University students are being promised a safer experience with the standing up of a complaints watchdog as the inaugural ombudsman is announced.
Sarah Bendall will start as the national student ombudsman in February, coming from a background of complaints management, investigations and dispute resolutions across multiple state departments and agencies.
The watchdog was set up following a scathing report into universities that found not enough was being done to address sexual assault.
One in 20 students has been sexually assaulted at university and one in six has been sexually harassed, according to one national student survey.
Only half felt like their complaints were heard by their institution.
Students' concerns had been overlooked for too long, Education Minister Jason Clare said.
"That begins to change," he said following the passage of the laws setting up the ombudsman.
Students will have the power to escalate complaints about their universities to the watchdog if they feel their institution hasn't adequately addressed their concerns.
This includes complaints made to universities about sexual assault and harassment, racism, homophobia, anti-Semitism or Islamophobia.
The ombudsman will not look at academic judgements or employment matters.
It will have the power to recommend specific steps institutions need to take to resolve the complaint and be able to compel a person or university to provide information during its investigation.
The move has been welcomed by peak body Universities Australia.
“Our universities are committed to delivering the best experience possible for all students," chief executive Luke Sheehy said.
“Sexual harm is completely unacceptable and our sector, like every sector of Australian society, has a role to play in addressing this problem.
"That is what students deserve."
A national code for higher education institutions that will compel them to prevent and respond to gender-based violence is also being established.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
