New ombudsman to handle anti-Semitic attacks, racism, sexual violence at universities

University students who are victims of anti-Semitic attacks, sexual violence, racism and other injustices on campus will now be able to submit their complaints to a new National Student Ombudsman.

University students who are victims of anti-Semitic attacks, sexual violence, racism and other injustices on campus will now be able to submit their complaints to a new National Student Ombudsman.

The first-of-its-kind service offers a free, independent and impartial complaints service for higher education students to address unresolved complaints.

More than 1.6 million higher education students across the country will be able to access the complaints function to escalate disputes which were not satisfactorily resolved by their university.

As a statutory authority, the National Student Ombudsman has Royal Commission-style investigative powers across a broad array of issues including student safety and welfare, racism, course administration and the effectiveness of student complaints processes.

National Student Ombudsman, Iain Anderson said it was a significant day for all university students.

“The National Student Ombudsman was created to ensure student complaints are heard. We are independent from education providers and Ministers and we consider complaints impartially,” Mr Anderson said.

Pictured are students at Sydney University. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

First Assistant Ombudsman at the National Student Ombudsman, Sarah Bendall said the NSO will use the power of individual complaints to “drive systemic improvements and greater institutional accountability across the higher education sector”.

“The NSO was recommended by all state and territory education ministers and received bipartisan support in federal parliament. It is also the first action under the National Action Plan to Address Gender Based Violence,” said Ms Bendall.

Dr Allison Henry, whose doctoral research at UNSW into campus sexual violence contributed to the establishment of the NSO, said the streamlined complaints process will be “transformative for Australian higher education students.”

“The NSO will save students from having to navigate the current confusing patchwork of complaints mechanisms and make higher education institutions more accountable,” she said.