Thank you for considering responding to the 2026 National Student Safety Survey. Your safety is a priority for us. If you wish to speak with someone from your university about support or reporting options, please visit the support page for the full list of services available at each university.
Alternatively, you can call the National Student Safety Survey Counselling Line on 1800 572 224. The Counselling Line is being provided by Full Stop Australia which is an independent organisation.
Search FAQs
Who is being asked to complete the survey?
Students at one of the 38 UA member universities have the opportunity to complete this survey. This survey aims to ensure all student voices are heard, including women, men and gender-diverse students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, undergraduate, postgraduate, vocational and research students, students from LGBTQIA+ communities, students with disabilities, students from culturally and racially marginalised backgrounds, domestic and international students.
If you are an onshore student currently enrolled in a course at a participating university, and are 16 or older, you will receive an email from safetysurvey@roymorgan.com with a unique link inviting you to complete the survey.
Only the survey provider, Roy Morgan, will send the Survey link to you. If you did not receive an email please see the section I didn’t receive an email – why was I not invited?
Why should I complete the survey?
The survey is a key opportunity to gather robust, representative data from students about your experiences and perceptions of safety during your time as a student, as well as of your university’s reporting, support and prevention initiatives. This survey focuses on sexual violence or harm.
What will happen with my answers?
Your responses will help build an accurate picture of where, when, and how issues arise relating to the occurrence of and response to sexual violence or harm that has impacted your university experience. Your answers will be de-identified before being combined with the responses from other students for analysis.
Information collected through the survey may be used in the following ways:
When will the survey be conducted?
The Survey will run in the September 2026. You’ll get an invite via your university email when the Survey opens.
How long will the survey take?
This Survey usually takes 15 to 25 minutes to complete depending on your answers and how many of the questions you choose to respond to.
I didn’t receive an email – why was I not invited?
Most currently enrolled students at Australia’s 38 Universities Australia (UA) member universities are eligible to take part in this survey. However, some students are not invited due to the scope of the study.
You may not have received an invitation if you:
We understand this may be disappointing. Your experiences matter, and support services are available to you regardless of whether you are able to participate in the survey.
Course types not included in the survey
University Course of Study:
22. Other undergraduate award course
41. Cross institutional program for undergraduate courses at home Higher Education Provider
42. Cross Institutional program for postgraduate courses at home Higher Education Provider
50. Non-award course (including bridging for overseas trained professionals)
51. STARTUP-HELP course approved under the Startup Year program
52. Microcredentials courses approved under the Microcredential Pilot program
60. Open University Australia undergraduate studies
61. Open University Australia postgraduate studies
VET Course of Study:
611. Year 12
613. Year 11
621. Year 10
912. Other non-award Course
991. Statement of Attainment non identifiable level
992. Bridging or enabling course not identifiable by level
999. Education not elsewhere classified.
Who created the survey? Were students and people with lived experience involved?
The survey was commissioned by Universities Australia, who is leading and funding the project on behalf of the 38 UA member universities.
To make sure the survey reflects the experiences of students across Australia, several groups were engaged to help in the design and deployment of the Survey:
Who is Universities Australia?
Universities Australia (UA) is the peak body that represents Australia’s universities. UA acts as a national voice on behalf of its 38 member universities; leading policy and advocacy work, facilitating collaboration across the sector and championing the role of higher education.
Has this survey been done before?
This is the third national survey of Australian university students assessing the occurrence and impacts of sexual violence or harm.
The first survey was conducted in 2016 by Roy Morgan for the Australian Human Rights Commission, with the findings published in the Change the Course report in 2017. The second survey was conducted by the Social Research Centre in 2021, with the results published online in 2022.
The content of this survey is different to the two previous surveys. New questions have been added, and others have been removed to reflect better understanding of different forms of sexual violence or harm, and changes to the higher education system.
Where can I see the results of this survey?
The report on the national results will be published on the Universities Australia website in first semester 2027. Your university will receive a de-identified report of its institutional specific results.
Has this survey gone through ethics approval?
Yes. The survey has been approved by the Victoria University Human Research Ethics Committee (EXT_HRE26-001).
If you have any queries or complaints about the way you have been treated, you may contact the Ethics Secretary, Victoria University Human Research Ethics Committee, Office for Research, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC, 8001, email researchethics@vu.edu.au or phone (03) 9919 4781 or 4461.
What questions are in the survey?
This survey includes questions that ask about:
If you have experienced sexual violence or harm, you’ll also be asked about:
This survey includes some open-ended questions, where you can share your experiences in your own words.
Is this just about sexual violence or harm that has happened at university?
No. We are interested in understanding the experiences you might have had with university support services and prevention initiatives since starting at university, regardless of the particulars of any lived experience you have.
What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence refers to sexual behaviours that happen when:
Sexual violence can be non-physical and include unwanted sexualised comments, intrusive sexualised questions, or harassment of a sexual nature. Sexual violence or harm includes experiences that occurred in person, online and/or using technology.
Why do we use the term ‘harm’ alongside sexual violence?
We recognise that not everyone identifies their experience of unwanted sexual behaviours as violence. The term violence focuses on the unwanted sexual behaviours and the perpetrator, whereas the term harm focuses on the impact on the victim-survivor. Using the combined term “sexual violence or harm” acknowledges the full spectrum of experiences and seeks to enable you to reflect on your own experiences however you might prefer.
I’ve never experienced sexual violence or harm, is my information still important?
Yes. Your information is important.
We are interested in understanding the perception and awareness of all students regarding safety and sexual violence or harm at university, not only those who have directly experienced sexual violence or harm. Information from all students will help to build a more comprehensive and representative understanding of the culture at Australian universities, informing initiatives across safety, sexual violence or harm prevention and response.
I don’t have a partner, or I haven’t had sex with anyone before — is my information still important?
Yes. Your information is important.
Not all sexual violence or harm involves sex, and doesn’t always happen within relationships. So, whether or not you’ve had a partner or are having sex, your responses are incredibly valuable.
Why are you asking for my personal experiences and views?
The survey asks direct questions about your attitudes, perceptions and experiences of sexual violence or harm. We know these topics can feel private or uncomfortable to talk about.
We ask these questions so universities can better understand what students are experiencing. This helps them improve support services and respond more effectively to prevent sexual violence or harm.
Roy Morgan will de-identify survey responses before the results are analysed and published in the final survey report.
Why do some of the questions in the survey use explicit language?
Some questions in this survey use clear and direct language, and we understand this may feel uncomfortable or upsetting for some people. We use explicit wording so you can clearly understand each question and can answer in the way that feels most accurate for you.
Support options are displayed throughout the survey, and available through the Universities Australia website, and below on at Who can I talk to if I need support?
Why are you asking me about my personal demographic details?
Your information helps universities to better understand how different students perceive and experience safety, reporting and support services at university.
The information collected will help universities understand the needs of their own cohorts and create better supports, programs, and responses to prevent and address all forms of sexual violence or harm.
You are encouraged to answer these questions, but you can choose “Prefer not to say” for any question you don’t want to answer.
What if I find the questions overwhelming, upsetting, too personal or hard to answer?
We acknowledge that some questions may cause distress, especially for those who have experienced sexual violence or harm.
Your wellbeing is the priority. To support you in answering what and how you feel comfortable, you can:
Who can I talk to if I need support?
If you need support and would like to speak to someone, you can:
| Service | Website | Contact number | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifeline Australia | lifeline.org.au | 13 11 14 (24/7) | Free, confidential 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Anyone across Australia who is experiencing a personal crisis, contemplating suicide or caring for someone in crisis can contact Lifeline. |
| 13YARN | 13yarn.org.au | 13 92 76 (24/7) | A culturally safe 24/7 crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis supporters. |
| 1800RESPECT | 1800respect.org.au | 1800 737 732 (24/7) | The national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. 1800RESPECT support is available through call, text, online chat or video call services. |
| Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline
|
fullstop.org.au | 1800 497 212 (24/7)
|
Support services available to anyone in Australia from LGBTQIA+ communities who has experienced sexual, domestic or family violence. |
| Relationships Australia | relationships.org.au | 1300 364 277 | A community-based organisation offering counselling, mediation, and education services to support healthy relationships for all members of the community. |
| QLife | qlife.org.au | 1800 184 527 | Australia’s only National LGBTIQA+ early intervention telephone and webchat peer support and referral service. Support is available over the phone or online chat. |
| MensLine Australia | www.mensline.org.au | 1300 789 978 | MensLine Australia offers free, confidential 24/7support, information and referral services for men experiencing emotional or personal difficulties. Support is available 24/7 by phone, and via online chat. |
| Brother to Brother | https://dardimunwurro.com.au/ | 1800 435 799 | The Brother to Brother crisis line provides phone support for Aboriginal men who need someone to talk to about relationship issues, family violence, parenting, drug and alcohol issues or who are struggling to cope for other reasons.
The line is staffed by Aboriginal men, including Elders, who have a lived experience in the issues that the line offers support for. |
| Beyond Blue | https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ | 1300 224 636 | Beyond Blue offer free, confidential 24/7 phone and online chat support with trained counsellors for immediate help. Beyond Blue counsellors are to equip assist people of all ages in Australia with the skills they need to look after their own mental health and wellbeing, and to create confidence in their ability to support those around them. |
| Full Stop Australia | fullstop.org.au | 1800 385 578 (24/7) | Free, confidential, 24/7 trauma-specialist counselling and support to anyone in Australia affected by sexual, domestic or family violence. |
Will my answers be saved if I take a break or close the browser?
Yes. Your responses are saved each time you click ‘Next’ to move to the following question. You can take a break or close your browser and return to the survey using the link provided in your email, and you’ll be taken back to where you left off. Your invitation link will expire once you complete the survey, and you can only submit your responses once.
If you do not submit the survey, your results will not form part of the database.
If I skip a question, can I go back to it later?
No. You can navigate forward through the survey, but not backwards. This helps protect your privacy, so your previous answers can’t be seen if someone else accesses your survey link. To ensure data quality, the survey needs to be completed in one direction only, so we encourage you to take a moment to consider each question before continuing.
Is the survey mobile-friendly? Can I complete it on my phone or tablet?
Yes. You can complete the survey on your smart phone, tablet device, laptop or desktop.
Can I complete a hardcopy of survey?
You can request to complete the survey in hardcopy form if this is more suited to your needs.
To arrange a hard copy of the survey, please contact the Roy Morgan at email safetysurvey@roymorgan.com or phone 1800 687 254. Roy Morgan will mail you a paper version with a reply-paid envelope. For further assistance please contact your university’s support services.
What if it’s not safe for me to complete the survey?
Your participation is voluntary. If it is not safe for you to complete the survey, we encourage you to access support from one of the services listed above.
What if I need to exit the survey?
If you need to urgently leave the survey, clicking the ‘Exit’ button at the top of each page will immediately close the survey. Return to the survey using the link provided in your email, and you’ll be taken back to where you left off.
Will my answers be confidential?
Your response may be identifiable by authorised researchers from Roy Morgan during the data collection phase of the survey. For more information, see:
Once the survey is finished, your responses will be de-identified by Roy Morgan, so it will be anonymous in data that is shared to your university and in the final survey report.
The diagram below shows how your information will be treated.
Can I be identified by my university email address?
Depending on your university, your email address may be identifiable to our survey administrator, Roy Morgan. This information is only accessible by authorised researchers from Roy Morgan, and will be treated with utmost confidentiality and sensitivity, as detailed in the Research Ethics approval. An identifiable email address would be something like FirstName.LastName@univesity.edu.au or another combination of your first and last name.
Roy Morgan does not have the capability to identify students based on student numbers contained in email addresses e.g. s12345@university.edu.au or other email address conventions that do not contain your first name and/or last name. However, Roy Morgan may still be required by law to contact authorities in your state or territory if you disclose a current or historical case of alleged child sexual abuse, no matter if your email is identifiable or not. In those cases, despite Roy Morgan not being able to identify you, state/territory law enforcement may still be able to investigate such disclosures and identify you.
To learn more, see Will you notify the police if someone tells you about child sexual abuse?
How did Roy Morgan get my student email address?
Your university provided Roy Morgan with student email addresses so that survey links could be distributed.
What will my email address be used for?
Roy Morgan will use your student email address for the purpose of administering the survey. Your email address will not be shared with anyone else or used for any other purpose. Once the Survey is complete and all data has been collected, your email address will be deleted from Roy Morgan’s records.
Why do I get a unique survey link?
You’ve been sent a unique survey link so that all students have a secure, individual and equitable opportunity to participate in the survey.
Does my information stay linked to my email address?
Your email address will be linked to your responses during the data collection phase, and will only be visible to authorised researchers from Roy Morgan. Email addresses will not be linked to responses during the analysis or reporting phases of the survey.
Does Roy Morgan have a privacy policy?
Yes. You can find more information on Roy Morgan’s Privacy Policy on their website.
Does completing the survey count as making a formal report or disclosure to my university?
No. Participating in this survey and sharing any experiences of sexual violence or harm that you have had via this survey does not count as a formal report or disclosure of sexual violence or harm to your university.
If you want to disclose or report your experience of sexual violence or harm to your university, contact information for each university is available on the Universities Australia website.
If I disclose an incident in the survey, will someone contact me?
If you are 18 or over, and the incident occurred when you were 18 or over, you will not be contacted about a disclosure of sexual violence or harm that you share in this survey.
Mandatory reporting is required in some states and territories where a person shares information of an incident of sexual violence or harm involving a person under 18 years old. You can find out more information at Will you notify the police if someone tells you about child sexual abuse, below. For further details as to which states and territories these mandatory reporting obligations relate to and the definition of ‘child’ for each, please see Which states or territories have reporting requirements?
Please see the section below How do I make a formal report of seek support from my university for information on how to do so.
What is mandatory reporting?
Mandatory reporting means that some people must share certain information to the police or other relevant authorities such as child protection if someone may be at risk of serious harm, especially a person under 18. Mandatory reporting exists to help keep people safe.
I have not previously reported my experience of sexual violence or harm at university. Am I expected to make a report if I complete the Survey?
No. It is entirely your choice to report, or not to report, to your university or any other agency or service.
How do I make a formal report or seek support from my university?
If you want to disclose, report or seek support at your university, you can find contact information for each university on the Universities Australia website.
Can I report or disclose to another agency or service?
Yes. You can make a report or disclosure of sexual violence or harm to a number of organisations, including:
I am not satisfied with the way my university handled a disclosure or report — where can I go?
You can contact the National Student Ombudsman to make a complaint about the actions taken by a higher education provider, including how it supported you to make a report or to continue your studies safely after an incident.
Will you notify the police if someone tells you about child sexual abuse?
In some circumstances we will have to notify the police about the information shared via this Survey. This is because of mandatory reporting requirements relating to child sexual abuse that exist in some states and territories. As such, Roy Morgan may be required to report information provided about a child who has experienced or is experiencing harm to state police or child protection authorities. In some instances, these obligations may include reporting historical cases of alleged sexual violence or harm involving a child. These obligations may apply where the harm experienced as a child occurred in any setting, not just those related to university.
The answers given for questions related to technology-facilitated sexual violence or sexual assault may also trigger Roy Morgan’s mandatory reporting obligations. You will be notified of these questions when completing the survey. See What will happen to me if Roy Morgan reports to authorities? for more information.
For further details as to which states and territories these mandatory reporting obligations relate to and the definition of ‘child’ for each, please see Which states or territories have reporting requirements?
Will you notify the police if someone tells you about the sexual abuse of an adult?
If your campus is in NSW:
In NSW, some kinds of sexual violence or harm must be reported to police. However, as an adult, the decision is yours.
The answers given for questions related to technology-facilitated sexual violence or sexual assault may trigger Roy Morgan’s mandatory reporting obligations. You will be notified of these questions when completing the Survey.
If your answers suggest an experience of criminal sexual violence or harm, we will tell you and give you a choice at the end of the survey. You can choose not to have your experience reported. If you choose not to, Roy Morgan will not contact the police. See What will happen to me if Roy Morgan reports to authorities? for more information.
If your campus is not in NSW:
Your answers will not be reported to police if you are an adult victim survivor. However, the law in your state or territory may require reporting of current or historical child sexual abuse. See What will Roy Morgan report to the police?
What will Roy Morgan report to the police?
Roy Morgan’s obligations to provide a mandatory report to police depends on several factors, including:
Which states or territories have reporting requirements?
Reporting rules depend on where your university campus is located.
Please select the state or territory of your campus below to see whether Roy Morgan may be required to report certain disclosures to police.
ACT
In the ACT, a child is legally defined as anyone under 18 years of age.
In some situations, Roy Morgan may be required to report disclosures of sexual violence or harm involving children to the police.
New South Wales
In New South Wales, a child is legally defined as anyone under 18 years of age.
In some situations, Roy Morgan may be required to report disclosures of sexual violence or harm involving children to the police.
Northern Territory
In the Northern Territory, a child is legally defined as anyone under 18 years of age. In some situations, Roy Morgan may be required under the Care and Protection of Children Act law to report disclosures of sexual violence or harm involving children to police or child protection authorities.
Queensland
In Queensland, a child is legally defined as:
In some situations, Roy Morgan may be required to report disclosures of sexual violence or harm involving children to the police.
South Australia
Roy Morgan does not qualify as a mandatory reporter.
Tasmania
In Tasmania, a child is legally defined as anyone under 18 years of age.
In some situations, Roy Morgan may be required to report disclosures of sexual violence or harm involving children to the police.
Victoria
In Victoria, a child is a person under 16 years of age. Roy Morgan may be required to report disclosures of sexual violence or harm involving children to the police.
Western Australia
Roy Morgan does not qualify as a mandatory reporter.
I still have questions, who do I ask?
If you are having trouble accessing the survey, experiencing technical issues or have another question that is not included in these FAQs, please contact the Roy Morgan Help Desk by email safetysurvey@roymorgan.com or phone 1800 687 254.