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20 October 2025

Content warning: This email contains information about sexual harm and gender-based violence which may be distressing. If you would like to speak with someone for support or information, please contact our Safer Communities Office on +61 8627 6808 or via email to safer-communities.officer@sydney.edu.au or 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.  

Dear students,

At the University of Sydney, we hold a deep and unwavering responsibility to ensure that every member of our community – whether they’re a student, a colleague or a visitor – feels safe, respected and supported. The National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (National Code), which takes effect on 1 January 2026, is a vital moment for us to collectively strengthen the ways we foster an environment and culture of safety, dignity, respect and inclusivity for all.

To support this important work, we invite you to share your feedback on a proposed new Sexual Harm and Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Policy and related procedures. These have been shaped through engagement with members of our community, focused on centring the safety, wellbeing, dignity and agency of victim-survivors and to ensure our response to incidents is not only compliant, but safe, fair, compassionate and trauma-informed.

Responding to the National Code 

The National Code is a key part of the Federal Government’s Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education and requires all higher education providers to have a whole-of-organisation approach that prioritises safety and support for all students, staff, affiliates and visitors in the prevention of and response to gender-based violence.  

Building on our work over many years to foster a safer and more respectful environment for our community, we’ve established a University Taskforce to lead and coordinate our response to the National Code. The Taskforce is chaired by Professor Joanne Wright, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) and includes senior leaders across the University.  

While we already meet many of the requirements of the National Code, there is more work to do to ensure we are fully compliant with all aspects of the Code by 1 January, and to continue improving the way we prevent and respond to sexual harm and gender-based violence.

Policy review 

We’re proposing a new combined policy with separate procedures for students and staff that will replace the current:

The draft policy and procedures have been developed following engagement and collaboration with groups across our University community who are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence. We thank the many people who have shared their insights to help shape the policy’s language, including the shift from ‘sexual misconduct’ to ‘sexual harm’ to better reflect the seriousness of these experiences.  

Submit your feedback 

If you would like to provide feedback on the policy documents, please do so by Monday 3 November 2025 through the online feedback form. If you would prefer to respond in person or another format, please contact the Safer Communities Office on +61 8627 6808 or email safer-communities.officer@sydney.edu.au. All submissions will be carefully considered as part of the consultation process. 

The timing for consultation is designed to ensure we can review and address any feedback in time for commencement of the National Code. We commit to listening further to all feedback from members of our community through a review six months after the policy and procedures take effect on 1 January 2026.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the draft policy and procedures so far, and for your ongoing dedication to making our university a place where everyone feels safe, heard and respected. I look forward to updating you on our progress as we work towards the implementation of the National Code and continue strengthening our approach to preventing and responding to sexual harm and gender-based violence. 

Kind regards,
Mark

Professor Mark Scott
Vice-Chancellor and President

Support available 

We recognise that references to sexual harm and gender-based violence may be distressing to many people and remind you that we are here for you. We encourage you to seek support if you need it. There are a range of University and external support services available to you, including:

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