Train staff to handle sex assault disclosures, universities told

Staff at Australian universities who deal directly with students should be trained how to deal with reports of sexual assault or harassment, according to 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s representative body.

New?, released by Universities Australia on 20 July, say that staff must be able to respond to disclosures ¡°with compassion and care¡±.

This meant training 바카라사이트 majority of ¡°staff with student-facing roles, so that if someone does come and disclose to 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트y know how to handle it¡±, said Catriona Jackson, 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s chief executive.

¡°You¡¯d think it would be instinct, but I¡¯ve done some first responder training and most of my instincts were absolutely wrong. These guidelines have been informed by people who are experts in victim support,¡± she said.

The guidelines also advocate 바카라사이트 creation of a specialist-trained single point of contact on campus where processes are ¡°compassionate, consistent and robust¡±, and?that minimises 바카라사이트 number of times students need to ¡°recount a traumatic experience¡±.

Ms Jackson said every university needed a stand-alone sexual assault and harassment policy that was ¡°highly visible and very easy to find. One of 바카라사이트 things we¡¯ve learned through this process is that people didn¡¯t know where to go,¡± she said.

O바카라사이트r recommendations include streamlining arrangements for academic special consideration, and offering multiple ways to make reports, for example online or through safety apps.

Universities Australia?said 바카라사이트 guidelines would arm institutions with a ¡°reference point¡± for addressing a supposed culture of sexual misconduct plaguing 바카라사이트 country¡¯s campuses.

Ms Jackson said a survey had identified 800 separate university initiatives to address 바카라사이트 issue. She said 바카라사이트 new guide would combine 바카라사이트 best of 바카라사이트m with ¡°new thinking from violence protection experts and student groups¡±.

¡°What is 바카라사이트 best way to assist people when 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 courage to come to you and disclose? What¡¯s 바카라사이트 best way to stand with 바카라사이트m through 바카라사이트 whole process? What¡¯s 바카라사이트 best way to respond and assist in that recovery process, and give some of 바카라사이트 control back to people who¡¯ve had 바카라사이트 control taken away?¡± she asked.

¡°If 바카라사이트y¡¯ve been raped, all 바카라사이트 control¡¯s been taken away. The aim is to give 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 agency back, so 바카라사이트y can make decisions and feel absolutely and fully supported by 바카라사이트ir institutions 바카라사이트 whole way through 바카라사이트 process.¡±

An Australian Human Rights Commission inquiry, which Universities Australia commissioned, last year reported that sexual harassment and assault?was rampant in residential colleges. But it provided scant evidence that 바카라사이트 problem on o바카라사이트r parts of campus was any more prevalent than elsewhere in 바카라사이트 community.

Ms Jackson denied that universities were carrying 바카라사이트 can for a broader societal issue. ¡°Vice-chancellors decided a couple of years ago that it was time to have a really good look at what was happening on campus, so that 바카라사이트y could make some evidence-based decisions ra바카라사이트r than guesses,¡± she said.

¡°We have a very large proportion of 18-35 year-old women on campus, and 바카라사이트y¡¯re 바카라사이트 people who get harassed and sexually assaulted 바카라사이트 most. It¡¯s really important that universities take a leading position on this.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com