National Student Safety Survey

National Student Safety Survey

Content warning: This page discusses experiences relating to gender-based violence, including sexual violence and harm. 

RMIT students will be invited to complete the 2026 National Student Safety Survey (NSSS) on 7 September.

At RMIT University, we protect the right of every member of our community to learn, interact and participate fully in university life, confident that they are welcome, they are safe, and they belong. 

The National Student Safety Survey is one of the ways we listen to our student community to understand your experiences, hear about the support you need, and deliver initiatives that advance our culture of safety, respect and belonging. 

About the survey

The NSSS is Australia’s largest, sector-wide survey of university students’ experiences of safety, sexual violence or harm, which are forms of gender-based violence. It also asks about students’ awareness of, and experiences, with university prevention and support services.  

Gender-based violence is a persistent reality across Australian society, including in universities. The NSSS is one part of the sector’s ongoing work to listen, learn and act to support safer campuses for all students.  

Every students' perspective matters. These perspectives help build a clearer understanding of university experiences, student knowledge of support and reporting pathways, and what needs to be done to strengthen prevention and response efforts. 

The NSSS is conducted every five years by Universities Australia who have appointed independent market research organisation, Roy Morgan, to support delivery of the NSSS.  

Who should complete the National Student Safety Survey?

In 2026, all eligible students studying at an RMIT campus in Australia will be invited to complete the NSSS.  

You can complete the survey even if you have not experienced sexual violence or harm.   

Participation is voluntary and confidential. Your responses won’t be shared with the University. 

Your voice matters. If you choose to participate, your experiences and perspectives can help inform positive change and contribute to safer campuses for current and future students. 

You’re considered eligible to participate if, on 31 August 2026, you are:  

  • 16 years of age or older and  
  • enrolled as a domestic or international onshore student studying:  
    • Vocational Education (TAFE), or Higher Education undergraduate or postgraduate by coursework courses  
    • Postgraduate research  
    • RMIT Online or Open University Australia courses

How can I complete the survey?

RMIT students will receive a survey invitation email to your RMIT student inbox on 7 September. 

You’ll then receive up to four reminder emails from Roy Morgan until you complete the survey. 

Look out for the following subject lines from the sender name “National Student Safety Survey” in your student email inbox. Each of these emails will include your unique survey link. 

  • Share your Experience – National Student Safety Survey 2026 
  • A reminder: We’d value your input in the National Student Safety Survey 2026 
  • A reminder: We’d value your input in the National Student Safety Survey 2026 
  • There’s still time to take part in the National Student Safety Survey 2026 
  • NSSS Closing Soon! 

Once you complete the survey, Roy Morgan will stop sending you reminder emails.

What support is available?

Support is available before, during and after participation, including RMIT and external support services. 

RMIT support  

RMIT students and staff impacted by gender-based violence, including sexual harm, can contact the Safer Community team for support or to report an incident. This service is open to all students and staff, regardless of where or when the incident occurred. 

Questions? 
Contact Student Connect. 

External support 

Get 24/7 free and confidential support from trained counsellors through the National Student Safety Survey Counselling Line on 1800 572 224. 

Access more external emergency and crisis support services. 

Please note

The National Student Safety Survey isn’t a reporting tool. If you have experienced or witnessed sexual assault, harassment or any unwanted behaviour you can seek support through Safer Community. 

More information

To learn more about the survey, go to Universities Australia’s FAQs. 

To learn more about RMIT’s approach to gender-based violence prevention and response, and creating a safe and respectful community go to: 

What is RMIT doing to create a safer community?

RMIT has put in place an extensive range of programs and initiatives to help ensure every student and staff member feels valued, respected and safe. 

Our action to date has been guided by the Addressing Gender-based Violence Strategic Action Plan 2023-2027 (PDF). The refreshed Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Plan 2026-2029 is currently under development and will be launched in late 2026. This new Plan will guide action over the next four years. 

Support services, programs and initiatives 

  • Established the Safer Community team who provide support to staff and students about experiences of violence, sexual harm and concerning, unwanted or threatening behaviour. 
  • Enhanced the capability and resources of Safer Community with development of Sexual Harm Risk Assessment tool and implementation of Child Safe Advisor. 
  • Specialist gender-based violence investigation response launched through Safer Community, for both staff and students, providing a trauma-informed and person-centric investigation and case management model. 
  • Established a campus shuttle bus (Bundoora campus) and improved lighting and access across all RMIT campuses. 
  • Launched the Women in STEMM Ambassador program. 

Learning 

  • Launched vocational course in recognising and responding to sexual violence. 
  • Student e-learning module on Sex and Consent made mandatory for commencing students. 
  • Launched the Respectful Research Training for HDR supervisors and candidates, which made RMIT one of the first universities in Australia to implement this culture change initiative. 
  • Delivered training for executive leaders delivered in partnership with Our Watch. 

Awareness campaigns and community engagement 

  • Delivered the Be the Change communication and engagement campaign to empower students to not walk past bad behaviour, know where to report it and to work together to create a safer community. 
  • Annual participation in Respect Week, the sector-wide initiative that provides an opportunity for students and staff to come together as a community, deepen their understanding, and take meaningful action to prevent gender-based harm while fostering a culture of respect and safety. 
  • Launched the two-year Gender Equity and Justice – Community, Teaching and Learning project which aims to take a whole-of-university approach to challenge the social and educational conditions that allow disrespect, gender inequality and gender-based violence to exist. 
  • Delivery of Are You Safe at Home? Workshop and campaigns. 
  • Staff and students participated in the Walk Against Family Violence, hosted by Respect Victoria. 

Policy, Plans and committees  

  • Established of the Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Group on Reducing Sexual Harm, now the Vice Chancellor’s Advisory Group for Addressing Gender-based Violence. 
  • Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Policy Suite developed, covering both RMIT Australia and Vietnam. 
  • Domestic and family Violence Procedure developed. 
  • Staff – Student Personal Relationship Procedure developed. 
  • Ran Changing the Course, a three-year strategic plan and prevention framework to reduce sexual harm. 
  • The Student Gender Equity Action Plan 2023–26 published. 
  • Launched the IDEA Framework. 
  • Published the Addressing Gender-based Violence Annual Report and Addressing Gender-based Violence Strategic Action Plan 2023-2027. 
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RMIT launches new vocational course in recognising and responding to sexual violence

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2021 National Student Safety Survey

RMIT participated in the 2021 survey, with a total of 665 RMIT higher education students completing the survey (6.6% of the 10,000 students invited to participate).

We're grateful to everyone who shared their views. 

RMIT's results

  • 10.5% of respondents said they had experienced sexual harassment since starting university, with 3% experiencing it within the last 12 months.
  • 2.8% of respondents said they had experienced sexual assault since starting university. 
  • More than 50% of students don’t know where to go to make a complaint about sexual harassment or sexual assault. 
  • More than 50% of students don’t know where to seek support or assistance for when they have experienced harassment or assault.
  • Very few students who have experienced sexual harassment have accessed support from RMIT. 
  • There are areas of the university where sexual harassment is more likely to occur, including general campus areas, lecture theatres and computer labs. 
  • While off-campus, students are most likely to experience sexual harassment in hospitality or retail environments. 
View an infographic summarising RMIT’s key results
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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples