Universities across Australia have accepted the Australian Human Rights Commission’s recommendations to combat sexual harassment of university students. 

The Change the Course report, released in August 2017 found that approximately 21 per cent, of one in five students experienced sexual harassment in a university setting in 2016. 

As a response, the AHRC has conducted an audit with Vice Chancellors, staff, and students around Australia. 

All 39 Vice Chancellors have accepted the majority of the Commission’s recommendations, with 32 universities accepting all nine recommendations. 

“I’m pleased to see to see Vice Chancellors demonstrating leadership and taking action in response to the report,” the Sex Discrimination Commissioner from the AHRC, Kate Jenkins said. 

“Ongoing commitment to addressing these issues is vital, and as our report recommends, there needs to be engagement at all levels of leadership in order to address these issues,” she added. 

The report also revealed that only six per cent of students surveyed thought their university was currently doing enough to provide sexual harassment procedures and support services. 

As a response, universities have taken a range of steps including internal and external reviews of sexual harassment policies, training of staff and students to respond appropriately, extensive consultations to raise awareness, and apps to improve safety and provide information. 

“As we have seen recently, sexual assault and sexual harassment occur not only at universities, but across our society. I urge Vice Chancellors to seize upon this opportunity to show leadership and make a difference for students and Australian society more broadly,” Commissioner Jenkins said.