Our Commitments

In 2016 the Australian Human Rights Commission and Universities Australia rolled out a survey across 39 Australian Universities. The survey went to a sample of students at each university, 319,959 nationally, with responses from 30,930 students. 

In July 2017, based off the survey results, the AHRC published its report Change the Course: National Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at Australian Universities 2017.

Key findings from the report showed the level of sexual harassment and sexual assault in universities is high and reflects the broader Australian community, highlighting that while this is not just a problem for universities, universities are uniquely placed to contribute to solutions.

All members of Universities Australia, which commissioned this national survey, agreed to make public the survey results for their individual institutions. Click on the links below to access information on how to read the survey results, CDU's survey report and Universities Australia's 10-Point Action plan.

(Please note: Results showing ** indicate that the response rate was too small to be statistically relevant. CDU's response rate to the survey was comparable to those of other universities, but because our overall student numbers are relatively low, there were insufficient responses to be statistically relevant).

• How to read the survey report (PDF, 300.32 KB)
• Prevalence metrics (PDF, 208.7 KB)
• CDU's report (PDF, 639.67 KB)
• UA's 10-Point Action Plan (7 MB)
• "Change the course: National report on sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian universities"

Australian universities commissioned and funded the National Student Safety Survey, which ran in 2021.

The survey, conducted by the Social Research Centre (SRC) built on and extended the foundational survey conducted in 2016 and collected data on the scale and nature of university student experiences of sexual assault and sexual harassment to provide accurate and up-to-date information to universities about what is happening in their student communities.

To align with international best practice, the SRC developed behavioural questions regarding sexual assault. As this is different to the approach taken by the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2016, comparability between the prevalence rate of the 2016 survey and the 2021 survey is limited.

The national survey randomly sampled 378,992 students from universities across the country and ran from Monday 6 September to Sunday 3 October 2021

National Student Safety Survey results

CDU's National Student Safety Survey results  (PDF, 310.24 KB)

Key Actions from the survey results

Established a Respect.Now.Always Committee chaired by the DVC Students and VET. This Committee is still in place and continues to meet and review CDU’s undertakings in regard to our 10-Point Action Plan and additional items raised by the Committee.

• Implemented Consent Matters – an online module to provide information to staff and students about sexual assault and harassment, what is it, and how to be a proactive bystander. The module is mandatory for staff, CDU Student Council, residential leaders and student ambassadors.
• Developed a Emotional Distress and Crisis Response protocol for every CDU campus to inform staff on what action to take in the event of a student needing urgent assistance.
• Updated key policies – including the development of the Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Prevention Policy and updating the Staff and Student Codes of Conduct.
• Managed a CDU Respect.Now.Always webpage and a Reporting Sexual Assault or Harassment webpage for staff, students or members of the public.
• Developed a broader Safer Communities program to identify and address issues regarding campus safety, that includes the prevention of gender-based violence, building an inclusive culture of belonging, addressing oppression and discrimination, and supporting students to manage their own mental health and wellbeing.
• Community Forum held in 2017-2021

Charles Darwin University is committed to providing a safe, secure and supportive environment. If you, or someone you know, has experienced sexual misconduct, we encourage you to lodge a report.  

You can lodge a disclosure, make a formal report, or report anonymously.  An anonymous report may limit the University’s capacity to effectively support you or respond to the incident. 

Support services

CDU Wellbeing Support Line (available 24/7)

Tel: 1300 93 33 93

SMS: 0488884144

Students can request an appointment with a CDU counsellor by visiting this webpage.

For staff who find these results distressing, we encourage you to access support. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to all staff

• If you are based anywhere within the Northern Territory, you can access support through EASA by calling 1800 193 123.
• If you are based within Alice Springs, you can also access support through Solace Consulting by calling 1800 931 265.
• All employees can access support through Converge by calling 1300 687 327

Other Support Services

• Lifeline
• 1800 RESPECT
• NT SARC
• Well Mob
• Qlife