University students who experience sexual assault will have a better chance of finishing their education without being forced to live alongside their rapist, with the creation of a national ombudsman.
Years of advocacy has culminated in an independent student watchdog able to force universities to the table after shocking statistics about high numbers of sexual assaults and a failure to address complaints.
One in 20 people had been sexually assaulted at university and one in six sexually harassed, according to one survey.
Universities were scorched by a report into how they handled sexual assaults, with students describing the process as worse than the assault itself.
"Recourse and justice ... looks like not dropping out of your degree because somebody sexually assaulted you," End Rape on Campus founder Sharna Bremner told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
Stop Campaign founder Camille Schloeffel attested to the "traumatic and harmful" experiences victim-survivors had with universities when reporting an assault after legislation was introduced on Wednesday to create a student ombudsman.
Students said they wished they'd never reported to their institution as it was "so much worse", the survivor-advocate said.
"The university tells them there's nothing they can do about it, so they're basically living next door and going to class with the person that violated them in the worst possible way," she said.
The independent National Student Ombudsman will be able to investigate complaints about a broad range of issues, make recommendations about what a university should do to address a concern and monitor how the institution implements its edict.
It will be able to compel information and documents, enter universities as part of an investigation and force people to provide evidence.
The sector's peak representative body Universities Australia called the ombudsman a step forward and institutions were working to ensure a safe experience.
"We can and must do better to improve the whole university experience," CEO Luke Sheehy said.
The system has failed the one in two students who said they ignored when they complained to their university, Education Minister Jason Clare said.
"That's now about to change," he told reporters in Canberra alongside the activists after introducing the legislation.
Greens senator Larissa Waters said it was reprehensible universities were "covering up the sexual assaults and harassment that happen on campus rather than seriously addressing student concerns and keeping students safe".
Penalties for universities that don't implement the ombudsman's recommendations will be covered in a national code for tertiary educators Mr Clare is set to introduce legislation for by December.
Universities would need to update policies to specify "gender-based violence is unacceptable", identify consequences for perpetrators and require ongoing prevention measures, Mr Clare said.
The ombudsman will start taking complaints from February if legislation passes parliament in time.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
