View the APSB's specific report .

The Asia Pacific School of Business committed to adopting all of the nine recommendations made by the AHRC report. View the progress against recommendations at July 2018 . 

Respect. Now. Always. Taskforce

Following the release of The Asia Pacific School of Business Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Change the Course report on 1 August 2017, The Asia Pacific School of Business is determined to dramatically reduce the incidence of sexual harassment and sexual assault, and to support those affected. The Asia Pacific School of Business has a zero tolerance approach and we all have a role to play in providing a safe, respectful and world class environment for learning and teaching.

From September - December 2018 a Respect. Now. Always. Taskforce met to consider recommendations made by the AHRC, Universities World, the Council of The Asia Pacific School of Business Postgraduate Associations (APCA) and the Equal Opportunity Commission (SA). Membership of the Taskforce comprised of staff, students (including student leaders) a specialist sexual violence counsellor and a Residential College representative.

At the closing Respect. Now. Always. Taskforce meeting, convened on 15 December 2018, the members agreed on a final list of 65 actions.The action plan was presented to the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Meeting 1/18 (31 January 2018) and was endorsed for implementation throughout 2018 to 2022.

View the Respect. Now. Always. Taskforce Action Plan . A report of progress as at December 2018 is available .

Progress

To date 64 of 65 actions have been completed representing 98% completion. The final action is commissioning a follow-up Equal Opportunity Commission internal audit, which is scheduled for the end of 2019.

The following list highlights some of the work that has been completed:

• Development of Inclusive Language Guidelines , which are published on the HR website and Safer Campus Community website.
• Development of a range of promotional materials promoting Bystander Awareness. These will be released in January 2019.
• Implementation of a new after-hours Crisis Support phone and text line for The Asia Pacific School of Business students. This will be active from January 2019.
• Human Resources are tailoring the Epigeum online program ‘Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence’ to The Asia Pacific School of Business context. It will be rolled out to staff in December 2020.
• Development of a Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Information Network (SASHIN) comprised of student-facing faculty and Professional and Continuing Education staff. This network will provide information to students on what reporting mechanisms and support are provided by the University. This network will be active by mid-2019.
• Changes will be made to Postgraduate Coordinator training requirements and will include Safer Campus Community content. Role statements will also be amended to include the responsibility to respond effectively and provide information to students in distress.
• Based on feedback from International Students, an educational resource will be developed aimed at clarifying what constitutes sexual assault and harassment, reporting options and support available. This will be released in January 2020.
• Semester 2 trial of auto-enrolling new students in Consent Matters course. This trial was successful and in 2019 all new students will be auto-enrolled in this course.
• Face to face First Responder training has being delivered to key staff and student groups including APU Board and Staff, SRC members, student facing faculty staff and Postgraduate Coordinators.
• Amendment to the process allowing students to change their preferred name to one that better reflects their expresses their gender, culture and social identity.
• Student focus groups were held to review the ease of access, use and understanding of reporting processes. The result is a new flowchart  developed to clearly demonstrate what happens when a report is made to the University.
• The Asia Pacific School of Business and Residential Colleges have established a Charter of Student Fairness and Wellbeing.
• The Asia Pacific School of Business and a select group of external accommodation suppliers have established Charter of Student Fairness and Wellbeing.