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A sexual violence prevention program currently offered throughout Tasmanian schools will be adapted for tertiary education students thanks to a new partnership between the University of Tasmania and the Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS).
SASS Chief Executive Officer Shirleyann Varney said the organisation was very pleased about the chance to adapt and expand its Consent and Relationships Education (CARE) Program for university students.
“We are proud to align with the University with the purpose of eliminating sexual violence,” Ms Varney said.
“Our existing program assessments among school-age students have already demonstrated significant attitudinal shifts and intentions to change. This iteration of the CARE program has been specifically designed to engage and inspire university students, reinforcing shared values of care and respect.”
Delivered in a series of small-group, interactive workshops over the next two years, students living in university accommodation and key staff will receive training from expert SASS educators on consent, respectful relationships and bystander intervention. The program will be evaluated for insights into its impact on reducing sexual harm.
University Pro Vice-Chancellor, Student Equity and Success, James Brann said gender-based violence is a systemic challenge that demanded concerted effort at all levels to address, from families, through schools and tertiary education, to the broader culture.
“We are committed to playing our role in creating a safer, more inclusive, more respectful community,” Dr Brann said. “The goal has to be a community – here at the University and more broadly – that is free from gender-based violence because the only acceptable number of incidents of sexual assault or sexual harassment is zero.
“This program is an example of how we need to work together – with our students, with our community partners who are experts in this field – to understand and tackle the drivers of gender-based violence. That’s how we change culture and prevent sexual violence.”
Dr Brann said the program was one element of an integrated, University-wide Gender-Based Violence Action Plan driving ongoing efforts to improve community safety, trust and respect. The plan incorporates the recommendations from the independent Walker Review, completed in 2024, and aligns with the National Action Plan to Address Gender-Based Violence in Higher Education.
President of the Tasmanian University Student Association (TUSA) Jack Oates Pryor said students welcomed the plan and the actions the University was taking to address gender-based violence in the community.
“The Action Plan reflects the collective efforts of students, staff, and experts over a number of years,” Mx Oates Pryor said. “We are grateful for the expertise of those who provided valuable insights, and the courage of those who shared lived experience and knowledge, all of which has impacted this plan.
“TUSA views this plan as a call for immediate action and a broader cultural shift to prioritise safety, inclusion, and equity for all members of the community. Achieving this requires commitment from everyone – students, staff, and leadership alike – to commit to real, lasting, and meaningful change.
“The University partnering with an outstanding community service like SASS is one such example of a step forward.”
SASS, with the support of the University of Tasmania, will implement and evaluate the CARE program as part of La Trobe University’s Partners in Prevention of Sexual Violence program, funded by the federal Department of Social Services.