The National Student Safety Survey (NSSS) ran across the Australian university sector in late 2021, with results released on Wednesday 23 March 2022.
Like the foundational survey from 2016, the 2021 NSSS collected data on the scale and nature of university student experiences of sexual harassment and sexual assault.
You can find further background on the survey, access to the reports and national support resources at nsss.edu.au
For all enquiries about the NSSS, please email [email protected]
For more information on the foundational survey, including the Change The Course report, visit Respect. Now. Always.
Reports
The results were released as a national quantitative report and national qualitative report.
Access the National quantitative report.
Access the National qualitative report.
You can also access these reports, as well as links to individual university information, at nsss.edu.au/results
Sector response
Statement from UA Chair
In response to the results, view the below statement from Universities Australia Chair Professor John Dewar AO.
Access a transcript of this statement on this page.
Sector actions
We recognise there is more work to be done and we will determine in coming months what we should and could be doing.
Immediately, however, Universities Australia has made the following commitments:
- We have renewed our commitment to our partnership with Our Watch and to the Educating for Equality program, to continue that program in universities.
- Universities Australia has funded a dedicated senior role in Our Watch to support universities to implement Education for Equality until at least the end of this year.
- In the lead up to the release of the reports today, we have provided additional training for student leaders to respond to disclosures of sexual harassment and sexual assault and to manage vicarious trauma. The vicarious trauma training will continue in coming weeks.
- Universities Australia is working with the Office of the eSafety Commissioner to develop the Safer Online: Awareness to Resilience program to support universities to develop whole-of-institution approaches to preventing and responding to cyber abuse.
- In 2018 Universities Australia developed a set of guidelines for university responses to sexual assault and sexual harassment. The purpose of these guidelines is to assist universities in making their processes consistent and transparent and to respond with care and compassion to disclosures or reports of sexual harassment or sexual assault. Universities Australia will be reviewing these guidelines.
Find support
Find support
We understand that conversations around sexual harassment and sexual assault can be distressing for members of our university and wider community.
For members of the university community who would like to speak to somebody for support, find resources available at your university on this page.
The below services are available free-of-charge to the public, across Australia:
1800RESPECT
Phone and online counselling for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse, available 24/7.
1800respect.org.au or 1800 737 732
Lifeline
Phone and online confidential crisis support, available 24/7.
lifeline.org.au or 13 11 14
QLife
Phone and online support and referral service for LGBTIQ+ people, available 3pm to midnight in your time zone.
qlife.org.au or 1800 184 527
MensLine Australia
Phone and online counselling service for men, available 24/7.
mensline.org.au or 1300 789 978
Beyond Blue
Phone and online mental health counselling and advice, available 24/7.
beyondblue.org.au or 1300 224 636
Translating and interpreting service (TIS National)
Translation service for non-English speakers, available 24/7.
tisnational.gov.au/en/Non-English-speakers or 131 450
National Relay Service (NRS)
Service for Deaf people, available 24/7.
Teletypewriter (TTS): 133 677
SMS relay: 0423 677 767
NRS Chat (formerly known as Internet Relay): nrschat.nrscall.gov.au
©2025