This report examines the prevalence of sexual harassment experienced by teachers in Australian schools, primarily perpetrated by students, finding that a significant percentage of teachers, especially women, are subjected to various forms of sexual harassment, including sexual propositions, threats, and inappropriate behavior. 

The report identifies contributing factors such as societal misogyny, the influence of online platforms and pornography, and inadequate responses to these issues. It makes recommendations to support and fund evidence-based measures to address the issue. 

Findings

• Almost 80% of survey respondents reported a rise of harmful sexual behaviours in their schools.
• 47% of respondents have experienced sexual harassment within a school environment.
• 81% of teachers who personally experienced sexual harassment at school, were harassed by a student. 
• 8% of survey respondents changed schools as a result of being sexually harassed, and close to 2% of respondents left the profession. 
• 80% of respondents reported an increase in sexualised behaviours in schools. 

Recommendations

1. School leaders and school governing authorities should ensure that their schools have effective policies and procedures in place that clearly define and identify sexual harassment and provide clear direction on how to respond to it.
2. School leaders and school governing authorities should ensure that their schools have a student code of conduct that outlines a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment. 
3. School principals should roll out a comprehensive sexual harassment training program for school staff and students that is mandatory and conducted on a yearly basis. 
4. School principals should seek specialist advice on how to engage parents/guardians and the wider school community in addressing the issue of sexual harassment.
5. School leaders and school governing authorities should ensure provision of ongoing, funded and trauma-informed therapeutic responses for both victims and perpetrators. 
6. State/territory departments of education and other school governing authorities should support, fund and implement evidence-based measures to improve responses to sexual harassment in schools.