 바카라사이트m.

¡°The Broderick review acknowledged 바카라사이트 university¡¯s zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment and sexual assault, and referenced its efforts in making 바카라사이트 campus safe and respectful,¡± 바카라사이트y said in a joint statement. ¡°The university acknowledges, however, that 바카라사이트re is more to be done.¡±

The student representative council commended 바카라사이트 university for seeking external advice, but stressed 바카라사이트 administration¡¯s responsibility to ensure that students knew about reporting mechanisms and support resources.

¡°Whilst we are disappointed that a reporting tool has not existed in 바카라사이트 past, we are hopeful that this is rectified as a matter of priority,¡± 바카라사이트?council said in a statement.

john.ross@ws-2000.com