#IDeserveSafety

#IDeserveSafety Campaign

The #IDeserveSafety Campaign was launched on 2nd August 2023 by The STOP Campaign, together with End Rape On Campus Australia, Fair Agenda and the National Union of Students. The Campaign called on the Federal Government to create an independent national oversight mechanism to hold universities accountable for failing to protect students from sexual violence.

Campaign Wins!

As a result of the collective efforts of The STOP Campaign, Sharna Bremner from End Rape on Campus Australia, Dr Allison Henry and Fair Agenda, the Government announced the Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education on 23 February 2024.

The Action Plan highlights key actions that the Government will implement to create higher education communities free from gender-based violence.

National Student Ombudsman

The National Student Ombudsman is a new independent, statutory function of the Commonwealth Ombudsman. It can receive and investigate student complaints on a range of issues including gender-based violence.

Find out more about the National Student Ombudsman.

National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence

The National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence will be a set of standards that higher education providers must meet to keep students and staff safe. It is intended to strengthen accountability and ensure that institutions adopt a whole-of-organisation approach to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in higher education.

#IDeserveSafety Submission

stop campaign members and members of parliament at the I deserve safety launch campaign

The STOP Campaign’s #IDeserveSafety Submission was made to the Australian Universities Accord Panel on 10th September 2023. The #IDeserveSafety Submission provides first-hand experiences of violence and harm in Australian universities, with a particular focus on residential halls and student accommodation, and outlines recommendations for change.

Read Our Submissions

The #IDeserveSafety Submission was made to the Australian Universities Accord Panel for their Consultation on the Accord Interim Report.

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The following submission was made to the Universities Accord (National Student Ombudsman) Bill 2024 [Provisions]. You can view all other submissions to the bill here.

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Follow #IDeserveSafety in the media

"Mr Clare announced the establishment of the national student ombudsman, which will allow all higher education students to escalate complaints about the actions of their provider, including those regarding sexual assault, harassment, and violence."

Jason Clare announces student action plan to target gender based violence, including new ombudsman
"Advocates for university student sexual assault survivors have welcomed the agreement from education ministers to legislate and establish a student safety ombudsman to investigate student complaints and resolve disputes with universities."

INTERVIEW: Fair Agenda's Renee Carr on agreement to establish student safety ombudsman
"I want to thank Sharna Bremner from End Rape on Campus, Camille Schloeffel and Audrey Mims from the STOP Campaign, Renee Carr from Fair Agenda, Dr Allison Henry and all those who have fought for this."

Independent National Student Ombudsman to improve student safety
"The Action Plan prioritises the lived experience of students and victim-survivors within tertiary learning institutions, something which The STOP Campaign values very highly."

Universities to be subject to national code of conduct under reforms aimed at reducing sexual assault on campus
"These young women, these victims, survivors shouldn't have to be the ones to be brave enough to step forward, to say these things, to provoke action."

Universities accused of failing to reach benchmarks to support sexual assault victims, fuelling calls for government intervention
"Ministers were struck by presentations from students and their advocates during the meeting, with some crying as they listened to what the group had to say."

State, territory and federal governments put forward plan to curb sexual assaults at universities
"We have to get this right. Safety on campus has been talked about for long enough. The statistics are shocking."

Ministerial Statements – Universities: Physical and Sexual Harassment and Violence
"A number of institutions have refused to disclose their data on sexual violence"

Calls to update university student safety survey after fears true extent of assaults on campuses remains unknown
"I filled out an ANU form to report my sexual assault within six months of the incident, I never heard back from the ANU,"

University students detail mishandling of sexual violence complaints in submission to University Accord panelDescription goes here
"STOP received 52 responses related to various Australian universities, but one quarter of respondents reported experiences of violence and harm within or connected to the ANU in-particular."

'Unheard, invalidated and as though I was a nuisance': ANU students share fresh accounts of university's response to sexual violence
“Sexual violence on campus is widespread and systemic. The ombudsman must have real teeth, be properly resourced and have solid enforcement powers, so the failures of universities and TEQSA are not repeated."

STUDENT SAFETY OMBUDSMAN MUST HAVE TEETH
"The actions universities have taken to address this to date have not been good enough. We have the research. We have the evidence. We know the scope of the problem. We have to act."

Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Bill 2023 – Thursday 3 August 2023
"this week marks six years since a report exposed widespread sexual violence on uni campuses. What's changed?"

Audrey Mims discusses The STOP Campaign and #IDeserveSafety on Triple J Hack
"The national action plan...comes as a response to years of advocacy work by organizations such as EROC, Fair Agenda, and the STOP Campaign. These groups have tirelessly highlighted the prevalence of sexual violence within university settings and the pressing need for systemic change. "

A Bold Step Forward: Australia's National Student Ombudsman to Tackle Sexual Violence on Campus
"The Albanese Government has today introduced legislation to establish an independent National Student Ombudsman to investigate student complaints and resolve disputes with universities."

Legislation introduced to establish independent National Student Ombudsman
"Camille Schloeffel and the team at the STOP Campaign, Renee Carr from Fair Agenda, and Dr Allison Henry are here as well. In truth, they have always been here. Fighting for this day. Alongside thousands of students and staff who want a better system. Who want to be heard. Who want to feel safe. And who want action, not just more words. Well today, we act."

11 September Speech - Universities Accord (National Student Ombudsman) Bill 2024
"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."

Justice, safety for uni students as watchdog introduced
"Deputy Speaker – this Bill is long overdue. This Bill amends the Ombudsman Act 1976 to establish a National Student Ombudsman. This is a first. A dedicated, national body to handle student complaints within our higher education system."

9 October Speech - Universities Accord (National Student Ombudsman) Bill 2024

#IDeserveSafety

#IDeserveSafety Campaign

Campaign Wins!

National Student Ombudsman

National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence

#IDeserveSafety Submission

Read Our Submissions

"Mr Clare announced the establishment of the national student ombudsman, which will allow all higher education students to escalate complaints about the actions of their provider, including those regarding sexual assault, harassment, and violence."

"Advocates for university student sexual assault survivors have welcomed the agreement from education ministers to legislate and establish a student safety ombudsman to investigate student complaints and resolve disputes with universities."

"I want to thank Sharna Bremner from End Rape on Campus, Camille Schloeffel and Audrey Mims from the STOP Campaign, Renee Carr from Fair Agenda, Dr Allison Henry and all those who have fought for this."

"The Action Plan prioritises the lived experience of students and victim-survivors within tertiary learning institutions, something which The STOP Campaign values very highly."

"These young women, these victims, survivors shouldn't have to be the ones to be brave enough to step forward, to say these things, to provoke action."

"Ministers were struck by presentations from students and their advocates during the meeting, with some crying as they listened to what the group had to say."

"We have to get this right. Safety on campus has been talked about for long enough. The statistics are shocking."

"A number of institutions have refused to disclose their data on sexual violence"

"I filled out an ANU form to report my sexual assault within six months of the incident, I never heard back from the ANU,"

"STOP received 52 responses related to various Australian universities, but one quarter of respondents reported experiences of violence and harm within or connected to the ANU in-particular."

“Sexual violence on campus is widespread and systemic. The ombudsman must have real teeth, be properly resourced and have solid enforcement powers, so the failures of universities and TEQSA are not repeated."

"The actions universities have taken to address this to date have not been good enough. We have the research. We have the evidence. We know the scope of the problem. We have to act."

"this week marks six years since a report exposed widespread sexual violence on uni campuses. What's changed?"

"The national action plan...comes as a response to years of advocacy work by organizations such as EROC, Fair Agenda, and the STOP Campaign. These groups have tirelessly highlighted the prevalence of sexual violence within university settings and the pressing need for systemic change. "

"The Albanese Government has today introduced legislation to establish an independent National Student Ombudsman to investigate student complaints and resolve disputes with universities."

"Deputy Speaker – this Bill is long overdue. This Bill amends the Ombudsman Act 1976 to establish a National Student Ombudsman. This is a first. A dedicated, national body to handle student complaints within our higher education system."