National Higher Education Code

The Australian Parliament has enacted legislation to establish a mandatory National Higher Education Code aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based violence. The National Code is designed to drive transformative cultural change to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

National Code: Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence 2025

For more information about the National Code, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions from the Department of Education.

Objects

  • Reduce the incidence of gender-based violence in higher education.
  • Establish national standards and requirements for higher education providers to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
  • Create a regulatory framework to monitor and enforce compliance with these standards and requirements.

Standards

The National Code specifies comprehensive requirements for universities to adopt strategies driven by leadership, integrated into governance and accountability frameworks, supported by strong policies and grounded in a commitment to continuous improvement.

It outlines seven mandatory standards:

1. Accountable leadership and governance
Effective governance and a whole-of-organisation approach prioritise safety and support in the prevention of and response to gender-based violence.

2. Safe environments and systems
Higher education provider environments are safe, and systems continuously improve to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

3. Knowledge and capability
Higher education providers build knowledge and capability to safely and effectively prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

4. Safety and support
Responses and support services are safe and person-centred.

5. Safe processes
All processes are safe and timely.

6. Data, evidence and impact
Higher education providers use evidence to inform their approach, measure change and contribute to the national evidence base.

7. Safe student accommodation
Student accommodation is safe for all students and employees.

Timeline

The National Code was developed from 2022 to 2025 and came into effect on 1 January 2026 .

February 2024
Education Ministers agreed on an Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education.

May 2024
The Department of Education released an Issues Paper on the development of the National Code via a public consultation process.

February 2025
The University Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Bill 2025 was introduced to Parliament, and the National Student Ombudsmen commenced operations.

August 2025
The National Code was passed by Parliament.

January 2026
The National Code came into effect on 1 January 2026.

More information on the development of the National Code is available on the Higher Education Development page.