This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Sexual and romantic relationships between PhD students and their academic mentors should be banned because the “genuine power imbalance” in the relationships makes students vulnerable to exploitation, the universities’ peak body has said.

Guidelines are being introduced that would require PhD supervisors to replace themselves if their relationship with someone they are mentoring goes beyond learning and research.

Universities Australia released the framework on Wednesday, the first anniversary of the Respect Now Always campaign against sexual violence and harassment.

“We understand when you’re a post-grad student doing a thesis there is a genuine power imbalance with your supervisor,” Universities Australia’s chief executive, Catriona Jackson, said.

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“It’s just not appropriate to have a romantic or sexual relationship.”

The guidelines warn that the unequal power dynamic could make students vulnerable to exploitation and call on universities to take immediate action to investigate complaints.

“A student’s academic progress must never depend on consenting to a sexual relationship with their supervisor or a member of staff,” the guidelines say.

Labor’s education spokeswoman, Tanya Plibersek, said it was “extraordinary” there was not already a formal policy in place.

“It’s a sensible thing to clarify it, although it amazes me that it hasn’t been clear to people,” she told the ABC.

Jackson said a lot of universities had been on the front foot on the issue and the policy was in response to that, rather than a specific incident or concern.

The guidelines would require universities’ policies for staff members to remove themselves from supervisory, teaching or assessment roles involving students with whom they are in a relationship, and a policy to determine alternative arrangements.

They suggest co-supervisory arrangements or a panel of supervisors working with each student could mitigate the risk when the prospect of finding another specialist in a highly specialised or niche field is low.





