Uni safety body forming
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Students will soon have a new legal ally in disputes with their universities.
Parliament has passed legislation to create a National Student Ombudsman, aiming to improve accountability in higher education and provide students with a dedicated mechanism to resolve disputes.
Operating as part of the Commonwealth Ombudsman, this new role will commence on 1 February 2025 and serve as an independent body to investigate complaints and mediate disputes between students and universities.
The Ombudsman will handle concerns across a range of areas, including gender-based violence, course administration, teaching quality, and the adequacy of support for students with disabilities.
Students who feel their complaints have been inadequately addressed by their institutions will be able to escalate these matters to the Ombudsman.
The new office will also have the authority to recommend corrective actions, promote best practices in complaints handling, and work with regulators to ensure compliance across the sector.
Education Minister Jason Clare says the initiative is a step towards addressing long-standing issues in higher education.
“Not enough has been done to address sexual violence in our universities, and for too long, students have not been heard. That begins to change with the passage of this legislation,” he said.
Clare emphasised the need for universities to ensure safety for all members of their community, noting that these institutions are not just places for work and study but also where many people live.
Sarah Bendall will lead the new function, which Clare said represents a shift towards recognising students’ needs.
He also acknowledged advocates, including Sharna Bremner of End Rape on Campus, Camille Schloeffel from the STOP Campaign, and Renee Carr from Fair Agenda, for their contributions to advancing this reform.
The creation of the Ombudsman stems from the Action Plan Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Higher Education, agreed upon by Education Ministers in February 2024.
Another central feature of the plan is the proposed National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence, which will set standards for institutions in tackling these issues.
Ahead of the Ombudsman’s commencement, students can continue using existing complaint pathways through their universities or the StudyAssist website.
A model overview, outlining the Ombudsman’s operations and procedures, has also been made available.
