Conducting Investigations : National Education Code (GBV)

About

The Australian government has introduced a mandatory National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence. This new regulation means higher education providers now have a legal responsibility to manage risks related to gender-based violence and to handle complaints appropriately.

This training will outline what you need to know—and how HR teams and investigators can prepare for the requirements of the code.
What Does the National Code Require?
The National Code sets out clear, evidence-based standards for preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV), including sexual assault and harassment.
This mandatory prevention code applies to incidents on and off campus and enhances support for victim-survivors. Institutions are now overseen by the federal regulator, which has new compliance powers and can impose penalties for systemic failures.

Worklogic’s flagship training course, Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations directly supports institutions to meet these Code requirements, particularly around disclosure response, participant safety, informed consent, and culturally sensitive engagement

Participants learn how to:
Part 1 – Triaging and Setting up the Process for Success
• Recognise and respond to cultural considerations, including for First Nations students and culturally diverse communities, LGBTIQA+
• Assess safety risks and required support services before commencing interviews
• Communicate with parties transparently about process and limitations
• Ensure procedural fairness and natural justice at every stage

Part 2 – Evidence, Interviews and Findings in GBV-Related Matters
• Plan trauma-informed interviews and use appropriate questions to gather the relevant evidence in a not accusatory manner
• Manage distress, memory fragmentation and incomplete recollections
• Engage in appropriate witness selection
• Assess credibility without relying on stereotypes and assumptions around trauma
• Weigh evidence in circumstances such as they said / they said
• Document decisions the process and your findings to meet Code expectations

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
• conduct culturally sensitive, trauma-informed investigations
• minimise the risk of re-traumatisation while effectively managing wellbeing concerns
• make defensible, evidence-based decisions grounded in procedural fairness; and
• produce clear, comprehensive documentation that meets regulatory and organisational standards.

Presented by Worklogic director Jason Clark along with guest facilitators from the Worklogic team who have considerable experience investigating serious sexual misconduct (including sexual assaults) in the education sector.

The training Includes a copy of Worklogic’s Workplace Investigations book, published by Wolters Kluwer, provided at the completion of the course.