The 2021 National Student Safety Survey

In 2021, Australian universities, including UniSA, commissioned and funded a survey about student experiences of sexual assault and sexual harassment. The independent survey was conducted by Universities Australia and the Social Research Centre. The 2021 National Student Safety Survey (NSSS) follows on from the inaugural survey conducted in 2016, and the subsequent release in 2017 of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at Australian Universities.  

The 2021 NSSS report has now been released and is available to read here.

The Social Research Centre has also provided UniSA with an overview of some of the response data for our University, which is available to read here. 

Please note: We are aware that the infographic that we received from the Social Research Centre is currently not fully accessible and we are in the process of addressing this. To request an accessible copy of this information, contact: respect@unisa.edu.au

Please note: The reports contain discussions of sexual assault and sexual harassment which may be difficult, distressing and upsetting to read. If you would like to speak to someone for support or information in relation to these issues, help and support is always available, both within and outside of UniSA. Some of the services available include: 

• UniSA Counselling Service, free and confidential professional counselling for students. The Counselling Service is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. You can book an appointment online or by phone. We also have an out-of-hours crisis line which you can call outside of those hours: call 1300 107 441 or text 0488 884 163.
• 1800RESPECT, the national sexual assault, family, and domestic violence counselling service. Information and support is available 24 hours, 7 days a week on 1800 737 732 or visit their website.
• QLife, an anonymous and free peer support and referral service for the LGBTIQ+ community, call on 1800 184 527 between 3pm-midnight every day or visit their website.
• MensLine Australia, a telephone and online counselling service for men with emotional health and relationship concerns, including issues of violence, call on 1300 78 99 78 or visit their website.

For further information about support options, please see here. If you would like to disclose or report an incident of sexual assault or sexual harassment to UniSA, please see here for more information.  

UniSA would like to thank all students who participated in the 2021 National Student Safety Survey. We acknowledge the lived experiences of students who have been subjected to sexual assault and sexual harassment and thank them for sharing their stories through this survey.  

UniSA is committed to creating a safer community for all students and staff. We will take time to reflect on the results of the NSSS and will use this to inform our ongoing work to prevent and respond to sexual assault and sexual harassment at UniSA.

For further information about how the 2021 National Student Safety Survey was conducted, please see UA’s website. 

For staff and students seeking more information about UniSA’s work to address sexual assault and sexual harassment, please contact respect@unisa.edu.au.  

24/7 Phone Support

National Sexual Assault, Domestic, Family Violence Counselling Service: 1800 737 732

UniSA Support

Student Counselling Service
Monday to Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm
Metropolitan campuses: 1300 301 703
Mt Gambier campus: (08) 8723 1999
Whyalla campus: (08) 8645 8233

UniSA Out-of-Hours Crisis Line
Call 1300 107 441 or text 0488 884 163
5:00pm to 9:00am weekdays 
24hrs weekends and public holidays

Staff Counselling Service
EAP Program: 1300 277 924

External Support

Yarrow Place
Rape & Sexual Assault Service
1800 817 421

Shine SA
Sexual Health Education Agency
1300 794 584