On 23 February 2024, Education Ministers agreed to and released the Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education (the Action Plan).
The Action Plan recognises the unique role that higher education providers can and must play in driving the broader social change needed to address gender-based violence, as well as the distinct responsibilities they hold in relation to creating safe study, work, social and living environments.
The Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education
The Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education is a multi-pronged approach to create higher education communities free from gender-based violence through 7 actions:
- establishing a National Student Ombudsman
- requiring higher education providers to embed a whole‑of‑organisation approach to prevent and respond to gender-based violence
- introducing a National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence
- enhancing the oversight and accountability of student accommodation providers
- identifying opportunities to ensure legislation, regulation and policies can prioritise victim-survivor safety
- increasing data transparency and scrutiny
- regularly reviewing of progress against the Action Plan.
A draft of the Action Plan was released for public consultation on 22 November 2023 and closed on 31 January 2024.
National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence
The Australian Government has introduced legislation to Parliament to establish a mandatory National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (National Code).
The National Code will set best practice standards and requirements that higher education providers must meet to effectively prevent and respond to gender-based violence, including in student accommodation.
It will ensure the factors that drive and contribute to gender-based violence are being addressed in higher education communities, and that prevention efforts are at the forefront, to help drive the cultural change that is needed.
Education Minister Jason Clare has tabled the proposed National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence, which is subject to the passage of legislation.
National Student Ombudsman
Students are now able to escalate complaints to the National Student Ombudsman about the actions of their higher education provider.
The National Student Ombudsman is a new statutory function of the Commonwealth Ombudsman and provides an effective, trauma-informed complaints mechanism for higher education students to use when they are not satisfied by their higher education provider’s response.
The National Student Ombudsman is independent, impartial, and has powers to investigate student complaints and resolve disputes with higher education providers.