The Human Rights Commission released Change The Course: National Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at Australian Universities, the result of a survey of more than 30,000 university students from 39 Australian universities.

Students at Federation University and the Australian Catholic University were less likely to be victims of sexual harassment and assault than the national average.

The survey revealed 14 per cent of FedUni students and 24 per cent at ACU were sexually harassed at university in 2016 compared to 26 per cent nationally.

More serious sexual assault occurred to 0.6 per cent of Fed Uni students and 1.1 per cent of ACU students at university, below the national figure of 1.6 per cent.

The report also shone a light on more widespread issues, with 51 per cent of students saying they had been sexually harassed and 6.9 per cent sexually assaulted in the broader community.

The report identified 10 recommendations for universities to adopt to make campus life safer for students. Federation University vowed to implement all recommendations and to extend its training programs to help prevent sexual and violence-related acts.

“What this survey has revealed is that there are too many incidences of sexual assault and sexual harassment, and we have an obligation and duty of care to prevent its occurrence,” said Vice Chancellor Professor Helen Bartlett.

“We do not tolerate threats, violence, assault, sexual assault, harassment, bullying, family or domestic violence.”

ACU Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven said sexual harassment, assault and violence would never be tolerated at ACU. “Each of us has a responsibility to create and maintain a safe ACU community,” he said.

If you need support, call: National university support line: 1800 572 224 (until Nov 30); 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732; Lifeline: 131114; Beyond Blue: 1300 224 63