It has been discovered this week that University of Sydney’s two main support hotlines for
student survivors of sexual assault have not been working. The discovery was made after a
person seeking support was unable to make contact.

Those who called the Student Liaison Officer hotline were given a message that the hotline was
“temporarily out of service”. In addition to this, the 1800 SYDHLP hotline has been automatically
re-routing callers to the NSW Rape Crisis Centre during business hours instead of being
answered by staff.

While the hotlines have now been fixed, it’s not clear how long they were down for or how many
students who attempted to make contact and were left abandoned.

“Stress and desolation are common feelings for students who are seeking support after a
traumatic sexual experience. By creating inoperative hotlines USyd is exacerbating survivors’
trauma” says Imogen Grant, USyd SRC President.

“This is an impact that can last a lifetime. The first response that a survivor of sexual assault
receives often dictates how they will navigate their recovery. If that response happens to be
white noise on the other end of the phone line, it may discourage the student from seeking any
help altogether. Without help, student survivors are much more vulnerable to mental illness.

How will students suffering from trauma reach their academic potential, attain their degrees, and
regain a sense of trust in their everyday interactions?” says Grant.

“The University of Sydney outwardly projects that it takes the issue of sexual assault seriously.
However, this incident reveals the giant fallacy in the University’s public veneer. If the most that
they can offer is a hotline, and there is no effort to make sure that it is functional, where are
students supposed to go?”, says Jessica Syed, co-Women’s Officer at USyd SRC.

“It is clear that USyd lacks a coordinated and proactive response to sexual assault which is
enabling the problem to persist” says Grant.

“Even when the University does endeavor to provide support, these services are drastically
understaffed, underfunded and lack counselling staff with trauma specialist training” says Grant.

“USyd has millions upon millions to spend on new buildings, yet fails to sufficiently resource
support services. The University has twisted priorities that ultimately leave survivors in the lurch”
says Grant.

This comes off the back of Universities Australia abolishing the National Sexual Assault
University Hotline which was run by Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia. Last year
the AHRC ‘Change the Course’ report found that 6.9% of university students were sexually
assaulted on at least one occasion in 2015 or 2016.
Imogen Grant , SRC President and 2017 Women’s Officer, Jessica Syed , SRC 2018 Women’s Officer, Madeline Ward , SRC 2018 Women’s Officer