Originally published in The Guardian here.

Fifteen years ago, I lived on campus at a residential college at an Australian university.

While I made lifelong friends during my time there, I was deeply affected by the culture so pervasive and seemingly permitted at the time. This was a culture of horrible hazing rituals, harassment, assault, sexism and entitlement.

I accompanied friends to hospital on too many occasions, listening as they grappled with whether to report their assaults and to whom; the police or to college principals or to the university. I remember calling people’s parents in the middle of the night to tell them that their daughter had been sexually assaulted. I remember trying to navigate complaint processes; it was seemingly nobody’s responsibility that violence had occurred on campus. It wasn’t the responsibility of colleges, it wasn’t the responsibility of the university and students had nowhere to go beyond the police – and sometimes that’s not the place people want to go to raise their complaints.

Most didn’t pursue complaints or reports. Then, when I and others raised publicly and with management of colleges and the university the alarming environments we were living in, there was much hand-wringing and a sense of helplessness about what could be done. Decision-makers seemed to think the institutions could not change and, if they could, would be irreparably damaged if the culture was dragged into the 21st century and in line with contemporary community standards.

Last week, the education ministers agreed upon the National Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education.

An independent National Student Ombudsman will be established to investigate student complaints and resolve disputes with universities. This is significant, as the ombudsman will allow all higher education students to escalate complaints about the actions of their higher education provider, including complaints about sexual harassment, assault and violence. A National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence will also be established.

When I think about the difference between the time when I lived on campus and today, I am encouraged about the pace at which positive change has progressed. I remember, in 2010, undertaking some research on historical reports on incidents of harassment, bullying and violence on campuses. The thing that shocked me was that not only were none of the types of experiences new, or the culture particularly different, but that everybody knew about it. Now, it seems like decades of acceptance of a damaging culture – despite efforts to change it through history – have been finally interrupted.

However, when I visit campuses in my electorate and speak to students, the issue of safety on campus emerges as a concern still, with a desire for more support services and prevention campaigns particularly raised with me.

The government’s review into higher education – the Australian Universities Accord – is looking at governance and student experience, and specifically cultural and physical safety on campus. Urgently addressing sexual assault in universities was one of five priority actions.

The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children seeks to eliminate gender-based violence in one generation. Improving safety on campus and engaging educational institutions is a vital part of achieving this goal.

I have witnessed first-hand the devastation that sexual violence on campus has wrought on people’s lives. It’s hard not to think about all the lives that have been disrupted and the futures which had their trajectories changed, often not for the better, because of the violence experienced on campus. I know too many people who disconnected from study, whose lives and relationships were absolutely devastated after they experienced violence on campus. I know that I too struggled through my own academic career due to not always feeling, and not being, safe on campus.

I think of those generations of women who could have forged a place in the world different to the one they ended up with because they disconnected from studying. They walked away from really bright careers, and we will never know the potential that was lost because nobody acted to make sure they were safe on campus. I don’t want any other generations of women to have to go through that.

There is more to do, but finally there is tangible progress.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.