Thousands of Queensland university students victims of sex assault, rape: Senate committee

Thousands of Queensland university students have been the victims of sex assaults, with one shocking example at the Univeresity of Queensland featuring in disturbing evidence.

“Deeply disturbing” evidence that thousands of university students in Queensland may have been sexual assaulted is heartbreaking and the attacks “cannot be allowed to continue”, the head of a Senate committee looking into consent laws has declared.

In one shocking example, there were allegations raised that a male student stalked one female student and assaulted another at a college before being hired by the University of Queensland as a tutor in one of the student’s faculties.

The allegations occurred about five years ago and since then, the UQ vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Terry, who began her tenure after the alleged attack, has apologised to the students involved, as well as implementing a range of reforms.

Prof Terry said while the university had significantly revamped its policies since this time, she remained committed to continue to “improve the prevention and management of sexual misconduct”.

UQ vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Terry. Picture: Kevin Farmer

End Rape on Campus director Sharna Bremner told a recent hearing of the committee the alleged assault showed a significant problem of a “handballing of responsibility” between universities and the colleges where students live.

The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is due to hand down findings into its inquiry into current and proposed sexual consent laws next month, after almost a year of sitting.

Committee chair Senator Paul Scarr said the evidence the committee heard had been “deeply disturbing” and the impact on students was heartbreaking.

“The latest National Student Safety Survey indicates that one in twenty students has suffered sexual assault while at university,” Senator Scarr said.

“That means thousands of university students in Queensland have been the victims of sexual assault.

“The majority never make a complaint. Among those that do, less than one in three are satisfied with the process.

“It is shameful. It cannot be allowed to continue.”

Ms Bremner told the committee, under privilege, that the UQ student had a domestic violence order in place against the person who allegedly assaulted her before he was hired as a tutor.

“(She) became homeless and eventually dropped out of her degree because she had nowhere to live,” she said.

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Senator Paul Scarr. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Since that time, UQ commissioned an independent review of its student disciplinary policy and processes, including management of sexual misconduct complaints, and implemented all its recommendations.

It has updated training models for staff and students, additional mandatory training, greater screening of potential employees, establishing a steering committee and new protocols with residential colleges and improved access for students to support services.

Prof Terry said she had promised the student and Ms Bremner to personally oversee the measures to improve the prevention of sexual assaults on campus and “better support those who had the courage to come forward and make a complaint”.

“My commitment is to ensure that the continued work we are doing in this area will improve the prevention and management of sexual misconduct affecting our community,” she said.

“Since I returned to UQ three years ago, we have introduced a range of changes and done a lot of work to raise awareness, educate our community and provide confidential and trauma-informed support and reporting based on respect and empathy.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual abuse or family violence contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732

Don’t go it alone. Please reach out for help by contacting Lifeline on 13 11 14

Men who have anger, relationship or parenting issues, should contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491