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.
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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 Parliament has passed legislation to establish a mandatory National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (National Code).
Under the National Code, higher education providers will be required to take evidence-based steps to prevent gender-based violence, including providing education and training to students and staff.
The National Code will be a legislative instrument and will enable accountability at the highest level, drive cultural change, and make sure staff can appropriately support victim-survivors.
The National Code will apply to student accommodation that a higher education provider owns and operates, controls or is affiliated with.
The National 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.