- Posted on 29 Jan 2026
- 5-minute read
Student safety is at the heart of what we do at UTS. Creating a campus where people feel safe, respected and supported is not only our legal responsibility, it is fundamental to who we are as a university and our values.
A critically important part of this work is addressing gender-based violence. While new federal legislation is now in place for the higher education sector, UTS has been undertaking sustained work in this area for some time.
The National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), which came into effect on 1 January 2026, establishes clear, sector-wide expectations for prevention and support. While the Code provides an important framework, our focus at UTS is to go beyond compliance.
Professor Kylie Readman, UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Education and Students), says this work goes to the core of the university’s purpose.
“Our systems and processes have not always been as clear, coordinated or accessible as they need to be. We accelerated our effort during 2025, with the guidance of the Code, to strengthen systems, deepen consultation and embed continuous improvement, with the aim of not only meeting expectations, but exceeding them in ways that genuinely reflect the needs and experiences of our students.”
A whole-of-institution response
UTS is building on our existing strengths in prevention and education, while working to simplify and improve our systems and processes.
The university has undertaken comprehensive reviews of student rules, complaints pathways and misconduct processes. The insights from this work are directly informing our response to the National Code and shaping improvements across the student experience.
We accelerated our effort during 2025, with the guidance of the Code, to strengthen systems, deepen consultation and embed continuous improvement.
At the centre of this work is the new UTS Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response Action Plan, which sets out how UTS will coordinate prevention, response and recovery activity across the university. The plan provides a clear framework for turning commitment into practice, and for holding ourselves accountable.
This work reflects our commitment to ensure a person-centred and trauma-informed approach, and that anyone seeking support or raising a concern experiences a process that is respectful, timely and centres their choices and agency.
Centring student voices – Student Consultation Group
A cornerstone of UTS’s response has been the establishment of a Student Consultation Group, made up of more than 60 students from across our diverse campus community. Participation in the group is remunerated, recognising the value of students’ time, expertise and emotional labour.
Recruited through a broad and inclusive process, group members bring a wide range of lived experiences and perspectives. Their input will shape how UTS approaches prevention, education and response, ensuring that changes are grounded in the realities of student experience.
New Safe and Respectful Communities Team
From 2026, a dedicated Safe and Respectful Communities Team will coordinate GBV prevention and response across UTS. Led by Emma Iwinska, Director, Safe and Respectful Communities, the team will provide advice, case coordination, and specialist support for staff and students, while shaping culture across the campus.
“I am very much looking forward to working collaboratively with the whole UTS community to drive prevention efforts and ensure that the response we provide at UTS centres the voices and experiences of victim/survivors,” says Ms Iwinska.
“Gender-based violence is not acceptable at UTS or anywhere. It is time for us as a community to do better. This is a moment for us to listen deeply and work together for real and meaningful outcomes.”
Key GBV response initiatives
These changes will aim to make it easier to seek help, clearer to understand what happens next, and provide transparency and consistency.
1. A single, integrated reporting platform
There is now one university-wide platform for staff and students to report or disclose GBV, raise concerns, and receive support, replacing multiple reporting pathways.
2. Clearer, streamlined processes
Processes are being simplified to reduce duplication, improve transparency, and ensure timely, fair outcomes. Staff and students will have clearer guidance on how concerns are triaged and managed, and how they will be supported throughout.
3. Changes to mandatory training
From Semester 1 next year, Consent Matters will be replaced with the newly expanded module, Respect Matters, covering a wider understanding of the attitudes and beliefs that underpin gender-based violence, with a focus on respectful relationships, consent, and bystander intervention. Everyone in the UTS community, including Council members, professional and academic staff, student leaders, housing staff and students have obligations to engage with enhanced training and education activities.
4. Targeted capacity-building
Staff in key roles such as UTS Housing, security, and student services will receive additional training and support to strengthen their ability to respond to student wellbeing and conduct issues.
Gender-based violence is not acceptable at UTS or anywhere. It is time for us as a community to do better. This is a moment for us to listen deeply and work together for real and meaningful outcomes.
Support and contacts
If you have experienced, observed, or are concerned someone is experiencing gender-based violence, confidential support and assistance are available:
- All staff and students at UTS can reach out to a safety caseworker – professionally trained staff who can offer confidential support and walk with you through any UTS systems or processes you choose to engage with.
- To speak with a safety caseworker, email safety.caseworker@uts.edu.au or phone 1800 531 626. Available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding public holidays). After hours calls redirect to UTS Security for immediate assistance and help connecting with appropriately trained counselling staff.
- You can also visit the Safety Caseworker office from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm by appointment. To make an appointment, email safety.caseworker@uts.edu.au.
- Explore further support options at UTS and in the broader community.
- Students can also access independent support through the National Student Ombudsman (NSO), a free service for escalating complaints about higher education providers. The NSO can be contacted online at nso.gov.au, by phone at 1300 395 775, or in person at Commonwealth Ombudsman locations.
Acclaimed investigative journalist and author Jess Hill joins UTS Business School.
Led by Professor Anne Summers AO, our research focuses on understanding the broad social and economic impacts of domestic and family violence in Australia.
The Domestic and Family Violence Research Network is a collaborative initiative dedicated to advancing research, policy, and practice related to domestic and family violence.
Acclaimed investigative journalist and author Jess Hill joins UTS Business School.
Led by Professor Anne Summers AO, our research focuses on understanding the broad social and economic impacts of domestic and family violence in Australia.
The Domestic and Family Violence Research Network is a collaborative initiative dedicated to advancing research, policy, and practice related to domestic and family violence.