THE University of the Sunshine Coast could be one of the country's safest university campuses if new figures about sexual assault or harassment are correct.

In a statement, the university revealed "there were no reported cases of sexual assault or harassment at USC during 2015 or so far this year".

The statement was in response to a query by the Sunshine Coast Daily, as the Australian Human Rights Commission looks to conduct a nation-wide survey of university students about sexual harassment and sexual assault.

However, a source that works with victims of sexual harassment and abuse on the Coast warned that the figures may have been biased by the prevalence for sexual assault or harassment to go unreported.

The source, who did not want to be identified for professional reasons, said as few as 10% of victims made a formal report to police or authorities.

USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said: "The university has developed systems to prevent harassment, bullying and threatening behaviour, and to ensure that support services are immediately available if help is needed.

"In 2016, we are partnering with all other Australian universities in the Respect. Now.Always campaign, to ensure that everyone in the USC community is safe from sexual assault and harassment," Prof Hill said.

Roy Morgan has been contracted to conduct the AHRC's confidential online survey into the prevalence of harassment and assault on university campuses in the second half of the year.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins said: "Most importantly it will help identify the effectiveness of the universities' responses to a range of incidents, so that they can keep improving their systems."

The project is being supported by Australia's 39 universities and Universities Australia.