Message from our CEO – Securing support for our member colleges

In response to the challenges of COVID-19, English Australia has been lobbying the Australian Government to support member colleges through an ELICOS sector relief package. This package includes eight key components, one of which is the waiver of regulatory fees.

This past weekend, Minister for Education, Dan Tehan, and Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Michaelia Cash, announced that the fees charged by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) will be refunded or waived. In addition, the new cost recovery arrangements for TEQSA, ASQA and for the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) will all be deferred by 12 months to 1 July 2021.

ASQA has confirmed that fees and charges for providers registered with ASQA between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2021 will be waived. ASQA will also reimburse fees already paid, and we believe that TEQSA will follow a similar schedule.

English Australia welcomes these waivers and refunds, knowing they will help the cash flow of members and give some relief to the incredible pressures that members are currently facing.

As well as calling for an ELICOS relief package, English Australia has also sought support for a hardship fund to help stranded ­foreign students. The fund would provide help for all of our students, many of whom can’t pay their rent or other essentials. Not only will this fund protect our students, but also our international reputation as a welcoming study destination.

We will continue to advocate for these measures to ensure the survival of our member colleges and our industry. We welcome member input on any other activity that we can undertake to help member colleges.