The senators called on the Attorney-General’s Department to develop a “national sexual violence bench book”to address rape myths and help legal officers respond to sexual violence in a trauma-informed way.
They also said education ministers should work to train the teaching workforce so thatrespectful relationships education is both effective and consistent.
But Scarr said the senators were particularly passionate about establishing an independent taskforce “with strong powers” to oversee how universities prevent and respond to sexual violence in their communities,including their complaints processes.
“We heard the most disturbing evidence in relation to the failure of our university sector to appropriately respond to the issue of sexual violence on university campuses around this nation,” he told the Senate on Thursday.
Students and advocates said they were often traumatised when making a complaint through universities – a situation Scarr described as a “searing indictment” of Australia’s university sector and its regulator.
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“In the strongest terms,this committee says that is a shameful state of affairs. It is unacceptable,” Scarr said.
“The committee lacks confidence that the university sector as a whole will respond appropriately to the crisis without strong intervention. This is a regrettable conclusion that the committee does not come to lightly.
“The time for working groups has passed ... An independent taskforce with effective powers should be immediately established to ensure accountability in the university sector.”
Waters said the government should take note,given the senators had combined to make strong recommendations on a crucial issue. “It feels like we have a moment here,” she said.
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”We need respectful relationships education and a national campaign that starts in schools,[and] goes right through to universities ... Thousands of students,mostly young women but also young men,are facing utterly preventable sexual assault and rape on campus.
“Our universities should be places of learning,not rape factories.”
Education Minister Jason Clare said it was clear not enough had been done to address sexual assault and harassment in universities.
“That’s why a working group has been established to provide advice on concrete actions that are aimed squarely at strengthening university governance and keeping students safe,” he said.
Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said she welcomed the report as a step towards addressing “the societal issue of sexual harm”.
“Sexual harm is prevalent everywhere,from university campuses to workplaces,pubs,clubs,homes and on public transport. We all have a responsibility to address it,and universities don’t shy away from this,” she said.
“Our members are committed to continuing to run tailored and individual campus-based activities,building on the hundreds of initiatives already implemented to continue tackling this issue head on.”
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault,Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
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