ANU vice-chancellor responds to Nixon review

The Canberra Times

ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell responds to a damning report  into "matters of gender and culture in the ANU College of Health and Medicine". Footage: ANU

Transcript

00:00Great universities are about people and great universities are also places that can and should

00:05hold hard conversations. Conversations that look outward but also conversations that make us look

00:11inwards. Conversations that make us stop and reflect and then take action. In 2024 Professor

00:18Rebecca Brown and I were concerned that some areas of our university might not be living up to the

00:22high standards and expectations that we each should have for this place. We were concerned

00:27about accounts of bullying and harassment and discrimination. We knew we couldn't continue

00:33this way. We knew things should and must change and that is why we commissioned Professor Christine

00:38Nixon to undertake a review into gender and culture at the former ANU College of Health and Medicine.

00:44The Nixon Review contains 18 findings, 17 recommendations relevant across all of the ANU

00:50and a series of detailed actions we will consider as a community. We've already implemented some of

00:56the recommendations and some will take more time. The full report is published on our website and

01:01it's a hard read. There is also a separate confidential report which outlines specific allegations against

01:08named individuals. An external investigation officer is to be appointed and where appropriate these

01:14individuals will be subject to action for serious misconduct. We have work to do to be better for all

01:20of us and it will take time, commitment and support from each of us to get it done. My commitment and the

01:26commitment from the National University is that we will address the recommendations of the Nixon Report

01:32and to ensure we meet these commitments Professor Nixon has agreed to reassess our progress in 2026.

01:38I know some findings of the Nixon Review will be distressing so if this has raised any issues for

01:42you there is help available. I encourage you to read the full report and to engage with the initiatives

01:48which are designed to support our whole community. I know many members of our community work hard

01:54every day to ensure that the ANU is a place that is welcoming and inclusive but I also know in some

02:00cases we have fallen short as an institution and we have let our people down and so to all the students

02:05and staff who've been affected by these behaviours and this culture over many years we at ANU say sorry.

02:12This is a difficult moment but one we will get through together. The Nixon Review, its findings and

02:18the actions being taken by the university are a signal to every part of this institution and beyond

02:24that we are committed to making a difference and that we seek a different future.

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