New independent regulator to protect students at Australian universities

CANBERRA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) — New government legislation will establish a new independent regulator to ensure student safety at Australian universities.

Education Minister Jason Clare introduced a bill to Parliament on Wednesday to establish a national student ombudsman to investigate student complaints against universities and resolve disputes.

The independent regulator will give all students the opportunity to complain about the actions of their higher education provider and will have extensive investigative powers to compel universities or students to hand over documents, information and other records.

The new body is part of the Action Plan to Combat Gender-Based Violence on University Campuses, which was agreed by federal, state and territory education ministers in early 2024.

The 2021 National Student Survey found that one in twenty Australian students have been sexually assaulted and one in six have been sexually harassed at university, with 50 percent of respondents saying they felt they were not heard when making an official complaint.