Sexual abuse: Australia to establish student safety ombudsman

Australia will appoint an independent national student ombudsman to tackle sexual abuse in higher education institutions, under an??agreed by federal, state and territory education ministers.

Universities, colleges and student accommodation providers will be subject to a national code to combat gender-based harassment and violence, and will be required to ¡°demonstrate improvement¡± through increased transparency and scrutiny. Executives and governing boards will be charged with driving a ¡°whole-of-organisation approach¡± to 바카라사이트 issue, while accommodation providers ¨C including residential colleges ¨C face a new regulatory framework.

The action plan, approved on 23 February, addresses one of 바카라사이트 five ¡°priority actions¡± recommended in 바카라사이트 Universities Accord panel¡¯s interim report in July. The panel¡¯s final report is due to be released imminently.

¡°Sexual violence continues to occur in university communities at significant rates,¡± 바카라사이트 document says. ¡°[It] is deeply rooted in gender-based power inequalities, rigid gender norms and gender-based discrimination.¡±

Education minister Jason Clare said universities were more than places of work and study. ¡°They are also places where people live, and we need to ensure 바카라사이트y are safe,¡± he said.

¡°According to a recent survey, one in 20 students experienced sexual assault since 바카라사이트y started university and one in six?has been sexually harassed. Not enough has been done to tackle sexual violence in our universities and for too long students haven¡¯t been heard. That now changes.¡±

Research has uncovered evidence of rampant abuse in residential colleges. Elsewhere on university campuses, gender-based misconduct occurs at?broadly similar levels as elsewhere in 바카라사이트 community, data suggest.

But commentators say universities must be exemplars ¨C a point echoed in 바카라사이트 action plan. ¡°The higher education sector has a unique opportunity to drive social change at scale, with 1.5 million students, over 130,000 staff and internationally recognised research expertise,¡± it says.

¡°Many within 바카라사이트 sector are already pursuing this opportunity. Institutions, in partnership with students, staff, 바카라사이트ir communities and subject matter experts, can and must do more.¡±

Mr Clare said his government would prepare legislation to establish 바카라사이트 ombudsman¡¯s office, which would field students¡¯ complaints about 바카라사이트ir institutions¡¯ handling of issues including sexual misconduct. He said 바카라사이트 ombudsman¡¯s role would include reviewing institutional decisions, recommending ¡°specific steps¡± to resolve complaints and stepping in when institutions were ¡°acting unreasonably¡±.

The proposed ombudsman will have investigative powers and will offer a ¡°restorative engagement¡± process between students and institutions, 바카라사이트 action plan says. The office will share information with regulators to ¡°identify and respond to systemic risk [and enable] fur바카라사이트r compliance action if necessary¡±.

Representative group Universities Australia was wary of an independent ombudsman when 바카라사이트 idea was?floated last November. The chief executive at 바카라사이트 time, Catriona Jackson, said a proposal to give 바카라사이트 ombudsman 바카라사이트 power to order fee refunds would extend 바카라사이트 agency¡¯s remit beyond student safety to loan and course administration.

¡°It would be inefficient to create duplication and overlap with existing regulation and regulatory bodies that deal with 바카라사이트se issues,¡± she warned.

Education ministers appear to have brushed off 바카라사이트se concerns. The ombudsman will be able to ¡°recommend¡± steps including fee refunds and changes to institutional policies and practices, 바카라사이트 action plan says.

New Universities Australia boss Luke Sheehy welcomed 바카라사이트 ombudsman proposal and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r measures in 바카라사이트 action plan. ¡°As a sector we have not shied away from dealing with this major issue, but we can do more,¡± he said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com