Protecting Children and Young People at Australian Universities: A Model for a Practice-based and Integrated National Approach

Up to 50,000 young people aged 16-17 study at Australian universities every year. University facilities are also regularly used by school children visiting campuses and building relationships between tertiary and higher education. International and national research on campus sexual violence focuses on students aged 18+, as do university ‘Sexual Misconduct’ policies. Research and policies both neglect the experiences of young people attending university and children frequenting campuses.

This project examines university responses to the significant problem of campus sexual violence against minors that is informed by the voices of young people and key policy stakeholders. It will apply a novel children’s rights approach to develop a framework to 1) harmonize and improve existing policies and responses; 2) embed these within the Commonwealth government’s Child-Safe Standards (2018) to make organizations safer for children; and 3) promote safe and respectful relationships for young people within tertiary education.

The project uses a mixed methodology to inform a critical policy, organizational and legal analysis of university responsibilities, with the long-term impact of protecting children and young people from sexual violence on Australian university campuses.