UNE Whole of Organisation Plan to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence
The University of New England (UNE) is committed to preventing and responding to gender-based violence wherever it is experienced by our staff and students. Everyone at UNE has a role in creating a university where we can all safely live, work, learn and socialise, free from all forms of gender-based violence, including online.
UNE has a long-standing commitment to address gender-based violence. We play an important role in modelling and shaping attitudes around gender and behaviour. The institution has implemented many measures to better protect members of our community from this form of violence and to respond to the needs of survivors.
The University acknowledges all victims and survivors who have or are still experiencing gender-based violence and recognises that our approach must be informed by their experiences and advocacy.
Against this background, UNE welcomes the introduction of the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence. The code requires Australian universities to revise their approaches to gender-based violence in line with new national guidelines.
The Government’s whole-of-sector approach to the issue is an important addition to our existing efforts and will help accelerate the momentum already underway at UNE.
The National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (National Code) is a landmark reform for the higher education sector. It sets 7 clear, legally enforceable standards that higher education providers must meet to effectively prevent and respond to gender-based violence, including in student accommodation.
This page presents the UNE Whole-of-Organisation Plan to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (the Plan) together with information about the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (the National Code), and the Department of Education GBV Regulator (the GBV Regulator).
As this crucial work progresses, 'the Plan' will evolve and is designed to meet the changing dynamics of gender-based violence within the UNE context and the community. Updated versions of ‘the Plan’ will be made available via this page.
Evidence consistently shows that gender-based violence − in particular, sexual violence and harassment − continues to occur in higher education communities at significant rates. In 2021, the National Student Safety Survey found that: Data from Diversity Council Australia found that close to 1 in 5 (18%) workers reported that they experienced sexual harassment at work in the past 12 months. A key requirement under standard one of the code states that a provider must, led by its Higher Education Principal Executive Officer, prepare, implement and publish on its website a Whole-of-Organisation Prevention and Response Plan (the Plan). The plan must contain the details as prescribed by the National Code. The University of New England's response to the National Code is presented in this Plan. The Plan presents a whole-of-organisation approach, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff. UNE's approach to gender-based violence focuses on: Our approach is guided by the University's core values to be Kind, Bold, Accountable and Connected. These values underpin every aspect of the University's prevention and response framework, from education and support services to investigation and resolution processes. The Plan has been developed through consultation with the UNE community, including students, staff and those with lived experience. It is a living document, regularly reviewed and refined based on outcomes data, community feedback and best practice developments. UNE will respond to gender-based violence wherever it is experienced by our students and staff. Our response and support is not limited by where the violence occurred, when it occurred, or whether the person who caused harm is a member of the University community. Where UNE does not hold jurisdiction to take disciplinary action, we will nonetheless provide support, safety planning and referral to the person who has experienced harm. We encourage you to read the plan and familiarise yourself with UNE’s responsibilities and support pathways. The Higher Education Gender-based Violence Regulator (GBV Regulator) holds higher education providers accountable for compliance with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (National Code). The role of the GBV Regulator is to ensure higher education providers take proactive, trauma-informed, and person-centred steps to prevent gender-based violence and respond effectively when it occurs. The GBV Regulator works with higher education providers to drive systemic reform. Through education, engagement, and enforcement, higher education providers are held accountable and are supported to effect continuous improvement across the sector and to prevent, reduce and eliminate gender-based violence. The higher education sector plays a leading role in eliminating gender-based violence in a generation. Higher education providers have a significant opportunity to promote new norms and structures to prevent gender-based violence. Providers are at the forefront of driving cultural and systemic change to prevent gender-based violence through their roles as education institutions, community hubs, large workplaces, and their connections to student accommodation providers. The GBV Regulator is dedicated to fostering long-term sustainable cultural change within the higher education sector and is committed to ensuring higher education providers create safe and supportive environments for working, living, and learning. Visit the GBV Regulator web site for more information. On 25 August 2025 the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (the National Code) was passed by Parliament and was registered as a legislative instrument on 17 October 2025. The National Code commenced on 1 January 2026 for Table A providers and Table B providers under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth) and will commence on 1 January 2027 for other providers registered under the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (Cth). The National Code aims of the National Code are reduce the incidence of Gender‑based Violence in higher education; to establish national standards and requirements for higher education providers to prevent and respond to Gender-based Violence; and to establish a regulatory framework to monitor and enforce compliance with the national standards and requirements. The National Code requires higher education providers to take a whole-of-organisation approach that is trauma-informed, person-centered and grounded in evidence. Action from providers must be led from the top and embedded across the entire organisation, through strong partnerships with students, staff, communities and experts – as well as staff and residents in student accommodation. Compliance with the National Code is mandatory, and providers may face regulatory action, including financial penalties, for non-compliance. Compliance will be monitored and enforced by the Gender-Based Violence Regulator (GBV Regulator). The National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence requires that the Provider take actions that are proportionate and safe when Gender-based Violence is experienced or engaged in by the Students or Staff of a Provider, regardless of where, or the context in which, the Gender-based Violence occurs. The National Code is a landmark reform for the higher education sector. It sets 7 clear, legally enforceable standards that higher education providers must meet to effectively prevent and respond to gender-based violence, including in student accommodation. The National Code comprises the following Standards: Standard 1: Accountable leadership and governance - Effective governance and a Whole‑of‑Organisation approach prioritises safety and support in the prevention of and response to Gender‑based Violence. Standard 2: Safe environments and systems - Higher Education Providers’ environments are safe and systems continuously improve to prevent and respond to Gender-based Violence. Standard 3: Knowledge and capability - Higher Education Providers build knowledge and capability to safely and effectively prevent and respond to Gender-based Violence. Standard 4: Safety and support - Responses and support services are safe and person-centered. Standard 5: Safe processes - All processes are safe and timely. Standard 6: Data, evidence and impact - Higher Education Providers use evidence to inform their approach, measure change and contribute to the national evidence-base. Standard 7: Safe Student Accommodation - Student accommodation is safe for all students and staff. The Australian Government's Department of Education provides a wealth of information and resources regarding the National Code including webinars and guidance materials that are publicly available.
