Sexual harassment impacts university staff – our research shows how
There is increasing attention on the lack of progress around sexual harassment and assault on Australian university campuses.
- There is increasing attention on the lack of progress around sexual harassment and assault on Australian university campuses.
- Earlier this week, the National Tertiary Education Union launched a national survey of university staff experiences of workplace sexual harassment.
- Our research on workplace sexual harassment in Australia sheds light on university staff experiences of harassment and the inadequacy of responses.
Our study
In 2022 we conducted a national survey of victim-survivor experiences of workplace sexual harassment in Australia. We received 1,412 responses from a diverse range of industries. Within this, there were 100 respondents who had experienced workplace sexual harassment while working at an Australian university.
University staff experiences of workplace sexual harassment
- This reflects the gendered nature of workplace sexual harassment.
- Almost 80% of our respondents believed their gender contributed to the harassment, while 47% believed their age was a contributor.
Workplace sexual harassment is frequent and ongoing
We invited victim-survivors to detail the frequency and duration of their experience of workplace sexual harassment. Among university staff, we found:
These findings point to the ongoing nature of this abuse. Few victim-survivors experienced workplace sexual harassment as a one-off incident.
Witnesses rarely intervene
- Almost half (46%) said there were witnesses to their experience, with 18% noting four or more people had witnessed the incident.
- Of those whose victimisation was witnessed, in only 15% of cases did a witness intervene.
The role of job security
- Half of the university staff who responded to our survey felt their employment was insecure at the time they were sexually harassed.
- Read more:
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A lack of consequences
- Numerous victim-survivors said they were not aware of any consequences for the perpetrator.
- But to manage their own safety or as a result of the impacts of the experience, they left the university.
What now?
- We have a national plan with a target of eliminating gender-based violence in one generation.
- Clare has appointed a working group to provide advice on how universities can “create safer campuses” for students and staff.
- Peak body Universities Australia has also noted “much more is required of us collectively” when it comes to sexual harm on campuses.
- Nicola Helps currently receives funding for family violence related research from the Victorian Government.