TERTIARY EDUCATION QUALITY AND STANDARDS AGENCY (TEQSA)

Australians Unified – Education, Skills & Lifelong Learning Portfolio

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is Australia’s national regulator for higher education. It ensures that universities and higher education providers meet high standards of quality, integrity, governance, and student protection. TEQSA safeguards the reputation of Australia’s tertiary system and supports public confidence in higher education.

TEQSA works with universities, private providers, students, industry, and government agencies to regulate providers, assess risk, uphold academic integrity, and ensure students receive high‑quality education.

 

OUR ROLE

TEQSA exists to:

  • Regulate and accredit higher education providers

  • Uphold the Higher Education Standards Framework

  • Protect students through quality assurance and compliance

  • Strengthen academic integrity and provider governance

  • Assess risk and performance across the tertiary sector

  • Support international education quality and reputation

  • Provide evidence and insights to guide higher education policy

TEQSA ensures Australia’s higher education system is high‑quality, accountable, and globally respected

OUR STRENGTHS

Regulatory & Quality Strengths

  • Trusted national higher education regulator

  • Strong capability in risk assessment and compliance

  • Deep expertise in governance, integrity, and quality assurance

  • Established partnerships with universities and providers

  • National leadership in academic integrity and student protection

Sovereign Strengths

  • Critical to national education quality and global reputation

  • Essential for international student confidence

  • Supports long‑term system stability and accountability

OUR STRENGTHS

Regulatory & Quality Strengths

  • Trusted national higher education regulator

  • Strong capability in risk assessment and compliance

  • Deep expertise in governance, integrity, and quality assurance

  • Established partnerships with universities and providers

  • National leadership in academic integrity and student protection

Sovereign Strengths

  • Critical to national education quality and global reputation

  • Essential for international student confidence

  • Supports long‑term system stability and accountability

OUR THREATS

External Threats

  • Provider misconduct or financial instability

  • Global competition in higher education

  • Rising cost pressures on students and institutions

  • Public misinformation about tertiary standards

Internal Threats

  • Resource constraints

  • Outdated digital systems

  • Workforce fatigue and retention challenges

  • Limited surge capacity for major regulatory reforms

 

OUR OPPORTUNITIES

Strategic Opportunities

  • Modernise national higher education regulatory platforms

  • Strengthen academic integrity and governance frameworks

  • Expand international education quality assurance

  • Improve student protection and transparency

  • Enhance collaboration with industry and research sectors

Operational Opportunities

  • Recruit and retain specialist regulatory and data analysts

  • Improve digital tools for providers and students

  • Strengthen partnerships with universities and peak bodies

  • Expand community and regional engagement

CONDENSED YEARLY COSTING MODEL — TEQSA

Baseline + Uplift Investment Framework

 

BASELINE FUNDING (Already Provided)

  • Core TEQSA operations: $0.14B

  • Regulation, accreditation & compliance: $0.08B

  • Data, integrity & quality assurance: $0.05B

Total Baseline Funding:

$0.27B per year

 

PHASE 1 — FOUNDATION (Years 1–2)

Annual uplift: $0.22B – $0.32B 2‑year uplift total: $0.44B – $0.64B

 

PHASE 2 — ACCELERATION (Years 2–4)

Annual uplift: $0.32B – $0.46B 3‑year uplift total: $0.96B – $1.38B

 

PHASE 3 — EXPANSION (Years 4–6)

Annual uplift: $0.42B – $0.58B 2‑year uplift total: $0.84B – $1.16B

 

PHASE 4 — FUTURE‑READY (Years 6–10)

Annual uplift: $0.55B – $0.75B 4‑year uplift total: $2.20B – $3.00B

 

TOTAL INVESTMENT SUMMARY

6‑YEAR TOTAL

  • Uplift: $2.24B – $3.18B

  • Baseline: $1.62B

Total 6‑Year Investment:

$3.86B – $4.80B

10‑YEAR TOTAL

  • Uplift: $4.42B – $6.18B

  • Baseline: $2.70B

Total 10‑Year Investment:

$7.12B – $8.88B

THE FUTURE‑READY TEQSA

A national blueprint for quality, integrity, and student protection

 

1. FASTER, MORE EFFECTIVE REGULATORY SYSTEMS

Strengthening national higher education capability

Key Actions

  • Modern digital regulatory and reporting systems

  • Faster accreditation and compliance pathways

  • Improved risk assessment and provider monitoring tools

  • Strengthened coordination with the Department of Education

Outcome: A more agile, responsive national regulatory system.

 

2. STRONGER SOVEREIGN QUALITY CAPABILITY

Building Australian capability for global leadership in higher education

Key Actions

  • Specialist regulatory and academic integrity teams

  • National higher education data and modelling platform

  • Strengthened oversight and governance

  • Expanded international quality assurance

Outcome: A more resilient, future‑focused higher education system.

 

3. A MODERN, RESILIENT TEQSA WORKFORCE

Supporting the people who safeguard Australia’s tertiary standards

Key Actions

  • Workforce wellbeing and retention programs

  • Specialist training pathways

  • Diversity and inclusion initiatives

  • Modern digital and analytical tools

Outcome: A strong, supported TEQSA workforce.

 

4. BETTER INTEGRATION WITH GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITIES & STUDENTS

One national higher education quality ecosystem

Key Actions

  • Integrated data‑sharing platforms

  • Stronger partnerships with universities and peak bodies

  • National community and student engagement

  • Shared analytics and intelligence systems

Outcome: A more coordinated, community‑connected tertiary network.

 

5. A MORE TRANSPARENT, HIGH‑PERFORMING HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

Supporting students, providers, and communities

Key Actions

  • Clear, accessible provider performance information

  • Strengthened student protection and complaint pathways

  • First Nations community‑led quality frameworks

  • Public transparency and open data

Outcome: A more accountable, equitable, and trusted higher education system.