International education is one of Australia's largest export sectors, contributing over $40 billion to the economy pre-pandemic. With international enrolments returning to pre-pandemic levels, the Albanese Government is introducing significant reforms to set the sector on a more sustainable path while protecting Australia's reputation for quality education. The new International Education and Skills Strategic Framework aims to rebalance growth with integrity to benefit students, universities, and communities.

The legislation introduces several key mechanisms: the ability to set maximum student enrolment allocations for education providers; the prohibition of education providers owning education agent businesses; targeted pauses on new provider registrations; requirements for new providers to demonstrate quality domestic education before enrolling international students; and the elimination of commissions for transferring students between Australian providers. These measures directly target exploitative practices that have undermined the sector's reputation, including a sharp increase in fraudulent visa applications and student poaching between institutions.

Key points:

Student enrolment caps to ensure sustainable growth and improve student experience

Requirement for universities to build more student accommodation to support growth

Ban on providers owning education agent businesses to eliminate conflicts of interest

Prohibition on agent commissions for transferring students between Australian providers

Increased data sharing to identify concerning patterns and stop unscrupulous operators

[1] https://www.education.gov.au/australian-strategy-international-education-2021-2030

[2] https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/next-steps-ensuring-integrity-and-sustainability-international-education-sector

[3] https://www.education.gov.au/international-education/resources/draft-international-education-and-skills-strategic-framework-pub