‘Be a Better Human’ is an existing campaign that was created by Flinders University students in response to the 2017 Australian Human Rights Commission report into Sexual misconduct & Harassment at Australian Universities. To date it has been licenced by a number of Australian Universities that are looking to address similar issues within their communities.
Here at UNSW we have gone a step further, including staff as well as students. A reason for that was in April 2019, the Division of Equity Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) engaged Hudson Global Resources to undertake the UNSW Respect! Survey. Over 4,500 students and staff shared their experiences in relation to harassment, bullying, discrimination, sexual misconduct and other related topics, which gave critical insights in to areas to address across our community.
The campaign
Arc and UNSW have partnered in an initiative called 'Be A Better Human' in order to help strengthen a respectful and inclusive culture. It’s called Be a Better Human, because it's not just about what we shouldn’t do; it's about self-improvement for everyone. And when we say ‘everyone’, we really do mean everyone. We’re encouraging everyone who is part of our community to take a moment and consider how we can ‘better’ our behaviour.
What you can expect
We want to encourage everyone to do more when it comes to understanding, preventing and responding to disrespectful behaviours so over the coming weeks and months Arc and UNSW will talk openly and honestly about key issues such as racism, discrimination, misconduct, bullying and harassment, as someone who has been affected, that persons friend and even as a bystander. We will be providing useful information and helpful tips on how to manage situations and seek support to address issues and positively change behaviours.
Get involved
We believe small things can make big differences. And, your stories can have lasting impacts on others to be better, kinder humans. If you have a personal story about your lived experience, we want to hear from you! Sharing your story with us will help identify important issues and encourage a more open and inclusive culture at UNSW. Share your story.