Understanding our students' experience
The 2021 National Student Safety Survey (NSSS) results were released in March 2020. Over 43,000 university students nationwide responded to the survey, including students from Griffith. The survey results help us to understand our students’ experiences and how we can support you.
Content warning: This web page contains discussion of sexual harassment and sexual assault. If you need support, a range of free and confidential options are available to you.
About the Survey
The 2021 National Student Safety Survey (NSSS) focused on building an understanding of students’ experience of sexual harassment and sexual assault in a university setting.
Griffith University acknowledges the courage of students who shared their experience via the Survey and Share Your Story activities. We sincerely thank you for your involvement.
The findings from the survey have helped us to understand the prevalence of sexual harm in university settings and the help seeking and reporting behaviours of our students.
At Griffith, findings from the National Student Safety Survey are being used to inform work under our Safe Campuses initiative, student safety and wellbeing services and our responses to student disclosures, reports and concerns
The survey forms one part of the sector-wide Respect. Now. Always. initiative, which has been led by Universities Australia, in collaboration with Australian Universities since February 2016.
Griffith University results
View a summary of Griffith’s results as an infographic or as an accessible format.
National results
View the 2021 NSSS national report.
Next steps
The University has reflected on the results and engaged with our community of staff, students and partners to determine ways forward. A range of initiatives have been progressed since March 2022 under the themes of:
- Enhancing a sense of safety at Griffith
- Understanding the barriers to reporting and support-seeking
- Strengthening responses
- Fostering safe and respectful communities
Further information about recent initiatives can be found in the Safe Campuses Annual Report (2023).
Background and progress 2017-2021
The National Student Safety Survey was a follow on from the 2016 Australian Human Rights Commission survey and resulting Change the Course: National report on sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian universities. Nine recommendations were provided in Change the Course for Universities and their colleges. The recommendations focused on five areas of action. Griffith made significant progress towards all recommendations, as summarised below:
Leadership and governance
- Safe Campuses Advisory Group (2017–2021).
- People and Culture Committee (2021).
- Safe Campuses strategic projects.
- Annual Reporting to University Council (published to Safe Campuses )
- Commitment and resourcing to and achievement of all recommendations
Changing attitudes and behaviours
- Safe Campuses Working Group for Changing Attitudes and Behaviours.
- It's On All Of Us annual campaign and activities.
- MATE Bystander program and online modules.
- Safe Campuses site, training and resources.
- Student leaders and wellness advocates complete Recognise. Respond. Refer. workshops.
- SRC, GUPSA and Student Club leaders complete MATE Bystander program online modules as a mandatory requirement of their roles.
Monitoring and evaluation
- Regular review of reporting data.
- Regular review of counselling data to inform support and prevention programs.
- Provision of deidentified data in annual report to University Council.
- Continued process review and improvement.
University responses
- Review of Counselling Services (2017).
- Review of university response pathways (2018).
- Dedicated, specialist Counsellors, Violence Response and Prevention.
- Report a concern online reporting and workflow.
- SASH Responder Network.
- Recognise. Respond. Refer. face to face workshops and online modules.
Residential colleges
- Internal review of University-owned colleges 2017.
- External review of on-campus accommodation 2018.
- Drug and alcohol awareness training.
- Zero tolerance for hazing in accommodation guidelines*.
- Mandatory consent training for residents*.
- Recognise. Respond. Refer. training for accommodation staff and Residential Advisers*.
*At University-owned accommodation