The Minister for Education has announced the appointment of Dr Mary Russell as the next CEO of TEQSA, Australia’s independent national regulatory and quality assurance agency for higher education.

TEQSA Chief Commissioner Professor Peter Coaldrake said the Minister’s decision had the full support of the TEQSA Commissioners.

Dr Russell was appointed as acting CEO in June 2023, and prior to that she was TEQSA's Executive Director of Regulatory Operations.

With the CEO appointment confirmed, Professor Coaldrake has advised the Minister that he will be stepping down from the TEQSA Commission.

Commissioner Joan Cooper has agreed to extend her term on the Commission for up to a year to ensure the continuity of the Commission while recruitment for a new Chief Commissioner takes place. Commissioners Adrienne Nieuwenhuis and Steve Somogyi continue in their roles.

Arrangements are being put in place to appoint an acting Chief Commissioner ahead of Professor Coaldrake’s departure on 10 May.

Quotes attributable to TEQSA Chief Commissioner, Professor Peter Coaldrake AO

“The full TEQSA Commission warmly congratulates Dr Mary Russell on her appointment as TEQSA’s next CEO.

“The Commission is confident that under Dr Russell’s leadership, TEQSA will continue to uphold its values of trust, respect, accountability and collaboration, and foster constructive relationships with the sector we regulate.

“With the CEO appointment confirmed, I have advised the Minister that I will be stepping down from the TEQSA Commission.

“I feel it is an opportune time for the Government to appoint a new Chief Commissioner to guide the next stage of Australia’s approach to higher education regulation as part of the Australian Universities Accord implementation agenda.

“Despite the many challenges at hand and those ahead, Australia continues to have a strong higher education system by international standards, and a strong system needs a robust regulatory framework. TEQSA has an essential role in protecting the quality and integrity of our system. Neither of those are guaranteed in a world of AI, and nor should we underestimate the various other influences which could weaken the cache of an Australian degree qualification or university.

“I would like to warmly acknowledge the efforts and professionalism of all TEQSA staff.  It has been a privilege to work alongside my fellow Commissioners, and I urge you to strongly support Dr Russell as the new CEO.”

Quotes attributable to TEQSA CEO, Dr Mary Russell

“I know all of us at TEQSA are going to greatly miss Professor Coaldrake’s leadership and generous and wise counsel. We wish Peter all the best.

“As the agency’s CEO, I look forward to continuing to work with our Commissioners, staff and wider sector to ensure that TEQSA’s work continues to assure the quality of Australian higher education for the benefit of students, employers and the wider Australian community.”

• Visit: Our leadership and organisation (for Dr Russell’s biography)
   

TEQSA is leading Australia’s regulatory and educative approach to prevent, detect and respond to commercial academic cheating services that threaten the integrity of Australian higher education.

In April 2023, TEQSA launched online training, Masterclass: contract cheating detection and deterrence, to support Australia’s higher education sector in the ongoing fight against academic cheating services. This world-leading approach ensures academics and staff at all Australian institutions have access to expertise and training to uphold award integrity. To date, Australia is the only country to have made such an investment.

Since its launch the high-quality of the Masterclass, which was developed in partnership with Australian academic integrity experts, has drawn interest from regulators overseas and access has been extended to staff in Aotearoa New Zealand’s higher and vocational education sectors.

The online Masterclass has received 3220 registered users since launching, with academics and professional staff from Australian higher education providers and New Zealand tertiary providers participating.

This free, self-directed course remains available online to academic and professional staff. The course is available for professional development, and the online format allows academics and staff to enrol and complete the course at a time that suits them.

Additional in-person Masterclass workshops were also held in all Australian capital cities between May and October 2023, and attended by almost 500 people.

TEQSA has been working with several specialist medical colleges to ensure the terms used to describe postgraduate training for medical practitioners meet the requirements of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Act 2011 (TEQSA Act).

The TEQSA Act places restrictions on use of terms such as Diploma, Bachelor or Masters to describe qualifications. This is to safeguard the interests of students and uphold the integrity of Australian higher education qualifications by ensuring that only courses that align with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and are provided by registered higher education providers use these regulated terms.

With the exception of the College of Dermatologists, no specialist medical colleges are registered with TEQSA to award qualifications using these terms.

Following discussions with several colleges and the Department of Health and Aged Care, the specialist medical colleges have agreed to ensure terms used to describe their qualifications will comply with the TEQSA Act from the end of February 2024.

This change in nomenclature by the respective colleges does not impact previous training recipients or the content of the programs offered. Medical colleges will be able to publish details of how qualifications previously conferred as diplomas align with the new qualification titles.

TEQSA thanks the specialist medical colleges for engaging with us since late 2022 to explore all options for ensuring continuity of the delivery of postgraduate medical training by the colleges, while meeting the requirements of the TEQSA Act.

Frequently asked questions

Under what section of the TEQSA Act has TEQSA made this decision?

Under sections 105 and 106 of the TEQSA Act, it is an offence for a regulated entity that is not a registered higher education provider, to:

• offer or confer a higher education award (including a Diploma) or,
• represent that it offers or confers, or will offer or confer, a regulated higher education award (including a Diploma). 

Financial penalties of up to 600 penalty units (approximately $187,000) can apply for breaches of the Act.

What are the specialist medical colleges doing to achieve compliance?

Specialist medical colleges will ensure the terms used to describe the postgraduate medical qualifications they deliver and confer, are in keeping with the TEQSA Act from February 2024.

Each college, reflective of the needs of their members and specialist disciplines, is determining what the updated nomenclature will be. 

Will this impact people who have completed a program prior to 2024?

No. Medical practitioners who have been conferred a diploma by a medical college in the past, will be able to continue to use the diploma title.

What is the AQF?

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) was established in 1995 and updated in 2013. Key objectives of the AQF are to contribute to the Australian economy by supporting relevant, consistent graduate outcomes, and providing pathways between different education and training sectors and labour markets, building confidence in Australian qualifications.

The AQF also underpins national regulatory and quality assurance arrangements and enables alignment with international qualifications frameworks.

The AQF sets out the learning outcomes for each AQF level and qualification type and the specifications for the application of the AQF in the accreditation and development of qualifications.

TEQSA regulates courses that are at AQF Level 5 (diploma) to Level 10 (doctoral degrees).

The protection of AQF titles and qualification descriptors preceded the TEQSA Act. The National Protocols for Higher Education Approval 2008 set out that AQF qualifications titles were protected by a national legislative framework, with “significant financial penalties for breaching the legislation or guidelines which protect use of the titles”.

Australian Qualifications Framework

TEQSA welcomes the appointment of Adrienne Nieuwenhuis as Acting Chief Commissioner.

Ms Nieuwenhuis, who joined the TEQSA Commission in 2021, has more than three decades of experience across the higher education and vocational education and training (VET) sectors.

• Our leadership and organisation (for Ms Nieuwenhuis’s biography)
• Renewing TEQSA’s leadership

FAQs

• Reducing the administrative burden of regulation - Frequently Asked Questions

Online learning good practice

• View our online learning good practice resources 

Latest updates

Temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders (25 January 2022)

The Department of Home Affairs has announced the temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders. 

This takes effect immediately for all ongoing students as well as new student arrivals who wish to commence a job prior to course commencement. This means that international students can work before their course commences and work more than 40 hours a fortnight in any sector of the economy. This is a temporary arrangement and will be reviewed by the Government in April 2022.

• More information about these temporary changes

International student arrivals - update from TEQSA and ASQA (25 November 2021)

TEQSA and ASQA have issued joint advice to the sector around the continuation of regulatory flexibility following the re-opening of Australia’s borders to international students.

• Read the update

TEQSA fee relief arrangements extended until 31 December 2022 (25 November 2021)

The Minister for Education and Youth has announced a further 12-month extension of TEQSA’s regulatory fee relief arrangements as part of an Australian Government package to support the higher education sector’s recovery from the pandemic.

ADCET guidelines on responding to the needs of staff and students with disability in COVID-19 return-to-campus planning for Australia’s tertiary institutions (28 September 2020)

The Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET) guidelines aim to complement higher education providers' general approach to return to campus and enhance existing resources by ensuring that return-to-campus plans are viewed through a 'disability lens'. 

They provide considerations and practical recommendations to support the safe return of staff and students with disability in COVID-19 back onto campus when they are able to do so. 

• View the ADCET guidelines
   

COVID-19 recovery – key considerations for providers (10 September 2020)

This guidance sets out key, high-level, principles-based considerations that providers should remain mindful of in their planning during the COVID-19 recovery period. 

• View COVID-19 recovery – key considerations for providers

2020 provider risk assessment (27 August 2020)

TEQSA has introduced a number of changes to our approach to the risk assessments for 2020. The 2020 provider risk assessment will incorporate feedback received by TEQSA during our consultation with the sector in 2019, and will feature a specific focus on the financial viability of providers due to the significant impacts of COVID-19.

• Further information

COVID-19 Challenges and Future Directions: HEPP-QN Question Bank (27 July 2020)

At a meeting of 1 July 2020, HEPP-QN and TEQSA produced a series of questions and responses relating to TEQSA's regulatory activities during the pandemic.

• View the Question Bank 

COVID-19 related complaints to the Overseas Students Ombudsman (5 June 2020)

• The Overseas Students Ombudsman has published a fact sheet about international student complaints related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Coronavirus – regulatory information for universities, VET, ELICOS and higher education providers (20 May 2020)

• The Department of Education, Skills and Employment has published an information sheet for providers on flexible arrangements and online learning for international students

Applications for course accreditation for new Graduate and Undergraduate Certificates (6 May 2020)

• Details on applying for course accreditation for new Graduate and Undergraduate Certificates

National principles for clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic (21 April 2020)

• Department of Health, Department of Education, Skills and Employment, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and Health Professions Accreditation Collaborative Forum (HPACF) joint statement setting out national principles to guide student clinical education 

Online delivery – key considerations for providers (8 April 2020)

• Online delivery – key considerations for providers

Impacts of COVID-19 on Industry Professional Accreditation (6 April 2020)

• Statement on impacts of COVID-19 on industry professional accreditation

TEQSA is working remotely (30 March 2020)

TEQSA is working to provide continuous service for the higher education sector during COVID19, while safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all staff, and the community. 

All TEQSA staff are working remotely, and our Melbourne offices are closed. While we have worked hard to ensure minimal disruptions we do appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. 

Providers are encouraged to continue to reach out to their TEQSA case managers at any time with any concerns, and to report material changes. 

Continue to visit our website, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our eNews, for all our latest updates. 

Reducing regulatory burden during COVID-19 (26 March 2020)

• Reducing regulatory burden during COVID-19: Important update for higher education providers from TEQSA 

Joint TEQSA and ASQA statement relating to flexible delivery (20 March 2020)

All AQF training and assessment must meet high quality standards regardless of the location of the student and the mode of delivery.  As long as the student remains enrolled with their provider, and the assessment requirements of the course allow it, the location of the student and the mode of delivery should not form an impediment to attainment of an Australian qualification. 

National regulators, including ASQA and TEQSA, will be flexible in order to support students to study online either in Australia or offshore. 

Providers should assure themselves that such arrangements maintain assessment and quality standards, and are appropriately documented. Not all qualifications are suited to online learning, this may include those with mandatory work placements. 

If providers have questions about their specific circumstances they should contact their relevant regulator.

Reporting material changes to TEQSA

As a result of the impacts of COVID-19, providers may need to make a number of significant changes to their operations to respond to the current challenges. TEQSA is monitoring the nature of material changes and we are continuing to update our guidance and advice to reflect the evolving issues reported by the sector.

Obligation

On 30 June 2021, TEQSA published a revised Material Change Notification Policy. This policy outlines the circumstances in which providers are required to notify TEQSA of material changes and the method for notification and supersedes the previous Coronavirus (COVID-19) – statement on notifications. You should report material changes in the circumstances listed on the latest Material Change Notification Policy via email to materialchanges@teqsa.gov.au.

Submitting a material change

A material change must be submitted within 14 days of becoming aware of the change.

The notification should include information on the nature of the change, how the provider is managing the change, how it was approved (if applicable), and any significant financial implications.

What happens next

Importantly, a material change is a notification to TEQSA, not an application. You do not need to wait for a response from TEQSA once you have met your obligation by submitting a material change.

TEQSA will review the information you submit in your material change and contact you with any questions or concerns if needed. 

Questions

TEQSA is committed to supporting providers during this time and encourage you to contact your case manager with any questions.

Students

We commend the sector for all it is doing to support its students, especially international students, during this time. 

We would encourage providers to refer students to the Study in Australia website where they can access a suite of resources and latest information, including in relation to travel and visa information, and wellbeing support. 

For international students in Australia, the descriptions and contact details of many organisations which provide mental health services are listed on the Mental Health Australia website. 

Other resources, for students and the sector, include: 

• COVID-19: Information for universities, higher education and vocational education facilities, their students and staff
• COVID-19: Information for VET, ELICOS and higher education providers
• COVID-19 resources in Simplified Chinese
• Delivery of online education to students based in China
• Novel coronavirus FAQs for international students
• Department of Education, Skills and Employment information page
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Smartraveller: All Australians advised to come home from abroad, and to not travel overseas.

Compliance with the National Code

TEQSA acknowledges that due to COVID-19 providers may not be in a position to fully comply with all of the requirements of the National Code 2018.  

Providers should raise any concerns by contacting cricos@teqsa.gov.au.

ELICOS

Noting the intensive nature of ELICOS delivery and the challenges presented by online delivery of ELICOS, both ASQA and TEQSA are committed to working with ELICOS providers during this time to ensure that students who are directly impacted by travel restriction from attending class in Australia are not disadvantaged.

ASQA and TEQSA will work flexibly with providers on a case by case basis to ensure any alternative arrangements put in place mitigate disadvantage to students.

Financial dependence on affected overseas students

TEQSA recognises the financial impacts of COVID-19, travel bans, and other quarantine measures, which may lead to institutions suffering financial pressures at this time.

Section 6.2 of the Threshold Standards requires corporate monitoring and accountability. Where short-term measures are implemented to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, TEQSA asks that providers also identify and manage any subsequent risks, in order to ensure adequate resource allocations and ongoing financial viability, for current and future students. 

As above, TEQSA encourages providers to contact their case managers to discuss their circumstances on a case-by-case basis.

Enquiries

For any other enquiries, please contact enquiries@teqsa.gov.au.

TEQSA is continuing to protect students and the integrity of Australia’s higher education sector by blocking websites and social media accounts which offer academic cheating services.

We recently blocked an additional 79 websites, under protocols with major ISPs.

Australia’s anti-cheating laws make it an offence to provide or advertise academic cheating services in higher education. Since August 2022 TEQSA has blocked almost 370 websites. We’ve also worked with social media companies to remove posts and profiles that advertise academic cheating services.

A list of blocked illegal cheating websites is available on TEQSA’s website. TEQSA has also shared our entire database of suspected academic cheating services with all registered providers via Sigbox.

TEQSA has resources available for higher education students, academics and professional staff to support good practice in, and manage risk to, academic integrity, including TEQSA’s online Masterclass: Contract cheating detection and deterrence.

You can help us support academic integrity by reporting websites you suspect offer commercial academic cheating services.