The department has released a consultation paper inviting views about the future regulation of the Australian higher education sector to ensure it aligns with government and community expectations.
The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) has not had a significant review since it was legislated almost 15 years ago. The tertiary education sector in Australia has changed over that time and faces new challenges that did not exist when the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) was established.
The consultation paper invites views about the future regulation of Australian higher education and on potential changes to the TEQSA Act to allow TEQSA to step in and act when it’s justified in the public interest. Modernising and strengthening TEQSA’s powers will allow it to take timely and appropriate actions to ensure universities are meeting the standards students, staff and the community expect.
The consultation paper also focuses on opportunities to streamline regulation for universities and other higher education providers, so they can focus on teaching and learning, and ways to support a joined up tertiary system, helping more Australians get the skills and qualifications they need.
The department will be consulting widely to capture the perspectives of a diverse sector. Students, staff, and members of the community are strongly encouraged to provide feedback on their experiences of higher education.
Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP said:
If you don’t think there are challenges in university governance, you’ve been living under a rock.
TEQSA’s powers haven’t really changed since it was created almost 15 years ago.
TEQSA needs better tools to act when there are issues at our unis and it needs to be able to respond to systemic risks, not just individual compliance.
At the moment TEQSA has a sledgehammer and a feather, and not much in-between.
This is about modernising and strengthening TEQSA to help ensure universities are meeting the standards students, staff and the community expect.”
Submissions close at 5pm on 17 October 2025. To find out more and share your views, visit: Modernising and strengthening TEQSA’s powers.