An external consultancy firm tasked with reviewing ANU policies and procedures related to sexual violence found the university needed to address how it dealt with misconduct related to sexual assault "as a matter of urgency".

The university's Discipline Rule allowed for sexual harassment to be investigated and dealt with. Sexual assault, however, was treated as a police matter, with the university's own ability to formally respond unclear, the review found.

The ANU also provided misleading and potentially harmful information to students on reporting rape by incorrectly linking both sexual harassment and assault to its disciplinary policy, Rapid Context wrote.

"If the university does not intend to inquire into sexual assault, advising the student body ... it may do so will not only cause confusion but likely lead to distrust, disappointment, and, in the worst case, a re-traumatisation of survivors," the report said.

Students could report sexual assault through the Student Complaint Resolution Procedure, but it was unclear how a victim of rape or harassment could best make use of the process, the review team found.

That procedure could not determine whether an incident occurred but only appeal for "voluntary action" on behalf of the students involved and would not result in disciplinary action against perpetrators.

While the university offered a range of support services, the review team found these did not adequately address the needs of at-risk marginalised groups, including students with disability, international students and people who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex.

Among Rapid Response's suite of recommendations was that the ANU consult with the university community on how best to respond to rape among students and staff.

It encouraged the institution build better relationships with police if that was its primary method of dealing with allegations of sexual assault.

In an online statement released on Wednesday, the ANU said it would implement a "comprehensive framework and strategy" on responding to sexual assault and harassment and work to make the complaints process clearer and easier for students to find and navigate.

It will also provide a first-stop unit to support survivors, to coordinate university responses to sexual assaults on campus and to work towards constantly enhancing ANU's responses by analysing the effectives of the university's responses, the statement said.

Rapid Context was commissioned to audit the ANU's policies and procedures after the Australian Human Rights Commission found 116 students were assaulted last year.

The review, completed in September, came under fire from student groups for failing to consult with survivors of sexual assault.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or family violence, call the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525. Nationally, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. In an emergency contact 000.