Today the Member for Charlestown Jodie Harrison is calling on the NSW Government to urgently respond to the safety needs of students on campus.

It is a subject that touches close to home. The Social Research Centre’s report shows almost 18 percent of students surveyed at the University of Newcastle experienced sexual harassment since starting university and 6 percent were the victims of sexual assault.

This is part of a very concerning all-round picture for the nation’s universities. The National Student Safety Survey released on March 23, which specifically asked about the incidence of sexual harassment and sexual assault on students, showed 1 in 6 students surveyed had been sexually harassed and 1 in 20 had been sexually assaulted since starting university.

Students in the LGBTIQ+ community were over represented in demographics of those subjected to sexual harassment and sexual abuse at universities.

Ms Harrison said the report, and the numbers of the students affected, demanded an immediate response.

“It was very concerning to see students were reporting they knew very little about how to report a complaint or where to seek support or assistance following an assault.

“The University of Newcastle report showed more than half of the students surveyed ‘know nothing or very little about where to go to make a complaint about sexual assault’.

“University education is key to our future as a hub of research and industry and it is vital all students attending a university, whether it is in Newcastle or elsewhere, are safe.”

In NSW Parliament today, Ms Harrison called on the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Natalie Ward to urgently respond to this survey and put actions in place to make NSW universities safer.