Preventing and responding to gender-based violence
Find out how we aim to strengthen the prevention of and our response to gender-based violence to meet the standards of the National Code.
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What is gender-based violence?
According to the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence, gender-based violence (GBV) is 'any form of physical or non‑physical violence, harassment, abuse or threats, based on gender, that results in, or is likely to result in, harm, coercion, control, fear or deprivation of liberty or autonomy.'
Sexual harassment, sexual assault, family and relationship violence, coercive control and any unwelcome sexual activity that occurs without free and informed consent are all forms of GBV. This includes one-off incidents and patterns of ongoing behaviour.
Gender-based violence can be verbal, physical, emotional, financial or facilitated by technology. It is used to dominate someone and take away their freedom and autonomy. Research by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that the groups of people most impacted by family violence are women, girls, LGBTIQA+ people, people with disability, Indigenous people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people in rural and remote communities.
Addressing GBV in university settings is about changing the underlying attitudes that justify or promote concerning behaviour and shifting the ways of thinking, embedded cultural norms and inequalities that underpin all forms of harassment and abuse.
Our committment
The National Higher Education Code
The Australian Government's National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (National Code) came into effect on 1 January 2026. It sets out seven standards that all Australian universities must meet in order to address gender-based violence. Topics include governance and accountability, creating safe environments, education and training, support services and transparent reporting.
Federation University sees the National Code as an opportunity to strengthen its prevention and response initiatives and ensure students and staff have access to safe, trauma-informed support when they need it most.
Prevention and response plan
We're developing a Whole-of-Organisation Prevention and Response Plan to meet the requirements of the National Code. It will build on the strong foundations established through our Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) 2021–2025 and Respectful and Inclusive Communities Action Plan (RICAP) 2024-2026, and sit alongside significant work across the University to implement policies, guidelines, training, advisory groups and practical tools that strengthen equity and inclusion. A link to the plan will be included here when it has been approved.