Understanding gender‑based violence
- What is gender-based violence?
- Why is action on gender-based violence needed in universities?
- How is UOW preventing and responding to gender-based violence?
Gender-based violence includes any form of physical or non-physical violence, harassment, abuse, or threats based on gender that cause, or are likely to cause, harm, fear, coercion, control, or loss of autonomy.
It may be directed at an individual or group because of their gender, gender identity, or gender expression, or behaviours. Gender-based violence disproportionately affects women and gender-diverse or LGBTIQA+ people.
Gender-based violence can be physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, social, cultural, spiritual or economic. It may occur as a single incident or as a pattern of behaviour over time. It can happen in person or online and may involve peers, staff, supervisors, partners, family members or others connected to university life.
Examples of gender-based violence
- Sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Stalking and cyberstalking
- Intimate partner, domestic or family violence
- Coercive control and abuse of power (including misuse of legal, disciplinary, or administrative systems)
- Technology-facilitated abuse
- Gender-based bullying or harassment
- Harmful practices affecting sexual or reproductive health and rights
- Modern slavery, human trafficking, forced marriage, or forced sex work
Gender‑based violence affects students, staff, affiliates, and the wider university community. As part of a broader societal issue, universities are not immune to the attitudes and behaviours that enable harm.
Gender-based violence remains a serious and ongoing issue in universities, with sexual violence and harassment affecting many students.
The 2021 National Student Safety Survey found that:
- 1 in 20 students had experienced sexual assault since starting university
- 1 in 6 students had experienced sexual harassment
- Of students who reported sexual assault to their university, only around 30% were satisfied with the reporting process
- Women, people with disability, and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities were disproportionately affected
These findings highlight the ongoing need for universities to strengthen prevention, improve reporting and response systems, and ensure meaningful support for those affected. UOW is committed to taking meaningful action to help prevent it and create a safer community for everyone.
The National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence
At UOW, we are embedding the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (National Code), a national framework that sets legally enforceable standards for preventing and responding to gender-based violence in universities. The National Code requires a whole-of-university, trauma-informed, and evidence-based approach, led from the top and applied across all campus environments. The National Code’s 7 standards guide our actions:
- Leadership and governance – accountable, organisation-wide commitment
- Safe environments and systems – policies and spaces that protect all
- Knowledge and capability – training to prevent and respond effectively
- Safety and support – prioritising wellbeing and access to services
- Safe processes – accessible, fair, and timely reporting
- Data, evidence and impact – monitoring and continuous improvement
- Safe student accommodation – secure residential environments for all
These standards provide a clear framework to strengthen prevention, improve responses, and ensure universities are accountable for student safety. See the National Code website for more information.
UOW’s Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Plan
UOW is refining its Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Plan, to be published in mid-2026.
The Plan will:
- Strengthen prevention and education
- Improve clarity around reporting and support options
- Support trauma informed, person-centred responses
- Build on existing UOW services, policies and programs