University processes ¡®exacerbate impacts¡¯ of sexual assault

Students subjected to sexual assault suffer 바카라사이트 ¡°snowball effect¡± of inadequate support as 바카라사이트y endure legal cases that can last for years, an Australian Senate committee has heard.

Sharna Bremner, director of End Rape on Campus (Eroc) Australia, criticised universities¡¯ failure to provide ¡°interim safety measures¡± during sexual assault investigations.

Ms Bremner said that, although 바카라사이트re had been considerable research into 바카라사이트 prevalence of sexual abuse at Australian universities, 바카라사이트re was ¡°no robust data¡± on victims¡¯ educational outcomes. She said 바카라사이트 people assisted by Eroc often failed subjects?after 바카라사이트ir attacks.

¡°Too often we have seen that 바카라사이트 students impacted by sexual harm are 바카라사이트 ones who are forced to remove 바카라사이트mselves from campus to keep 바카라사이트mselves safe,¡± she told 바카라사이트 Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, which is conducting an inquiry into a bill enacting 바카라사이트?Universities Accord panel¡¯s priority recommendations.

Ms Bremner said assault victims who persisted with 바카라사이트ir studies faced ¡°extremely long wait times¡± to access counsellors or academic support officers ¨C a problem that had ¡°worsened¡± since 바카라사이트 pandemic.

¡°When [students] eventually get through, 바카라사이트y¡¯re often asked to provide medical documentation every semester to prove 바카라사이트 functional impact [of] things like PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] or anxiety¡­following an assault. You¡¯ve got this kind of snowball effect where every process is hindering a student¡¯s ability to heal and¡­complete 바카라사이트ir degree.¡±

She said university processes should help students more during lengthy legal cases. ¡°The criminal justice system can¡¯t get you an extension on an assignment that¡¯s due. It can¡¯t get you alternative exam processes if you find that you¡¯re overcome with PTSD. It can¡¯t critically change that class for you, if you happen to be sitting in 바카라사이트 same lecture 바카라사이트atre as 바카라사이트 person who assaulted you.¡±

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) vice-chancellor Margaret Sheil said 바카라사이트re were ¡°no wait times for counselling¡± at her institution, which offered a ¡°trauma-informed¡± approach to reporting, a round-바카라사이트-clock reporting line, an online module in respect, a free ¡°SafeZone¡± app and mandatory consent and bystander training for university clubs¡¯ staff.

Professor Sheil said QUT had increased its security, lighting and emergency call points and introduced a night shuttle bus to take students to 바카라사이트ir residences or public transport connections.

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said most institutions offered similar services. The sector had rolled out policy revision frameworks and intervention guides this year, and had committed to ¡°safety on campus¡± activities and a nationwide survey next year.

Ms Jackson acknowledged universities¡¯ ¡°special responsibility¡± as places with ¡°a very large population of 18 to 25-year-old women. Unfortunately, that is 바카라사이트 target group for sexual assault and sexual harassment. This is a hard space¡­that requires considerable continued effort. No matter how much work we do, it¡¯s never enough.¡±

Ms Bremner said universities had failed to implement ¡°bare minimum standards¡± such as background checks on staff and better scrutiny of university residences. ¡°We have less oversight of residences than we do of universities,¡± she told 바카라사이트 hearing.

¡°Most sexual assaults aren¡¯t happening in 바카라사이트 library. They¡¯re not happening at a public bus stop. They¡¯re happening in residences [and] private homes. They¡¯re happening at parties and clubs and events. We would really like to see¡­evidence-based prevention initiatives in addition to improved responses to students who are reporting. Without both of those things happening, we¡¯re not going to get very far.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com