𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬 O𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 O𝐟 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 A𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
On 28 November 2025, Australia’s House of Representatives passed the Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025, a major reform aimed at reinforcing the integrity and sustainability of the international education system.
Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill highlighted the core purpose behind these amendments: ensuring quality, strong ethical practices, and an outstanding student experience. The government’s message is clear — Australia’s education sector must remain globally trusted and socially supported.
🔹 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
▪ Any external party involved in overseas recruitment is now formally recognised as an education agent
▪ Agent commissions now include all monetary and non-monetary incentives
▪ The Department of Education can collect and share commission data with regulators
▪ Improved transparency will help providers work only with ethical, high-performing agents
▪ Supports upcoming reforms including potential bans or restrictions on onshore commissions
🔹 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬
▪ Regulators gain powers to investigate cross-ownership risks across the sector
▪ Providers inactive in overseas enrolments for 12+ months can be deregistered
▪ Authorities may cancel entire courses if performance or relevance is inadequate
🔹 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐄𝐓 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
▪ New VET providers must teach domestic students for 2 years before enrolling internationals
▪ Designed to ensure education quality first, revenue second
▪ Government-funded TAFEs are exempt due to existing oversight standards
