Consultation Open: Draft Anti-Racism and Anti-Religious Vilification Policy and Student Complaints and Appeals Framework

The consultation is open until COB on Friday 20 November 2026

UNSW College is consulting on a package of proposed policy changes to ensure compliance with recent developments in the higher education regulatory framework and support a safe, inclusive and respectful learning environment.

The proposed changes respond to:

• amendments to the Higher Education Standards Framework 2021, commencing on 1 January 2027, including new requirements relating to racism, discrimination and complaints handling; and
• requirements under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence.

Changes to address the Higher Education Standards Framework requirements

A draft UNSW College Anti-Racism and Anti-Religious Vilification Policy has been developed to support UNSW College's commitment to a respectful, inclusive and culturally safe environment and to ensure compliance with revised requirements under the Higher Education Standards Framework from 1 January 2027.

The policy establishes UNSW College's approach to preventing and responding to racism, discrimination and religious vilification. It includes definitions relevant to UNSW College's operations, including:

• Racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
• Antisemitism; and
• Islamophobia.

These definitions were developed through consultation across the higher education sector. To support consistency across the UNSW Group, UNSW College has adopted the same definitions used by UNSW in its policy framework.

In addition to requiring higher education providers to maintain policies and practices that prevent and respond to racism, the revised Higher Education Standards Framework introduces specific requirements relating to complaints-handling processes. These processes must be accessible, culturally safe and subject to regular review, including consultation with students and staff with lived experience of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or violence. Proposed amendments to the Student Grievances and Complaints Policy, Student Grievances and Complaints Procedure, Student Appeal Policy and Student Appeal Procedure have therefore been developed alongside the Anti-Racism and Anti-Religious Vilification Policy.

Separate amendments have also been proposed to address requirements under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence.

Changes to address the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence

The National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence establishes a consistent framework for higher education providers to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and to support affected students.

To reflect these requirements, amendments have been proposed to the Student Grievances and Complaints Policy, Student Grievances and Complaints Procedure, Student Appeal Policy and Student Appeal Procedure. The proposed amendments strengthen provisions relating to accessibility, support pathways, procedural fairness, trauma-informed approaches, confidentiality and the management, review and appeal of complaints and decisions, including matters involving gender-based violence.

Together, these changes are intended to support a safe, respectful and student-centred approach to preventing and responding to gender-based violence and related misconduct.

UNSW College's commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, inclusive and culturally safe community

Importantly, this consultation is not the end of the conversation. It forms part of UNSW College's ongoing commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, inclusive and culturally safe community.

Creating an environment in which all students, staff and community members feel safe, supported and respected requires ongoing engagement, learning and continuous improvement. There will be further opportunities for students, staff and community members to contribute their perspectives and help shape how UNSW College continues to strengthen its approach to preventing and responding to racism, discrimination, harassment, gender-based violence and other harmful behaviours.