Albanese government plans first National Student Ombudsman

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare is planning a Student Ombudsman to make sure universities protect their students from assaults in dorm rooms.

Student protest against rape on campus. Picture: STOP campaign

University students harmed on campus will be able to complain to Australia’s first National Student Ombudsman next year, under ­Albanese government plans to set up an independent watchdog to guard student safety.

The ombudsman – a stand-alone agency at arms length from universities – will adjudicate complaints about the quality of degrees, as well as failures to protect students from physical or sexual assaults on campus or in university accommodation.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare will meet with state and territory ministers on Tuesday to negotiate changes to university governance to ensure that complaints of sexual violence are properly investigated.

Mr Clare is keen on the concept of a student ombudsman – a reform that is also championed by opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson but opposed by ­universities.

“I have been clear that more needs to be done to keep students safe at university,’’ Mr Clare told The Australian.

He said a working group led by Our Watch chief executive Patty Kinnersly would brief ministers on “ways to address the serious issue of sexual assault and sexual harassment on our campuses’’.

“One idea is establishing an ­independent National Student Ombudsman,’’ he said.

“Next week, education ministers will hear from the working group on what those measures may look like to strengthen the safety of students,” the minister added. All universities apart from the Australian National University are governed by state and territory legislation, which may need to be changed to establish a national ombudsman.

Currently, students must lodge complaints with their own university, although the federal government’s Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency has the power to investigate systemic issues common to the sector.

Education ministers will discuss what enforcement powers to grant the new ombudsman.

TEQSA has failed to launch formal investigations into any of the 39 complaints it has received about how universities have handled sexual violence incidents since 2017.

The watchdog has spent the past six months revising its “good practice note’’ on preventing and responding to sexual assault and harassment in higher education.

It is pushing for a standalone ombudsman to field complaints from individual students.

TEQSA has told the federal government’s Universities Accord review of higher education that it is important to protect student interests through a “simple and easily accessible mechanism by which all students can resolve disputes with their provider’’.

“TEQSA supports the proposed establishment of a student ombudsman to provide this mechanism,’’ it states in its submission to the accord review.

“Regulatory protection of student wellbeing and safety should be strengthened and pathways for students’ individual dispute resolution should be established.’’

The Stop Campaign – a grassroots organisation of university students and alumni campaigning against sexual violence – is demanding a national independent body to oversee and monitor the operation of universities, residential halls and student accommodation to protect student welfare.

It told the accord review that 275 students are sexually assaulted at universities every week, based on the most recent National Student Safety Survey.

“The findings reveal that victim survivors were failed by universities, with almost half of respondents detailing their experience of being dismissed or met with insensitive responses when disclosing to their university or residence,’’ its submission states.

National Union of Students president Bailey Riley said some universities were sweeping complaints under the carpet. “There definitely needs to be an organisation separate from universities to make a complaint,’’ she said.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000