Australia Set to Create National Student Ombuds Program

A package of legislating pending in the Australian parliament will establish a new National Student Ombudsman. The program will provide students with a federal mechanism to complain about higher education providers, especially cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment on university campuses. 

A joint statement from the Education Minister and Attorney-General explained that the Ombudsman will be independent and impartial, and have strong powers to investigate student complaints and resolve disputes with higher education providers. The National Student Ombudsman is expected to begin taking complaints in February 2025. (Australian Govt Dept of Ed; The Mandarin.) 

In many respects, the plan resembles the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, the Ombudsman for university students in England and Wales. Meanwhile, the impact on existing Ombuds at Australian universities is uncertain. 

Related posts: Survey Finds Students Do Not Trust Australian University Ombuds; Report May End Australian Proposal for National Student Ombuds; Job Posting: University of Newcastle, Australia; JIOA: Proposing a Model for Ombuds Supervision; Office for the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education to Consider Group Complaints from Students