Universities of australia discourage relationships between staff and students,

Students academic careers can be affected when a sexual relationship with a lecturer turns sour.

While universities discourage relationships between staff and students, most acknowledge that they sometimes occur and have policies to manage the conflicts of interest that may arise.

"These students have a lot to lose if something goes wrong and they can not get through their degree." In a landmark Australian Human Rights Commission survey into sexual assault and harassment at universities found that postgraduate students were particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment from university staff.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations and the National Union of Students support the push for a ban on sexual relations between staff and students.

He has been contacted by postgraduate students who have ended relationships with their supervisors and then found that they have become difficult to work with.

"There's a real power imbalance." National Union of Student Presidents Sophie Johnson said academics had a duty of care for students and staff-student relationships put this at risk.

In its response to the Commission's survey, Universities Australia said it would develop guidelines for the interaction between supervisors and postgraduate students in consultation with students and academics.

Physicist Katie Mack, former postdoctoral associate at the University of Melbourne who will soon be working at North Carolina State University, said meaningful consent was impossible when a staff member had any direct influence over a student's progress.

"Staff should know that they should not pursue a relationship while their professional duties or even proximity intersect with a student," she said.