Unprecedented response to help end silence on sexual violence
Thursdays in Black Aotearoa is pleased to announce that unprecedented success of the Thursdays in Black Students’ Survey
2016.
The Thursdays in Black Students’ Survey 2016, which was launched in October 2016, asked current and former tertiary
education students to discuss their experiences while enrolled in higher education.
The survey also aimed to identify current gaps in education for young people to inform future programmes aimed at
reducing victimisation of students in the communities where they live, work, and study.
“The number of responses to our survey has been absolutely fantastic. We knew students would welcome the opportunity to
talk about their experiences, however, the level of responses is unprecedented,” says Izzy O’Neill, National Coordinator
of Thursdays in Black.
“This survey provided students with a rare opportunity to discuss their experiences of sexual harassment and sexual
violence. Over 1400 students took us up that opportunity, a number which easily surpassed our expectations.”
“In order to ensure we do justice to those who have shared their experiences with us, we expect the report on our survey
to be released in late November 2016. We want to make sure we do this report right and will be taking time to consult
with key stakeholders in the sector before we release it.”
“Finally, I want to thank the current and former students who took part in this survey – we hear you, we support you, we
believe you. Without their responses, many of whom said they were talking about their experiences of sexual harassment
and sexual violence for the first time, this survey would not have been a success,” Ms O’Neill says.
The report on the Thursdays in Black Students’ Survey 2016 will be combined with other student research, including a
number of solution-oriented focus groups across New Zealand, to inform our work in 2017 and beyond.
To be among the first to read the Thursdays in Black Students’ Survey 2016 report, please feel free to email
survey@thursdaysinblack.org.nz and you will be added to the survey mailing list.
ENDS