Australia Launches Interim Tertiary Education Commission to Drive Long-Term Reform
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In a significant policy shift, the Australian Government has officially launched the interim Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC), with the aim of overhauling the country’s post-secondary education system to meet future workforce demands.
Announced on 1 July 2025, the interim body is a key recommendation of the Australian Universities Accord and will function in a transitional capacity until full legislation is enacted, expected by 2026.
ATEC is intended to bridge the divide between vocational education (TAFE) and university systems, helping to align Australia’s tertiary education more closely with national skills shortages. The reform centres on implementing a managed growth funding system, promoting needs-based financing, and negotiating mission-based compacts to create a more inclusive and responsive education sector.
Education Minister Jason Clare and Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles emphasised that the new body would work to dismantle the invisible barriers that prevent disadvantaged Australians from accessing higher education.
“It will help break down the barriers between TAFE and university, implement the new funding model, provide advice on pricing, and much more,” said Clare.
The interim commission includes Professor Mary O’Kane AC as Chief Commissioner and Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO as the First Nations Commissioner, alongside Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia.
The announcement comes as Australia faces a projected shortfall of 250,000 skilled workers by 2030. With nine in ten jobs expected to require tertiary qualifications, the Government asserts that these reforms are essential to prepare Australians for the employment landscape of the future.
Universities Australia welcomed the initiative, describing it as a “step towards meaningful reform”. Vice-Chancellor George Williams of Western Sydney University noted that ATEC could help tackle issues of equity and affordability in the sector.
The commission’s launch coincided with a sharp increase in Australia’s student visa application fee, now set at AUD $2,000, sparking concerns about affordability for international students.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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