Useful Links
Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN)
APQN has been developed with the purpose of serving the needs of quality assurance agencies in higher education in a region that contains over half the world's population.
Australasian Association for Institutional Research (AAIR)
AAIR is the professional association for institutional research practitioners in higher education and other institutions in Australasia.
The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is the Australian Government’s trade and investment development agency. Austrade provides advice to higher education providers looking to go offshore.
Australasian Council on Open, Distance and E-learning (ACODE)
ACODE is the peak Australasian organisation for universities engaged or interested in open, distance, flexible and e-learning.
Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET)
ACPET is the national industry association for independent providers of post-compulsory education and training (including higher education, vocational education and training and English language courses).
Australian Education International (AEI)
Australian Education International (AEI) is the international arm of the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE). AEI leads strategic policy, regulation and government-to-government engagement in the international education sector.
Australian Public Service Commission (APSC)
The Australian Public Service Commission promotes good practice in managing people, supports leadership and learning and development in the Australian Public Service (APS), fosters ethical behaviour and workplaces that value diversity.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
The Australian Qualifications Framework is a quality assured national framework of qualifications in the school, vocational education and training, and higher education sectors in Australia.
Australian Research Council (ARC)
The ARC is a statutory authority within the Australian Government's Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (IISR) portfolio. Its mission is to deliver policy and programs that advance Australian research and innovation globally and benefit the community.
Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
ASQA is the national regulator for Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector. ASQA supports the labour market and national productivity agendas, by building confidence in the quality and consistency of training and assessment outcomes and protecting the integrity of the Australian VET qualifications and those organisations responsible for delivering them. ASQA regulates courses and training providers to ensure nationally approved quality standards are met.
Austudy, ABSTUDY, Youth Allowance
The Australian Government is responsible for the provision of income support and other assistance to students of higher education. The Commonwealth agency (Centrelink) which administers these programs has information for students on its website.
Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM)
ATEM is the pre-eminent professional body in Australasia for tertiary education administrators and managers.
Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL)
CAUL improves access by staff and students of Australian universities to the information resources that are fundamental to the advancement of teaching, learning and research.
Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)
The register provides a search engine for education institutions that have been approved to offer courses to overseas students and courses that have been approved to be offered to overseas students.
Council of Australian Postgraduates Association (CAPA)
CAPA seeks to coordinate postgraduate representation, advance the interests of postgraduate students and defend postgraduate student rights nationally.
Council of International Students Australia (CISA)
The Council of International Students Australia (CISA) is the national peak student representative body for international students studying at the postgraduate, undergraduate, private college, TAFE, ELICOS and foundation level.
Council of Private Higher Education (COPHE)
COPHE seeks to provide a voice for private institutions, particularly to government, to raise their profile and promote public policy that recognises the contribution made to higher education by the private sector.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)
DEEWR brings together people and services to support the Australian Government’s agenda on education, employment and workplace relations.
Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE)
DIISRTE encourages the sustainable growth of Australian industries by developing a national innovation system that drives knowledge creation, cutting edge science and research, international competitiveness and greater productivity. The Department develops policies and programs, in partnership with stakeholders, to provide lasting economic benefits ensuring Australia's competitive future.
The Endeavour Awards is the Australian Government’s internationally competitive, merit-based scholarship program providing opportunities for citizens of the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas to undertake study, research and professional development in Australia. Awards are also available for Australians to undertake study, research and professional development abroad.
Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) Initiative
The Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative assesses research quality within Australia's higher education institutions using a combination of indicators and expert review by committees comprising experienced, internationally-recognised experts.
Graduate Careers Australia (GCA)
GCA is the leading authority on graduate employment issues in Australia and fosters employment and career opportunities for graduates, in association with the higher education sector, government and business.
The Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA)
HERDSA is a scholarly society for people committed to the advancement of higher and tertiary education. It promotes the development of higher education policy, practice and the study of teaching and learning.
Higher Education Support Act (HESA) 2003
The HESA is the main piece of legislation governing higher education in Australia. HESA received Royal Assent in December 2003.
International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE)
The International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) is a world-wide association of over 200 organisations active in the theory and practice of quality assurance in higher education.
MyUniversity provides students with a broad range of information about Australian universities and other higher education providers. It includes ‘course search’, ‘university search’ and ‘postgraduate research’ features.
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is Australia's peak body for supporting health and medical research; for developing health advice for the Australian community, health professionals and governments; and for providing advice on ethical behaviour in health care and in the conduct of health and medical research.
National Tertiary Education Union
NTEU is the Australian union for workers in academia and related industries.
NUS is the peak representative body of all tertiary students in Australia. NUS work to protect the rights of all students, organising campaigns across the country involving all the states, and all their respective campuses.
Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC)
QTAC processes applications for admission to the majority of undergraduate courses offered by universities in Queensland, Bond University, the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania, and to some courses at universities in Northern NSW. QTAC also processes applications for selected courses for TAFE Queensland, South bank Institute of Technology and some private providers of post secondary courses
Review of Australian Higher Education Report (The Bradley Review)
In March 2008, the Government initiated a Review of Higher Education to examine the future direction of the higher education sector, its fitness for purpose in meeting the needs of the Australian community and economy, and the options for ongoing reform. The Review was conducted by an independent expert panel, led by Emeritus Professor Denise Bradley AC.
South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC)
The South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre processes and assesses application on behalf of TAFE SA and the four universities in South Australia and the Northern Territory
Study Assist has replaced the Going to Uni website. It provides information on student loans available under the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) in both the Higher Education and VET sectors; courses, institutions and other approved providers that offer Australian Government assistance; and Student Income Support and Australian Scholarships and Awards.
This is the official Australian Government website for advice on study in Australia.
TAFE Directors Australia (TDA)
TDA is the peak national body incorporated to represent Australia’s 58 public TAFE Institutes and university TAFE divisions, and the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC).
Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC)
Tertiary admissions centre for Western Australia.
University Admission Centre (UAC)
This is the office that receives and processes applications for admission to most undergraduate degree, advanced diploma, diploma and associate diploma courses at the participating institutions. UAC also processes applications for admission to a number of postgraduate courses at participating institutions.
Universities Australia is the industry peak body representing Australia's 39 universities in the public interest, both nationally and internationally.
Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC)
The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) is the central office that administers the application and offer process for places in tertiary courses at university, TAFE and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria (and a few outside Victoria).
VTAC receives and forwards application information and supporting documentation to the course selection authorities at institutions.