The Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (ANZSSA) Executive welcomes the release of the Australian Universities Accord Final Report and looks forward to engaging in further discussions on the critical path to implementation as details regarding endorsement and prioritisation of the recommendations becomes clearer.  We support the principles at the core of the Report and the strong focus on enabling prospective and current students from diverse and under-represented communities and cohorts to imagine tertiary education as a genuine choice, and to be supported holistically, within and beyond the tertiary education environment, to be successful in their endeavours.

ANZSSA also welcomes the Australian Action Plan Addressing Gender Based Violence in Higher Education and look forward to contributing to shape the anticipated National Code and broader implementation.   As ANZSSA President, I have had the privilege of representing our student service members and networks on the Action Plan Addressing Gender Based Violence in Higher Education Stakeholder Reference Group.   We welcome the Action Plan and the opportunity for higher education to play a key role in supporting the Australian National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032, sharing a collective commitment with government, student associations and advocate groups, student accommodation providers and other sectors to end gender-based violence.

As the bi-national peak body for student service practitioners in tertiary education, ANZSSA has actively engaged in discussions, forums, and submissions independently and alongside valued sector partners and colleagues to inform and influence this once in a generation opportunity to shape our sector for the benefit of students of the future.  Our active engagement commenced at the ANZSSA Conference in October 2023 when we welcomed representatives from Universities New Zealand and from the Australian Department of Education Accord Implementation team to explore what we might anticipate and learn from our NZ student services colleagues and their experience from the implementation of the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. As the sentiment of the Australian Universities Accord started to crystalise through the release of the Interim Report in July, and endorsement of immediate actions including the Draft Action Plan Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Higher Education, ANZSSA has continued to lead active contribution of our network in the process.

To date ANZSSA has provided opportunity for our members to engage directly with representatives from the Department of Education Accord Implementation Project and created opportunities through our Directors of Student Services (DOSSANZ) network to input into the development and refinement of the Plan and future process.  We look forward to continuing our efforts to work with the government and others in the sector during the implementation phase by facilitating connections through and with DOSSANZ, our ANZSSA networks and communities of practice, and through collaboration with our partners.

This is a milestone moment in time, and it is vital the voices of those who work side by side with and for students every day are at the table in partnership with students and others in the sector, informing outcomes.  The ANZSSA Executive look forward to being on the journey with you.

 

STEPHANIE TAYLOR

PRESIDENT – AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND STUDENT SERVICES ASSOCIATION