The Department of Education has released an Issues Paper to guide consultation on the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence.
- Date opened
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- Date closed
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The Department sought feedback on the proposed standards and requirements, whether any additional standards needed to be considered, how to ensure the National Code aligns with education regulations and broader regulatory frameworks, and additional guidance materials needed to support providers’ implementation.
Responses closed at 5pm AEST on Friday 28 June 2024.
On 23 February 2024, Education Ministers agreed to and released the Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education.
The Government has commenced implementation of a National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (National Code) as a new form of regulation.
The National Code will set rules for higher education providers to embed a whole-of-organisation approach to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
The National Code will apply to all higher education providers registered by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.
Student accommodation providers owned and/or operated by a higher education provider must also comply with relevant sections of the National Code as part of that higher education provider’s whole-of-organisation approach.
Standalone student accommodation providers will also be required to comply with the National Code and the Australian Government is exploring options for a new regulatory framework for these providers.
The National Code will be implemented by a new expert unit in the Department of Education that will have responsibility for ensuring providers’ compliance with the National Code. The unit will also work to build the capability of providers and share best practice and emerging evidence.
The Department of Education is leading consultation on the development of the National Code.