Business owner: Student Engagement and Education Management
Background
In 2025, the Australian Government introduced the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence (NCGBV), a legally enforceable framework, setting requirements for all higher education providers. Further information about the creation of the NCGBV is available on the Department of Education’s website.
The NCGBV:
- came into effect on 1 January 2026;
- mandates a Whole-of-Organisation approach to trauma informed, culturally safe and evidence-based practice;
- requires universities to strengthen prevention, response, governance and reporting systems;
- establishes non-delegable responsibilities for the Vice-Chancellor as “Higher Education Principal Executive Officer”.
To meet these requirements and establish areas for best-practice leadership, ANU has established the NCGBV Implementation Project.
About the project:
To ensure the University meets the requirements of the NCGBV, ANU has established the NCGBV Implementation Project - a whole-of-university initiative to review and monitor the University’s compliance across prevention, response, governance and culture-setting activities.
Following a gap analysis, the University has established an implementation approach across 19 core areas of action and commenced work on all items of compliance with an aim to deliver best practice. The project is scheduled to run until January 2027.
The NCGBV establishes responsibilities for the University, residential and non-residential affiliates, contractors, vendors and organisations operating on University land or facilities, that receive SSAF or use the University’s intellectual property in its name, communications materials or similar. Prevention and response to Gender-based violence is a community-wide responsibility and everyone has a role to play – including individual staff and students.
If you are interested in receiving direct updates about this project, or to participate in consultation about Gender-based Violence, Equity and Safety and Wellbeing at ANU please sign up to the contact list.
Current Feedback Opportunities
Student Code of Conduct
The Student Code of Conduct has been updated to respond to University community feedback received through the 2025 Student Discipline Framework Review, strengthen clarity, improve alignment with ANU values, and ensure compliance with emerging national requirements, particularly those relating to the prevention of gender-based violence. It has been reorganised to improve readability for students, reinforce expectations, and ensure clear linkages to the Student Discipline Framework. The next review is scheduled for late 2026.
Feedback will be open until 30 November 2026. All input as to how the Student Code of Conduct functions or any gaps and improvements that require further action is welcomed through the survey.
Information Sessions:
The University will host information sessions across 2026 for students, staff, and the broader ANU community. These sessions will explain the NCGBV, outline the University’s implementation activities, and outline upcoming opportunities for community input.
Session details will be published on this page when available. If you wish to receive updates directly, join the contact list.
Phases
The NCGBV Implementation Project comprises three core phases:
Phase 1 – Gap Analysis and Scoping (2025 – Complete)
A whole-of-institution wide assessment of the University’s existing systems, policies and supports in relation to the NCGBV.
Establishment of project scope and mapping against other concurrent work including the Nixon Review and Student Discipline Framework Review. This work identified 19 priority reform areas.
Phase 2 – Implementation (January 2026– January 2027 - Underway)
Delivery of the 19 core project areas, covering prevention, reporting, case management, training, policy updates, external reporting and governance arrangements.
Confirmation of resources, policy and ways of working, and documentation of how the University achieves compliance.
Phase 3 – Handover (complete by June 2027 – Planned)
Identification of ongoing responsible owners with the University for oversight, consolidation and ongoing refinement of systems, policies and processes to ensure sustainable long-term compliance, improved transparency, and ongoing cultural change across the University.
FAQ
Definitions of Disclosure and Report
A disclosure refers to telling someone in the ANU community about an incident of sexual misconduct that you have experienced or observed. It is not a report for the pursuit of disciplinary action; rather it is the best way to access information, support and resources. Information for staff making a disclosure is available here, and information for students making a disclosure is available here.
A report refers to a formal complaint made to the University about an incident of sexual misconduct for investigation in accordance with the Discipline rule for students. Information for staff and students on making a report is available here.
The University supports anonymous disclosures as well as identified disclosures.
Where any information is received that suggests an imminent risk to someone’s physical safety the University may need to take reasonable and proportionate steps to respond to the risk and support our community’s safety. This may include engaging with emergency services or other appropriate authorities where required.
What should I do if a student or staff member discloses something to me?
When receiving the disclosure, the University has an obligation to provide trauma-informed support, manage risks for individuals and the community, and ensure appropriately skilled staff coordinate any response.
If a student or staff member discloses an experience of gender-based violence to you, you should:
- Be transparent about the limits of confidentiality at the outset, so the student or staff member understands how their information may be used, including circumstances where information may need to be shared to manage serious or imminent risk to safety, for example, contacting emergency services or ANU Security.
- Focus on the discloser’s immediate safety and support needs. If the student or staff member is in immediate risk call 000 and, if on campus, inform ANUSecurity on 6125 2249 that emergency services will be attending campus.
- If there is no immediate risk, provide the student or staff member information on services that can support them. At the ANU, Student Safety and Wellbeing supports students, and Staff Respect Consultants support staff. Both services can be accessed through the University’s Disclosure Tool. Students also have access to a 24/7 ANU Wellbeing Line: Telephone: 1300 050 0327 or SMS: 0488 884 170.
- Collect only the information necessary to ensure you understand what support the discloser needs and to minimise likelihood of the discloser needing to repeat the same information to others.
Remember, your responsibility is to support immediate safety and to provide the student or staff member with clear information about available support options, such as the Disclosure Tool or the 24/7 ANU Wellbeing Line. It is not your role to investigate the incident, to question the person in detail, or to pressure them into accessing support or to share information without their knowledge or consent, except where there is an imminent risk of harm. In those circumstances, the individual should be informed of your intention to share information and the reasons for doing so.
Information on supporting students in distress can be found here. Information on recognising and responding to staff in distress can be found here and additional supports here. Information on responding to a disclosure related to sexual harassment and sexual assault can be found here.
What support does ANU offer staff after receiving a disclosure?
Receiving a disclosure can be distressing. Make sure you access ANU supports to protect your wellbeing. For staff, this may include free and confidential counselling provided by the Advisor to Staff or Employee Assistance Programs.
Do I need to undertake training?
Yes. As part of the University’s commitment to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in the ANU community, training will be mandatory for all staff and students. All cohorts will be required to complete gender-based violence awareness training delivered through Rights, Relationships and Respect (RRR) modules, and some cohorts will be required to do additional training.
ANU also offers a range of more in-depth training options to our community, which you can view and sign up for here.
What can I do if I want to know more about the NCGBV?
If you'd like to learn more about the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender‑Based Violence, you can explore the detailed information available on the Department of Education’s website, which outlines the purpose of the Code, the standards it sets, and what it means for universities across Australia.
Staff and students can also make enquiries with Student Safety & Wellbeing, the Inclusive and Respectful Communities team, and HR Business Partners.
How can I get involved and stay informed about the project?
ANU is committed to ensuring that the voices of our staff and students, and other community members, shape the work implementation work. A range of consultation opportunities will be announced on this page and via direct email to anyone who signs onto the contact list.
If you would like to stay updated or get involved, register to join the contact list. You will receive project updates, invitations to participate, and opportunities to contribute as they arise, and can unsubscribe at any time. People with a wealth of experiences and background are encouraged to participate.
ANU supports our community with engaging with services that best support you. Further services are available via:
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732
- Mental Health Crisis Service 1800 629 354
- Kids Helpline (young people up to 25 years) 1800 551 800
- Canberra Rape Crisis Centre 02 6247 2525
- Domestic Violence Crisis Service 02 6280 0900
- 13YARN - 139 276
- Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline 1800 497 212
- ANU Security 02 612 52249
- Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance) 000
- UniSuper 360Health
Status
Key dates
Feedback for Student Code of Conduct closes
Website links
- NCGBV Steering Group
- Harmful Behaviours disclosure tool (Staff information)
- Harmful Behaviours disclosure tool (Student information)
- Federal Register of Legislation
- NCGBV development
- NCGBV Steering Group Terms of Reference
- Student Conduct and Appeals
- Student Safety and Wellbeing
- Staff wellbeing
- Inclusive and Respectful Communities Training Catalogue
- Respect@ANU
Contact
- National Code Gender-Based Violence Project
- Send email
- Register interest in the NCGBV Project