The announcement comes as universities prepare for the implementation of major reforms, including the forthcoming National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence.

Universities Australia Chief Executive Luke Sheehy said aligning the timing of the NSSS with the finalisation of the Code and the introduction of the National Student Ombudsman would ensure the survey reflects the current policy and regulatory landscape.

“The next survey must be more than a snapshot. It’s essential to gathering reliable data that will drive meaningful improvements and truly inform policies and actions to enhance student safety,” Mr Sheehy said.

Roy Morgan was selected following a competitive tender process and brings significant expertise in conducting sensitive, large-scale national research.

Leading expert on gender-based violence prevention, Dr Kate Fitz-Gibbon, is advising the Roy Morgan team to help ensure the survey is trauma-informed, culturally responsive and reflects the diverse experiences of university students.

“We are confident Roy Morgan’s independence and methodological rigour will help deliver a survey that students can trust – and that universities can act on,” Mr Sheehy said.

Broad consultation with students, experts and stakeholders, led to the decision to avoid timing the survey alongside the Australian Human Rights Commission’s national survey on racism in education, to avoid survey fatigue and protect data quality.

“Stakeholder feedback underscores the importance of taking the time needed to get this right,” Mr Sheehy said.

“We’ll work closely with Roy Morgan and students, experts and stakeholders to ensure the sampling, timing and scope reflect the complexity and diversity of student experiences across all university environments.

“Our aim is to deliver a survey that respects participants and provides actionable results. We expect the survey to deploy in semester one, 2026.

“We deeply appreciate the substantial breadth and depth of input from important stakeholders on this issue and look forward to their continued involvement as we progress the next survey.

“We are committed to continuous improvement and working with students to build a culture of respect, safety and transparency across every campus in Australia.”

ENDS

Background

To guide the development and delivery of the survey, Universities Australia established and engaged with two stakeholder groups.

A stakeholder forum representing diverse student groups and specialist support services and a technical working group, made up of experts from a range of fields, have played a key role in shaping the survey’s scope and approach thus far.

These groups will continue to inform the survey’s delivery to ensure it reflects student experiences and meets the highest standards of quality and care.

Stakeholder forum members:

• Asia Pacific Student Accommodation Association
• Children and Young People with Disability Australia
• connect2prevent
• Consent Labs
• Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations
• Council of Australian University Librarians
• Domestic and Family Violence Prevention LGBTQI+ Health Australia
• Equality Australia
• eSafety
• Full Stop Australia
• Headspace Schools & Communities
• National and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Postgraduate Association
• National Student Ombudsman
• National Union of Students
• Our Watch
• Rape and Sexual Assault Research and Advocacy
• STOP Campaign
• Student Experience Network
• Teach Us Consent
• University Colleges Australia
• Women with Disabilities Australia

Technical working group members:

• Chair, Professor Harlene Hayne, Vice Chancellor and President, Curtin University
• Larissa Siliezar Mendoza, Head, Inclusive Communities, Australian National University
• Dr James Brann, Pro Vice Chancellor, Student Equity and Success, University of Tasmania
• Anne-Marie Hodson, Safe Communities Program Manager, University of New England
• Ashley Hurrell, Executive Director, Integrity Unit, Adelaide University
• Dr Bianca Klettke, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, Deakin University
• Heather Lovatt, Associate Professor and Director, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, CQ University
• Fiona Marshall, Principal Specialist, Community Services, Support and Wellbeing, Monash University
• Professor Trish Mundy, Professor of Law, University of Wollongong
• Catharine Pruscino, Program Manager, Respect.Now.Always, program, University of Technology Sydney / Chair, NSW University Prevention Connection Network
• Megan Sharp, Program Coordinator, Respectful Communities/Chair, Australasian Universities Safer Communities Symposium, Griffith University
• Penny Szybiak, Director Planning and Performance, Charles Darwin University
• Stephanie Taylor, Director Student Success and Wellbeing, Bond University / President, Australia and New Zealand Student Services Association (ANZSSA)
• Professor Jessica Vanderlelie, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Deakin University
• Professor Braden Hill, Deputy Vice Chancellor Students, Equity and Indigenous, Edith Cowan University

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