Address to University Colleges Australia National Forum

I’d like to start by acknowledging the traditional custodians on the land on which this forum takes place and I pay my respects to elders past and present.

I’d also like to thank the President of University Colleges Australia, Lisa Sutherland for inviting me to speak.

I’m sorry I can’t be there in person but I’m grateful for the opportunity today to talk about the work we have to do together to make our universities and our colleges safer places to work, study and live.

Living and studying at a residential college can be a wonderful experience for so many students.

You are stewards of institutions that play a pivotal role in shaping lives.

Places where students learn, grow and make friendships that last a lifetime.

This is a formative stage in their lives, when these students are often away from home for the first time.

Making sure their experience is safe and supportive and everything they hope for and dream about when they first apply, that is a responsibility I know you all treat with the utmost seriousness and care. 

Last month we passed legislation to introduce a mandatory code to prevent and respond to sexual violence at universities.

I was pretty blunt on why we needed this.

For too long, universities had let students down.

The results of the 2021 National Student Safety Survey were pretty bracing.

You’ve heard these statistics before. Statistics that I’ll keep repeating because they’re too serious to be forgotten.

One in 20 university students reported being sexually assaulted on campus.

One in six reported being sexually harassed.

One in two reported that they felt they weren’t being heard when they made a complaint.

A lot of those experiences, a lot of what students reported, happened in residential colleges.

I know how sickening this was for leaders of colleges.

You acknowledged this. You committed to do better. 

Since then you’ve done a lot of work individually and collectively.

I want to acknowledge that.

Many of you have brought in experts to review your cultures and advise on change.

You have implemented new and better reporting practices.

And more support for students who make reports of harassment and assault.

But there is more to do.

Students, like everyone else, have a right to feel safe in their own home.

We need to make sure there is consistency across campuses and that every student – every student – gets the support and protection they need and deserve.

That’s why the proposed Code has specific requirements to help ensure that all student accommodation is safe for students.

That’s Standard 7 of the Code, which will come into effect from January 1st next year,

It will mean colleges need to have a prevention and response plan that is regularly monitored and updated.

A plan that is developed and tailored to each college’s environment.

Colleges will need to provide students and staff with meaningful education on preventing and responding to gender-based violence.

And they will need to make sure every member of the college community has access to the best response and support possible if they do report an incident.

I know many of the measures in the code, you will already have implemented through the work you’ve already done.

And I want to thank you for the contributions you made to the consultation on the Code.

We won’t leave you on your own in this.

To help universities and colleges implement the code, I’ve set up a specialist unit in my department to provide guidance, education and advice.

The Code is the next step we have taken to make campuses safer after setting up the National Student Ombudsman earlier this year.

As you’re aware, this free and independent service is providing an avenue for students to resolve complaints with higher education providers.

All while prioritising students’ safety and confidentiality.

It’s about making sure their voices are heard.

Across this forum you will be discussing the contribution that residential colleges make to student life and success.

And I know a big part of that for you is also making sure your students’ voices are heard.

I thank you for your dedication to this work to stamp out gender-based violence on campuses.

And I wish you all the best for the rest of the Forum.