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Caretaker conventions now in place
Ahead of the 2025 federal election the Australian Government has assumed a caretaker role. We are operating in accordance with caretaker conventions.
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      If you need more translations, please contact us via: 1300 395 775 or ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.au

      1300 395 775
      Caretaker conventions now in place
      Ahead of the 2025 federal election the Australian Government has assumed a caretaker role. We are operating in accordance with caretaker conventions.


      Who we are and what we do

      The NSO works with students and higher education providers to resolve student complaints. We are independent and impartial with powers to investigate a broad range of issues. For example, we can look into the actions taken by higher education providers relating to:

      • Concerns about student safety and welfare, including situations involving gender-based violence, discrimination, racism, antisemitism and islamophobia
      • Course administration, such as timeliness and accuracy of information provided to students
      • Teaching provision and facilities, such as sufficiency of staffing to meet the needs of students
      • The fairness and effectiveness of student complaints processes
      • Reasonable adjustments for students with disability or experiencing special circumstances

      Our services

      Through our services, we seek to drive system level improvements across the higher education sector.

      We are able to:

      • consider whether decisions and actions taken by higher education providers are unreasonable, unjust, oppressive, discriminatory or otherwise wrong
      • recommend a provider takes specific steps to resolve a complaint
      • share information with relevant regulators for further action
      • promote best practice complaints handling across the higher education sector
      • offer a restorative engagement process between the student and the provider where appropriate, and
      • bring parties together through alternative resolution processes such as conciliation.

      All students, including domestic, international and higher degree research students, can contact the NSO about their higher education provider.






      Further information:
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