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National Student Ombudsman Bill introduced into Parliament

Writer's picture: Camille SchloeffelCamille Schloeffel
Left to right: Camille Schloeffel, Sharna Bremner, Dr Allison Henry, the Hon Jason Clare MP, Renee Carr, Senator Nita Green

This week was big. 


Australian Education Minister Jason Clare MP introduced a bill into parliament to establish a National Student Ombudsman. 


This Ombudsman will open its doors in February 2025


I feel extremely grateful and privileged to be a part of a team of victim-survivors, experts, activists and advocates at The STOP Campaign, End Rape On Campus Australia and Fair Agenda. Specifically, Sharna Bremner, Dr Allison Henry, Renee Carr, Claudia Long, Dani Villafaña, Patty Kinnersly, Dr Renee Hamilton, Sophie Aboud, Audrey Mims, Sarah Vrankovich, Meg Rollings, Nuria Olive, Maggie Li, Isy Martin, and the anonymous members whose names can’t be known publicly - you know who you are. We have achieved some of the most significant reforms in the world to to keep university students safe on campus.


And to everyone that participated in our #IDeserveSafety campaign - thank you. You did this! 


If we had a National Student Ombudsman when I was an undergraduate student, I would have had many instances of mishandling of cases of discrimination, abuse and violence to report. From university staff in student support roles dismissing victim-survivors, senior executive leaders and counsellors dismissing rape as a result of alcohol consumption and the fault of women for being drunk and wearing short skirts, to student accommodation staff grooming students, sending them inappropriate texts and engaging in sexual activity with students under their care. 


Students not only will be able to report about harm caused by their institution to individuals, but they are also protected in the process. There will be consequences, including imprisonment, for those staff who retaliate against complainants to the Ombudsman. This is a very welcome clause in the bill because we know that retaliation, threats, bullying and intimidation are some very common tactics used by university and student accommodation staff to prevent victim-survivors from speaking out, reporting and seeking support.


Thank you to the Labor government for listening to us, and particularly to Minister Clare, his team, and the team at the Department for Education for sharing some of our pain throughout this process. It’s extremely difficult for me to speak out on these issues that are very personal to me as a rape and suicide survivor. And despite my attempts to talk confidently and without emotion, it is impossible for me to not break down in tears and sob when speaking to people in positions of power about this. The fear of being dismissed or not believed trickles in and overwhelms me when people are paying attention to what I am saying. This time they didn’t just listen, they acted.


To all our campaign supporters, especially the Senators and Crossbenchers that put the pressure on the Government to act - thank you. 


This is not only for all victim-survivors of sexual violence, but also for those who are no longer with us. This Ombudsman, alongside the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (incoming), is going to save lives, prevent violence, and reduce trauma.


This is just the beginning of change for students AND staff in higher education - after more than 50 years of activism, we’re going to achieve what we’ve all been calling for - an education without violence. 


Let’s get this done. 



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