Governance

Leading work to enhance the safety and wellbeing of the Griffith community.

Griffith University's Safe Campuses initiative promotes a safe and respectful University community by increasing knowledge and awareness of disrespectful behaviours, sexual and gender-based violence. Safe Campuses aims to encourage reporting and support-seeking behaviours across the Griffith community and empower staff and students with the knowledge and skills to contribute to effective violence response and prevention. The initiative is overseen by the University Executive and Student Life. A report on activities, progress and prevalence is provided to University Council on an annual basis.

Griffith University Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Plan

Griffith University’s Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Plan reinforces our commitment to fostering respectful communities through a coordinated strategy that engages all University functions, students, employees, leaders and other University community members. The Plan integrates data analysis, good practice, legislative requirements and policy responses to ensure progress towards an environment that proactively prevents and responds to gender-based violence, including sexual harassment.

View the Plan

Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education

The Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education is a multi-pronged approach to creating higher education communities that are free from gender-based violence. Griffith University welcomes the Action Plan and is committed to continuing work under the Safe Campuses initiative, to prevent sexual harm and support members of the university community who have been impacted by gender-based violence. The University, through the Safe and Respectful Communities Expert Reference Group will consider ways to update our processes and initiatives to address gaps and continue progress in the prevention of and response to sexual harm and gender-based violence.

The Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Bill was passed in Federal Parliament on 25 August 2025. The Code came into effect on 1 January 2026 and is regulated by the Department of Education's GBV Regulator. Griffith University welcomes the Code and is committed to continuing work to nurture a respectful university community through the prevention of disrespect and gender-based harm, and providing effective support to members of the university community who have been impacted by gender-based violence.

Reviewing our progress

The University, through the Vice Chancellor, has provided periodical updates to University Council and a range of external stakeholders since 2017, outlining the University's progress towards the prevention of and response to gendered violence and sexual harm in our community.

In 2023, the Safe and Respectful Communities Working Group was established. The working group, chaired by Professor Liz Burd, Provost, will enable the contribution of diverse staff, student and expert voices across the university community to identify challenges and opportunities, oversee the implementation of policy and other University-wide initiatives and monitor outcomes.