Calls to expedite student safety watchdog, fine unis

A plan to tackle gender-based violence includes an independent student ombudsman to whom students can escalate complaints made to universities if they haven't done enough to address the issue.

This includes sexual assault and harassment.

While a dedicated unit within the Education Department will be set up to ensure universities comply with the ombudsman's ruling, End Rape on Campus called for a big stick to be wielded against institutions who fall short.

A report into university reforms flagged giving institutions that boost graduation rates for people from disadvantaged backgrounds extra bonuses as an incentive.

It was fair there should then be financial penalties for those who don't protect students, including tying billions of dollars of public funding to student safety indicators, End Rape on Campus director and founder Sharna Bremner said.

"They should be accountable not just in how they spend that money but how they care for students," she told AAP.

"Students who experience sexual violence do fail their classes at a much higher rate, particularly when unis don't take steps to support them.

"It's only fair they refund fees if the uni hasn't helped support them in their education."

Greens senator Larissa Waters agreed there had to be repercussions for universities that failed students.

"We saw some stratospheric numbers of rape and assault happen on campus," she told reporters in Canberra.

"It comes down to what levers the federal government has to hold the universities to account to insist on safety on campus, funding levers are one of those options."

The accord outlining reform for the sector didn't recommend tying funding to performance but did say students needed to be put at the centre of the higher education system, Education Minister Jason Clare said.

"We've got to do a better job of supporting students and that involves things like how we support students when they're the victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment, steps we got to take to help prevent it in the first place," he said.

Senator Waters, who sat on a damning inquiry into universities that found the sector failed to adequately respond to sexual assaults, offered to work with the government to expedite the legislation to set up the ombudsman.

It is set to come into force early next year.

"Students have waited long enough to be safe on campus ... they deserve that safety as soon as possible," Senator Waters said.

It was important to get the legislation right even if that meant it took a little bit longer to implement, Ms Bremner said.

Legislation for the ombudsman and a national code that will set out minimum standards and obligations universities have to prevent sexual violence is expected in the coming months.

The code has also been slated to come into effect in early 2025.

Lifeline 13 11 14

Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578

beyondblue 1300 22 4636

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

Australian Associated Press