The Albanese Labor Government has today introduced legislation to establish a mandatory ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence.
Not enough has been done to address sexual assault and sexual harassment in our universities, and for too long, students haven’t been heard.
The 2021 ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Student Safety Survey shows one in 20 students have been sexually assaulted since they started university and one in six have been sexually harassed. One in two have felt like they weren’t heard when they made a complaint.
That’s why the Albanese Labor Government is taking action.
We have established the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Student Ombudsman which has started its work to hear from students, investigate complaints and resolve disputes with universities.
Now we take the next step, by establishing this ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Code to strengthen the work of the Ombudsman.
For the first time, the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Code will set standards and requirements that all higher education providers must meet to make students and staff safer, including in student accommodation.
The ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Code will introduce accountability at the highest level, drive cultural change, and make sure staff are adequately trained to support victim-survivors.
Under the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Code, universities must comply with the recommendations of the Student Ombudsman.
Universities’ compliance with the obligations in the Code will be monitored and enforced through a range of compliance powers, with serious penalties for non-compliance.
The ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Code has been developed in consultation with victim-survivor advocates, students, the higher education sector, gender-based violence experts, states and territories and relevant Australian Government agencies.
Addressing sexual assault and sexual harassment in universities was one of five priority actions from the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report.
The ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Code and Student Ombudsman are key measures of the Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education, agreed by Education Ministers in February 2024.
The Action Plan will contribute to the work to end gender-based violence in one generation as outlined in the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“Not enough has been done to address sexual violence in our universities and for too long students haven’t been heard.
“Universities aren’t just places where people work and study, they are also places where people live, and we need to ensure they are safe.
“That’s why the Albanese Labor Government has listened to students and survivors and are taking action.
“We’ve established a ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Student Ombudsman so when the worst does happen, students have somewhere to go if they don’t feel heard. That’s the first step.
“We also need to take steps to stop sexual violence from happening in the first place.
“And when the worst does happen, staff and students should get the response and support they deserve, every time.
“The new ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Code will give the Student Ombudsman real teeth to hold providers to account and drive long overdue cultural change in universities.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth:
“Gender-based violence is unacceptable in any form and we must all work together to stamp it out.
“Young people and all students on campus deserve to feel safe and I’m so pleased our Government is taking action.
“No one should feel unsafe or not heard when they make a complaint.
“Ending gender-based violence and sexual violence is everyone’s responsibility.”
