Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia

”The best part of conferences like ITEC isn't just the presentations, it's the conversations, shared experiences and practical insights that help us all move forward together.”
— Katya Holker & Emily Knight, Hawkeye Consultancy

At ITEC26 we were treated to an outstanding International Education Symposium and we couldn't be more grateful to our incredible speakers for the insights and expertise they brought to the room. 🌏

A huge thank you to:
⭐ Dirk Mulder, The Koala News — for a thought-provoking exploration of the international education discussion
⭐ Robert Parsonson, ISEAA — for sharing invaluable insights on agent partnerships that drive trust and sustainability
⭐ Felix Pirie & Ian Aird — for a compelling session on navigating change and pathways for success
⭐ Vicki De Margheriti & Alana Anderson— for an insightful look at developing offshore training opportunities, chaired by Sally Deane
⭐ Nadia Thompson Department of Education — for a timely sector outlook on where we are headed next
⭐ Trevor Gauld, Jobs & Skills Australia — for an important session on student employability
⭐ Sarina Hobbin, Study Queensland; Toshi Kawaguchi, Investment NSW; and Caroline Hartnett, Study Melbourne — for a fantastic panel on how Australian cities and regions win global students
⭐ Matthew Noble, Department of Home Affairs — for an important and timely session on immigration policy, visas and student pathways

The conversations sparked in that room will continue to shape the future of international education in Australia. 💛

What an extraordinary Business & Productivity Symposium we had at ITEC26!

A sincere thank you to every speaker who gave their time, expertise and energy to make the day so valuable for our delegates.

A huge thank you to:
⭐ John King, NCVER — for showing us how to harness national data to strengthen our organisations
⭐ Reuben Brennan, People Partners — for practical and timely insights on workforce strategies
⭐ Shaun Schmitke, ACCI — for a sharp and relevant update on workplace relations key updates and impacts
⭐ Scott Rogers, eSkilled — for an inspiring look at digital solutions for RTOs
⭐ Katya Holker, Kevin Ekendahl and Melinda Cox — for a rich and candid panel on RTO Standards 12 months on
⭐ Jobs and Skills Councils panellists — for a valuable and wide-ranging panel discussion
⭐ David Jepsen, RTO Accountants — for essential advice on making your RTO financially fit
⭐ Patrick Kidd, & Tiffany McHugh FSO — for an exciting exploration of AI and the Future Skills Organisation Skills Accelerator
⭐ Department of Employment and Workplace Relations — for a practical roundtable on VET data streamlining and RTO readiness
⭐ Renee Hamilton, Equality Partners — for an important session on keeping students safe and meeting provider obligations
⭐ Andrew Shea, Skilled Nation — for a powerful and moving close to the day on leadership resilience with courage, conviction and connection

The depth of knowledge in that room was truly something special. 💛

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ITEC26 has come to a close, and we couldn't be more proud of what the independent tertiary education community brought to Brisbane.

Over three days, our delegates, sponsors, and speakers engaged deeply with the issues shaping skills training, higher education, and international education in Australia and reminded us why face-to-face connection remains irreplaceable.

The ideas shared in sessions matter. But so do the relationships built in the spaces in between.

A huge thank you to our amazing sponsors, whose support made ITEC26 possible. Your investment in this sector goes far beyond the conference floor it reflects a shared commitment to the future of independent tertiary education in Australia.

This week, we'll be sharing highlights from across the program. In the meantime thank you to everyone who joined us. Your presence, your questions, and your commitment to this sector made ITEC26 what it was.

Over the past few years, many RTOs have added QR codes to their certificates, notably by leveraging native capabilities within their SMS/SIS of choice.

It’s a sensible move. A QR code that links to a verification page feels like progress. It gives employers somewhere to check details and signals transparency. But as we move toward the 2025 RTO Standards — with their stronger emphasis on governance and integrity — it’s worth pausing and asking a simple question:

What exactly is being verified? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eQeMYmSG

ITECA and English Australia have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding, strengthening collaboration and advocacy across Australia's international education sector.

Together, we'll be working to advance better regulatory settings, student visa arrangements, sector professionalism, and stronger industry engagement.

Read more: www.iteca.edu.au/news

ITECA News Archive If you’re an employee of an ITECA member you can have updates such as these emailed directly to your desk.  Simply join one of the ITECA Sector Interest Groups and news items on the issues relevant to you will be sent directly to your email account:

We're thrilled to welcome the Hon. Ros Bates MP, Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, Queensland, to the ITEC26 Conference this morning in Brisbane! 🎉

Minister Bates delivered the Official Ministerial Opening, setting the scene for three days of important conversations about the future of independent tertiary education in Australia.
A fantastic start to what is shaping up to be an exceptional conference. 💛

"At ITEC26 in Brisbane, leaders from across the tertiary education sector will gather across the week to examine the challenging circumstances facing the sector and how we navigate them together.

Across the Australian tertiary education landscape, we see businesses operating in one of the most complex economic environments in recent memory. There are broader economic factors such as persistent inflation, ever-increasing operating costs, skills shortages that are being felt by suppliers and customers alike (ironically), and tightening regulatory expectations that that all meet at the nexus of small, medium and family owned businesses to place ever-increasing pressure on margins and decision making capacity.

For these businesses in the independent tertiary education sector, these challenges are compounded by policy settings that do not support the sector, uncertainty about those settings beyond a 6-12 month time horizon at best, unstable models for investment in students (including apprentices and trainees), and heightened the perception of inequalities of regulatory scrutiny with respect to quality delivery and student outcomes.

That’s a lot to challenge a business’ operating model. At the same time as considering these issues, the independent sector is maintaining its focus on evolving student expectations. Learners are increasingly discerning, driven by outcomes and clearer links between training and business/employment, and they are also more price sensitive that their counterparts in the publicly subsidised university sector. Yet they remain fundamentally driven by outcomes.

So, learners are attracted to the quality outcomes delivered through the independent sector, whether that is through flexible delivery that suits their individual circumstance, clear employment pathways, and tangible return on investment. Employers, as equally critical customers for the independent tertiary education sector, are demanding graduates that are ready for the job, who have practical, transferable skills aligned to rapidly changing workforce needs.

Independent providers are navigating accountability on multiple fronts. To multiple regulators at a Federal and often state / territory levels, industry accreditation, as well as the fundamental competitive accountability to students and employers simultaneously to demonstrable their value proposition...."

Quote from ITECA National Update - Challenges Turn to Positives for the Independent Tertiary Education Sector, Released Monday, 1 June 2026.

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