Appendix E – 2011 ADFA Unacceptable Behaviour Survey Results
The following tables present survey results from the 2011 Unacceptable Behaviour Survey that are relevant to the Review. A total of 599 cadets completed the survey, however, the below figures do not always total 599 (or 100% for proportional items). This is due to incomplete responses, instances where respondents skipped questions, and rounding.
The tables and figures cited below are taken from DSPPR Report 5/2011 and supplementary data supplied to the Review, and use the baseline figures quoted by the DSPPR. Items which contained minimal and possibly identifying data are not included.
DSPPR Report 5/2011 works from an assumption that there are currently 972 cadets at ADFA, which differs from other figures provided to the Review and cited in Appendix A.
Table 1 – Response rates by year and gender
Table 1 indicates year and gender of respondents.
| Year | Total Male Cadets | Male respondents (number) | Male respondents (percent) | Total Female Cadets | Female respondents (number) | Female respondents (percent) |
| First |
272
|
155
|
57.0
|
75
|
55
|
73.3
|
| Second |
218
|
123
|
56.4
|
70
|
52
|
74.3
|
| Third |
219
|
151
|
68.9
|
54
|
37
|
68.5
|
| Fourth |
47
|
18
|
38.3
|
25
|
3
|
12.0
|
Table 2 – Response rates by Service
Table 2 indicates Service of respondents. It does not include information about the small number of foreign service cadets who took the survey.
| Service | Total Male Cadets | Male respondents (number) | Male respondents (percent) | Total Female Cadets | Female respondents (number) | Female respondents (percent) |
| Navy |
102
|
69
|
67.6
|
51
|
38
|
74.5
|
| Army |
379
|
212
|
55.9
|
84
|
60
|
71.4
|
| Air Force |
243
|
162
|
66.7
|
74
|
47
|
63.5
|
Table 3 – Experiences of gender and sex-related behaviours by gender
Table 3 shows the percentage of female and male cadets who reported experiencing each SEQ behaviour at least once during the previous 12 months. The behaviours are grouped according to the types of unacceptable behaviours.
| SEQ Survey Item | Female percent (at least once) | Male percent (at least one) |
| Sexist Behaviours | ||
| e. Treated you differently because of your gender (eg. Mistreated, slighted or offended you)? |
34.0
|
5.9
|
| i. Made offensive sexist remarks (eg. Suggesting people of your gender are not suited to the kind of work that you do)? |
31.9
|
9.0
|
| k. Put you down or was condescending to you because of your gender? |
25.2
|
1.4
|
| Crude/Offensive Behaviours | ||
| a. Repeatedly told sexual stories or offensive jokes? |
72.9
|
65.0
|
| c. Made unwelcome attempts to draw you into a discussion of sexual matters (for example, attempts to discuss/comment on your sex life)? |
37.6
|
23.5
|
| d. Made crude and offensive sexual remarks either publicly (eg. In your workplace) or to you privately? |
34.0
|
29.4
|
| f. Made offensive remarks about your appearance, body or sexual activities? |
22.2
|
14.6
|
| h. Displayed, used or distributed sexist or suggestive materials (eg. Pictures, stories, pornography, email)? |
13.9
|
19.9
|
| b. Whistled, called or hooted at you in a sexual way? |
40.3
|
15.0
|
| l. Stared, leered or ogled at you in a way that made you feel uncomfortable |
22.2
|
2.9
|
| g. Made gestures or used body language of a sexual nature? |
18.1
|
21.3
|
| m. Exposed themselves physically (eg. ‘mooned’ you) in a way that embarrassed you or made you feel uncomfortable? |
9.0
|
8.1
|
| Unwanted Sexual Attention/Seduction | ||
| r. Made unwanted attempts to stroke, fondle or kiss you? |
6.3
|
4.5
|
| n. Continued to ask you for dates, drinks, dinner etc., even though you have said ‘no’? |
13.9
|
2.4
|
| j. Made unwanted attempts to establish a romantic sexual relationship with you despite your efforts to discourage it? |
19.4
|
4.5
|
| q. Touched you in a way that made you feel uncomfortable? |
6.9
|
3.6
|
| Sexual Bribery/Threat (Quid Pro Quo) | ||
| o. Made you feel you were being bribed with some sort of reward or special treatment to engage in sexual behaviour? |
2.1
|
0.7
|
| s. Treated you badly for refusing to have sex? |
4.3
|
1.9
|
| p. Made you feel threatened with some sort of retaliation for not being sexually cooperative (eg. By mentioning an assessment)? |
2.1
|
1.2
|
| t. Implied better treatment if you were sexually cooperative? |
2.8
|
1.2
|
| u. Made you afraid you would be treated poorly if you did not cooperate sexually? |
2.8
|
0.5
|
| Sexual Assault | ||
| v. Made unwanted attempts to have sex with you that resulted in you pleading, crying or physically struggling? |
2.1
|
0.2
|
| w. Had sex with you without your consent or against your will? |
2.1
|
0.2
|
Table 4 – General Harassment and Discrimination Experiences, relevant items with a statistically significant gender difference
Table 4 shows the percentage of female and male cadets who reported experiencing the general harassment and discrimination items quoted in the body of the Review report. These are the items that returned a statistically significant gender difference in response with relevance to the Review.
| General Harassment and Discrimination Experiences | Female percent (at least once) | Male percent (at least one) |
| c. Spread malicious rumours or public statements of a derogatory nature about you or another person? |
55.5
|
12.2
|
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of...Your medical status (eg. Being on a chit/restrictions)? |
45.5
|
17.9
|
| f. Excluded you from normal conversation or workplace activities and work-related social activities? |
21.9
|
12.2
|
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of...An impairment, medical condition or disability? |
11.7
|
5.6
|
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of...Your pregnancy or potential pregnancy? |
3.4
|
n/a
|
Table 5 – Aggregated general harassment and discrimination experiences
Table 5 shows the aggregated results for general harassment and discrimination experiences, including the percentage of those who found each experienced behaviour to be ‘unacceptable.’
| General Harassment and Discrimination Experiences | Never (percent) | At least once (percent) | Unacceptable (percent) | ||
| a. Made insulting comments about your physical characteristics, abilities or mannerisms? |
33.2
|
66.8
|
13.3
|
||
| b. Made negative or unnecessary comments about your work or capacity for work? |
54.3
|
45.7
|
16.8
|
||
| c. Spread malicious rumours or public statements of a derogatory nature about you or another person? |
57.6
|
42.4
|
51.6
|
||
| d. Interfered with your workspace, work materials, equipment or property? |
68.5
|
31.5
|
16.6
|
||
| e. Deliberately failed to pass on important information? |
81.4
|
18.6
|
35.5
|
||
| f. Excluded you from normal conversation or workplace activities and work-related social activities? |
85.5
|
14.5
|
19.8
|
||
| g. Subjected you to offensive racist remarks? |
87.9
|
12.1
|
20.8
|
||
| h. Subjected you to persistent teasing? |
81.6
|
18.4
|
18.3
|
||
| i. Physically bullied, assaulted or threatened you with violence? |
92.3
|
7.7
|
26.1
|
||
| j. Displayed intimidating behaviours such as finger pointing, invasion of personal space, shoving, barring the way? |
83.0
|
17.0
|
10.9
|
||
| k. Forced or coerced you to participate in unofficial initiation ceremonies? |
94.6
|
5.4
|
3.1
|
||
| l. Abused their authority or issued inappropriate orders? |
90.2
|
9.8
|
44.8
|
||
| m. Applied favouritism in the allocation of work? |
74.4
|
25.6
|
29.8
|
||
| n. Ordered you to undertake their personal tasks? |
95.3
|
4.7
|
17.9
|
||
| o. Shouted at you or subjected you to spontaneous anger or rage? |
63.7
|
36.3
|
18.2
|
||
| p. Publicly expressed or displayed affection or intimacy in the workplace? |
77.9
|
22.1
|
19.2
|
||
| q. Overloaded you with work or required work to be done without sufficient time to do it? |
66.4
|
33.6
|
12.6
|
||
| r. Forced or coerced you to work excessive hours per week on a regular basis? |
82.1
|
17.9
|
16.2
|
||
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of your skin colour? |
95.0
|
5.0
|
17.2
|
||
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of your religion? |
93.3
|
6.7
|
23.1
|
||
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of your age? |
90.2
|
9.8
|
12.3
|
||
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of your political opinion? |
92.5
|
7.5
|
16.3
|
||
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of an impairment, medical condition or disability? |
92.9
|
7.1
|
29.3
|
||
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of your nationality or national ethnic extraction? |
92.9
|
7.1
|
14.6
|
||
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of your marital status? |
98.4
|
1.6
|
22.2
|
||
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of your pregnancy or potential pregnancy? |
99.0
|
1.0
|
16.7
|
||
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of your family responsibilities? |
98.6
|
1.4
|
37.5
|
||
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of your sexual orientation? |
95.1
|
4.9
|
10.7
|
||
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of being a non/light drinker? |
83.5
|
16.5
|
17.9
|
||
| s.[...] Treated you differently, victimised you or harassed you because of your medical status (eg Being on a chit/restrictions)? |
75.0
|
25.0
|
28.5
|
||
Table 6 – Opinions on Unacceptable Behaviour, items with a statistically significant gender difference
Table 6 shows the gender disaggregated percentage of cadets’ opinions on unacceptable behaviour where the results indicated a statistically significant gender difference.
| Opinions on Unacceptable Behaviour | Female percent (agree/to some extent) | Male percent (agree/to some extent) |
| Women should not be restricted from any specialties from which they can qualify |
66.7
|
46.8
|
| Men have an advantage over women when it comes to having a successful military career |
31.3
|
19.6
|
| Men and women have equal opportunities for promotion in my Service |
68.0
|
78.1
|
| Work groups whose members are all the same sex generally work together more effectively |
9.5
|
29.5
|
| Extent subjected to unacceptable behaviour within the last twelve months |
38.8 (at least to some extent)
|
23.0 (at least to some extent)
|
Table 7 – Opinions on unacceptable behaviour, percentage
Table 7 shows the full aggregated responses to the opinions on unacceptable behaviour. This table shows several instances of high neutral responses noted in the text, indicating a high level of ambiguity about some of these items. The percentages quoted may not tally to 100% due to rounding.
| Opinions on Unacceptable Behaviour | Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neutral | Agree | Strongly Agree |
| People at ADFA who harass others usually get away with it |
23.0
|
47.8
|
16.3
|
11.9
|
1.0
|
| Unacceptable behaviour is not tolerated at ADFA |
1.5
|
4.3
|
5.2
|
47.5
|
41.5
|
| Actions are being taken at ADFA to prevent unacceptable behaviour |
0.7
|
2.3
|
5.9
|
50.1
|
41.0
|
| It wouldn’t be worth complaining about unacceptable behaviour here because nothing would be done about it |
53.9
|
37.7
|
5.4
|
2.7
|
0.3
|
| If you complained about unacceptable behaviour here you would labelled a trouble-maker |
31.2
|
41.9
|
17.3
|
8.7
|
1.0
|
| My DO has clearly indicated unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated here |
1.5
|
2.0
|
4.5
|
34.8
|
57.2
|
| My CO/OC has clearly indicated unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated here |
1.5
|
0.8
|
4.5
|
32.0
|
61.1
|
| Too much attention is being paid to unacceptable behaviour |
5.4
|
24.0
|
36.5
|
20.3
|
13.9
|
| Much of what is labelled unacceptable behaviour is actually a misunderstanding |
4.0
|
34.8
|
38.6
|
23.2
|
9.4
|
| Women should not be restricted from any specialities for which they can qualify |
11.1
|
28.3
|
28.4
|
18.2
|
4.3
|
| Men have an advantage over women when it comes to having a successful military career |
20.7
|
28.3
|
28.4
|
18.2
|
4.3
|
| Work groups whose members are all the same sex generally work together more effectively |
15.1
|
28.8
|
31.8
|
16.4
|
8.0
|
| Men and women have equal opportunities for promotion in my Service |
1.5
|
5.4
|
17.4
|
45.8
|
29.9
|
| Don’t Know | Not at All | Small Extent | Moderate Extent | Large Extent | |
| Extent subjected to unacceptable behaviour within the last twelve months |
1.2
|
71.8
|
23.8
|
2.7
|
0.5
|
| Extent peers are committed to preventing and stopping unacceptable behaviour |
4.5
|
3.9
|
16.7
|
47.6
|
27.3
|
| Extent DO is committed to preventing and stopping unacceptable behaviour |
4.7
|
1.2
|
5.6
|
26.5
|
62.1
|
| Extent CO/OC is committed to preventing and stopping unacceptable behaviour |
4.9
|
0.8
|
3.4
|
23.4
|
67.5
|
| Extent senior leadership at ADFA are committed to preventing and stopping unacceptable behaviour |
2.9
|
0.8
|
1.2
|
18.5
|
76.6
|
| Extent the policy of zero tolerance of unacceptable behaviour is practiced at ADFA |
3.9
|
1.9
|
10.1
|
40.1
|
44.0
|
| Extent likely to report unacceptable behaviour if it happens in the future |
2.7
|
3.2
|
15.7
|
40.8
|
37.6
|
| Extent of confidence that a complaint of unacceptable behaviour would be handled appropriately |
2.0
|
2.7
|
5.9
|
34.1
|
55.3
|
| Extent of confidence that a complaint about unacceptable behaviour would be satisfactorily resolved |
3.0
|
2.5
|
9.0
|
42.9
|
42.6
|
Table 8 – Category of unwanted behaviour
Table 8 shows the way that cadets who reported experiencing an unacceptable behaviour categorised the most serious incident that they had experienced. Women were more likely to nominate ‘gender harassment’, and men were more likely to nominate ‘other’.
| Category of Unacceptable Behaviour |
Percent Gender
|
Percent of Total | |
| Male | Female | ||
| Sexual offence |
3.5%
|
7.7%
|
5.3%
|
| Sexual harassment |
7.1%
|
10.8%
|
8.7%
|
| Gender harassment |
1.2%
|
24.6%
|
11.3%
|
| Harassment |
15.3%
|
4.6%
|
10.7%
|
| Discrimination |
12.9%
|
20.0%
|
16.0%
|
| Abuse of power |
11.8%
|
7.7%
|
10.0%
|
| Inappropriate workplace relationship |
11.8%
|
4.6%
|
8.7%
|
| Workplace bullying |
17.6%
|
12.3%
|
15.3%
|
| Other |
18.8%
|
7.7%
|
14.0%
|
Table 9 – Nature of unacceptable behaviour
Table 9 indicates the nature and impact of the behaviour experienced. Respondents were more likely to find the behaviours annoying than frightening, however the range of listed responses were recorded across the spectrum of severity.
| To what extent was the behaviour... | Not at all (percent) | Slightly (percent) | Moderately (percent) | Very (percent) | Extremely (percent) |
| Annoying |
12.4
|
26.9
|
23.4
|
25.5
|
11.7
|
| Offensive |
30.1
|
27.3
|
28.7
|
9.1
|
4.9
|
| Disturbing |
53.5
|
25.7
|
12.5
|
3.5
|
4.9
|
| Threatening |
76.4
|
15.3
|
5.6
|
1.4
|
1.4
|
| Embarrassing |
49.0
|
22.1
|
14.5
|
9.7
|
4.8
|
| Frightening |
85.3
|
8.4
|
1.4
|
2.8
|
2.1
|
Table 10 – Frequency and length of unacceptable behaviour experienced
Table 10 indicates the frequency and length of the unacceptable behaviour experienced, disaggregated by gender.
| Survey Item | Response option |
Percent Gender
|
Percent of Total | |
| Male | Female | |||
| How often did the behaviour occur | Once |
36.4%
|
41.0%
|
38.8%
|
| Once a month or less |
28.6%
|
27.9%
|
28.1%
|
|
| Two to four times a month |
22.1%
|
19.7%
|
20.9%
|
|
| Every few days |
11.7%
|
9.8%
|
10.8%
|
|
| Every day |
1.3%
|
1.6%
|
1.4%
|
|
| Total |
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
|
| How long did the behaviour last [figures sic] | Less than a week |
54.1%
|
54.1%
|
54.4%
|
| One to four weeks |
16.2%
|
27.9%
|
21.3%
|
|
| One to six month |
14.9%
|
9.8%
|
12.5%
|
|
| More than six months |
14.9%
|
8.2%
|
11.8%
|
|
| Total |
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
|
Table 11 – Those responsible for unacceptable behaviour experience
Table 11 indicates the demographics of those responsible for the unwanted behaviours, as reported by respondents. Those responsible were more likely to be part of a group, male, and the same age and rank as the respondent.
| Survey Item | Response option | Percent Gender | Percent of Total | |
| Male | Female | |||
| How many people responsible | One person |
46.8%
|
37.7%
|
43.2%
|
| More than one person |
53.2%
|
63.2%
|
56.8%
|
|
| Total |
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
|
| Gender of person(s) responsible | Male(s) |
55.8%
|
72.1%
|
63.3%
|
| Female(s) |
9.1%
|
4.9%
|
7.2%
|
|
| Male(s) and Female(s) |
35.1%
|
23.0%
|
29.5%
|
|
| Total |
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
|
| Age of person(s) responsible | Younger than you |
11.7%
|
9.8%
|
10.8%
|
| About your age |
41.6%
|
47.5%
|
43.9%
|
|
| Older than you |
21.1%
|
19.7%
|
21.6%
|
|
| Combination of the above |
24.7%
|
23.0%
|
23.7%
|
|
| Total |
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
|
| Rank of person(s) responsible | At a subordinate level/rank to you |
2.4%
|
7.7%
|
4.8%
|
| At the same level/rank to you |
69.4%
|
73.8%
|
73.8%
|
|
| At a senior level/rank to you |
17.6%
|
15.4%
|
17.9%
|
|
| Unknown |
4.7%
|
1.5%
|
3.4%
|
|
| Total |
94.1%
|
98.4%
|
99.9%
|
|
Table 12 – Location and timing of unacceptable behaviour
Table 12 shows the location and timing of the unacceptable behaviour.
| Response option |
Percent Gender
|
Percent of Total | |
| Male | Female | ||
| It all occurred at work/in training |
43.9%
|
46.6%
|
48.5%
|
| Most of it occurred at work/in training |
9.6%
|
19.0%
|
13.6%
|
| Some of it occurred at work/in training |
19.2%
|
20.7%
|
19.7%
|
| None of it occurred at work/in training |
21.9%
|
13.8%
|
18.2%
|
| Total |
100.0%
|
100.0%
|
100.0%
|
| It all occurred during duty hours |
31.0%
|
27.6%
|
30.0%
|
| Most of it occurred during duty hours |
12.7%
|
10.3%
|
11.5%
|
| Some of it occurred during duty hours |
38.0%
|
41.4%
|
39.2%
|
| None of it occurred during duty hours |
18.3%
|
20.7%
|
19.2%
|
| Total |
100.0%
|
100.0%
|
100.0%
|
| In your unit (i.e. at ADFA) |
58.8%
|
61.5%
|
48.1%
|
| On exercises away from ADFA (TDY, attachments) |
3.5%
|
4.6%
|
3.2%
|
| In a training situation or at a training establishment |
12.9%
|
13.8%
|
10.6%
|
| At a military social function |
4.7%
|
6.2%
|
4.2%
|
| In your barracks living area |
27.1%
|
32.3%
|
23.3%
|
| Off base/ashore/civilian setting |
10.6%
|
10.8%
|
8.5%
|
| None of the above |
4.7%
|
0.0%
|
2.1%
|
Table 13 – Consequences of unwanted behaviour
Table 13 shows the consequences of the unacceptable behaviour, disaggregated by gender.
| Consequence | Percent Gender | Percent of Total | |
| Male | Female | ||
| Performance suffered |
12.9%
|
6.2%
|
9.9%
|
| Was embarrassed |
20%
|
30.8%
|
24.5%
|
| Became upset |
10.6%
|
30.8%
|
19.2%
|
| Working/training became unpleasant/hostile |
9.4%
|
16.9%
|
12.6%
|
| Feelings about being in the Defence Force were negatively affected |
16.5%
|
15.4%
|
15.9%
|
| Performance evaluation unfairly lowered |
3.5%
|
3.1%
|
3.3%
|
| Relationship with workmates deteriorated |
16.5%
|
13.8%
|
15.2%
|
| Became sick |
3.5%
|
1.5%
|
2.6%
|