A new report reveals five staff members left the University of Melbourne following findings of sexual misconduct last year.
The university’s third Sexual Misconduct Annual Report also at shows that least eight students were found to have engaged in sexual misconduct at the tertiary institution.
The latest figures compare to eleven people connected to the university (four staff members and seven students) found guilty of misconduct in 2022.
In this year’s report, two of the issues involving teaching staff were related to misconduct that was investigated and substantiated. Subsequently, both respondents had their employment contracts terminated.
Three sexual misconduct complaints received in 2022 were substantiated in 2023 and employment was terminated on all occasions.
Of the eight students found to have engaged in sexual misconduct, three were suspended – with conditions placed upon their re-enrolment – while one student was expelled.
The combined penalties for the remaining four students included exclusion from specified locations, contact bans, counselling and mandatory regular meetings.
Transparency helps create safer spaces
The 2023 Sexual Misconduct Annual Report highlights the university’s commitment to transparency in how it responds to and eliminates sexual misconduct within its community.
University of Melbourne Provost Professor Nicola Phillips says the university has made significant progress since the first report was published three years ago, but there is more work to be done.
“Sexual harm has physical, psychological and emotional impacts on the members of our community. We know that headline numbers do not describe the suffering that sits behind the data, and it is incredibly important that we do not lose sight of this,” Professor Phillips says.
“We are determined to provide a safe environment for our community members, free from sexual misconduct.”
Eliminating sexual violence and harassment
Professor Phillips added that “the publication of the 2023 Sexual Misconduct Annual Report is critical to achieving the transparency and accountability necessary to eliminate sexual misconduct in any form at our university”.
“Education is the cornerstone of our approach,” she says.
“In Semester One this year, we launched our new mandatory module for all students and graduate researchers, Preventing Sexual Misconduct. Delivery of the University’s Respect Education Program continues at pace, with more than 8100 staff participating in the last 12 months.”
Professor Phillips encourages any members of the university community wishing to access support or raise concerns to contact the Safer Community Program or to use the Speak Safely online portal.
“I’d like to thank all our students and staff members, and especially acknowledge the victim-survivors, who are working with us to address and eliminate sexual misconduct from our community,” she says.
