Review into the treatment of women at the Australian Defence Force ...

Chapter 9: Accommodation and Supervision – Recommendations 19-21He noted that general security upgrades, such as the installation of ‘crim safe’ mesh and extra lighting,had occurred.Recent history at ADFA, and currently available data, indicates that women do encounter specificsecurity and safety issues at ADFA. Acknowledging this reality does not detract from the fact that safetyis an issue for all personnel, but it is a necessary first step towards addressing the issues that do existfor women. A series of unacceptable behaviour surveys have shown that proportionately, women aremore likely than men to experience unacceptable behaviour at ADFA, and the 2012 UnacceptableBehaviour Survey has indicated that women (45.3%) were more than twice as likely as men (19.8%)to experience unacceptable behaviour in the residential accommodation. 52 The 2012 UnacceptableBehaviour Survey also indicated the person-related harassment, bullying, discrimination, and crudebehaviour were notable issues in the residential accommodation. 53 ADFA could use these results as auseful tool for developing a set of principles addressing women’s security and safety in the residentialaccommodation.ConclusionADFA has made an attempt to address Recommendation 19 by commissioning a CPTED, but theCPTED was not designed to conduct the type of assessment envisaged in the Recommendation.The CPTED does not adequately address possible threats from within ADFA (for example, in theaccommodation) and is essentially a gender blind instrument. The Audit therefore restates the Review’sRecommendation to conduct a risk assessment of the residential accommodation, including bathrooms(Recommendation 19).The Audit also suggests that the views and ideas of the undergraduates be engaged, perhaps at theDivisional level, to identify risks and develop strategies to address these. This could be done by buildingon some of the work already undertaken in YOFT and AMET regarding values, ethical leadership, equityand diversity and unacceptable behaviour. 54The RSO scheme has been one of the most obvious and visible aspects of change at ADFA over thepast year. It has been a net positive, and generally well received by both staff and undergraduates.Funding and attraction are two issues which threatened the ongoing viability of the scheme, and ADFAmust continue to work towards addressing these. For example, positive performance assessmentreviews or developmental opportunities on account of the RSO experience could help make the schememore attractive.There have been mixed results in the way that Recommendation 21 has been approached.ADFA has investigated options for more accommodation for Divisional staff, and opportunities forgreater interaction between undergraduates and staff in the residential accommodation. While areorganisation was not possible, and no more facilities are available in the short term, ADFA has pointedto the RSO scheme as a conduit for greater interaction between undergraduates and staff. ADFA shouldexplore how RSOs might best achieve this outcome, and allocate resources or training accordingly.A set of principles addressing women’s security and safety and promoting the better engagementbetween staff and undergraduates in the residential setting has not been drafted. There appears to be abelief that such a document should be drafted closer to the time of the next rebuild. Such a documentis worthy in its own right now, and should be drafted with the input and engagement of undergraduatesand circulated as soon as possible. The Audit therefore restates the Review’s Recommendation todevelop a set of principles addressing women’s security and safety (Recommendation 21 c)).88