Call for campus sexual assault watchdog to tackle sexual violence at Australian universities

Working group pushes for independent ombudsman – but education ministers seek further consultation

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Advocacy bodies have urged the commonwealth to urgently establish Australia’s first independent student watchdog in an attempt to tackle sexual violence and address safety fears on campuses.

On Tuesday, at a special meeting with education ministers, a working group – formed this year after backlash over the tertiary sector’s response to sexual assault, sexual harassment and gendered violence – called for the establishment of a national ombudsman.

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