Legislation passes to strengthen integrity, expand access and improve information across the education system

The Albanese Government has today passed legislation to strengthen the integrity of the international education sector, expand access to medical places for Indigenous students and improve the information we collect about early education and care.

Integrity in international education

The Government is determined to strengthen the integrity of the international education and ensure it maintains its social licence. 

This legislation will help to crack down on dodgy practices with a number of changes including:

• strengthening the fit and proper requirement for providers,
• enabling the banning of commissions to education agents for onshore student transfers,
• requiring most prospective VET providers excluding TAFEs to first deliver courses to domestic students for two years before they can apply to teach overseas students as evidence of their commitment to quality education,
• cancelling the registration of providers that fail to deliver a course to overseas students for 12 consecutive months to help deal with ‘phoenixing’, and
• giving us the power to limit or cancel a providers’ ability to deliver courses where it is in the public interest or there are systemic quality issues.

Education providers will also now require authorisation from TEQSA to deliver Australian degrees offshore. 

The TEQSA changes are light-touch, set transitional arrangements and utilise information that providers already hold. 

This is about safeguarding our reputation as a world leader in education.

Boosting places for Indigenous medical students

Indigenous Australians are significantly underrepresented in our health workforce. 

In the election the Albanese Government promised to act on the Universities Accord recommendation to uncap Commonwealth Supported Places for Indigenous medical students. 

This legislation delivers on that promise. 

Now every Indigenous student who meets the entry requirements for medicine will receive a Commonwealth Supported Place.

Better information in early education and care

Every year we invest more than $16 billion in the Child Care Subsidy. 

The Albanese Government is committed to building a universal early childhood education and care system that is safe, affordable and accessible. 

To do that we need a better understanding of the costs of delivering quality early education and care. 

In MYEFO last year we committed $10.4 million over two years for the Early Education Service Delivery Prices project and we are backing that with this legislation. 

The legislation will help ensure we have information that is accurate, comprehensive and representative. 

Getting a better understanding of the costs to deliver early childhood education and care services around the country will help us to deliver evidence-based reforms.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“With the passing of this legislation, we now have more tools to stop unscrupulous individuals in the international education system trying to make a quick buck. 

“We are helping more young Indigenous people to become the doctors our communities need. 

“And this is another step in building a universal early childhood education and care system that is safe, affordable and accessible.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Jess Walsh: 

“To build a universal early childhood education and care system, we need the best information on how services are delivered and funded. 

“When we understand the real costs, we can build a stronger system that can support families. 

“This is part of our reforms to build quality universal early education and care for every child – no matter their postcode or what their parents do.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill: 

“International education has delivered profound economic, social, and diplomatic benefits to Australia for decades. It’s a $51 billion sector that Australians can be proud of – educating future global leaders, strengthening international ties, and enriching our communities. 

“Australia’s future success requires a focus on quality, integrity and a great student experience. 

“That’s why we’re cracking down on exploitation, increasing transparency, and safeguarding the reputation of our sector. 

“These changes will protect genuine students and support our high-quality providers.”