Flinders University’s 2017 Sexual Assault & Sexual Harassment Statistics
Flinders University had 21 incidents of sexual assault, sexual harassment and/or sexual misconduct reported to the university throughout 2017, according to figures released by the university in a May 2018 response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
Flinders University responded only with written warnings in just four of the twenty-one cases. Though the University stated some matters were still under investigation, no information was provided on how many cases were still under investigation.
THE STATS PROVIDED BY FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
Total number of sexual assault/sexual harassment/sexual misconduct complaints in 2017: 21
Number of sexual assault/sexual harassment/sexual misconduct complaints alleging a staff member as responsible in 2017: 7
Number of sexual assault/sexual harassment/sexual misconduct complaints alleging a student as responsible in 2017: 10
Number and nature of disciplinary actions taken in relation to incidents of alleged sexual assault/sexual harassment/sexual misconduct in 2017: 4 written warnings ** (excluding matters still under investigation)
In response to a nationwide FOI investigation of universities conducted by Channel 7 in 2016, Flinders University did not disclose their sexual assault statistics for the preceding five years, instead requesting an extension. A large number of other Australian universities were able to disclose their statistics ahead of the deadline.
Research conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), as reported in the 2017 Change the Course report, suggested that 0.2% percent of the Flinders University students surveyed stated they had been sexually assaulted on campus in 2015/16. This percentage from the research applied to Flinders University’s student population of 26,683 students in 2016 equates to 53 students a year experiencing sexual assault on campus.
At least 1 in 5 (23%) Flinders University students responding to the AHRC research survey stated they had been sexually harassed at university during 2015/16.