Education Agent Compliance Under the Spotlight

Unethical behaviour by education agents, both offshore and onshore, remains a serious concern for the Australian government. With international education under increasing scrutiny, the regulators have intensified their focus on agent conduct, provider accountability, and student outcomes.

For providers offering VET and higher education qualifications to international students, compliance is not just about maintaining good practice, it is a legal requirement under the legislation. 

When recruiting international students, registered providers must ensure that their marketing practices are truthful, transparent, and compliant; failure in these areas exposes them not only to regulatory sanctions but also to reputational damage, which is especially critical at a time when Australia is working to rebuild trust among international students.

Furthermore, recent monitoring activities have identified a growing trend of rapid student transfers as a cause for concern. Increasingly, students arrive in Australia under one provider only to quickly move to another, often with little academic justification. The government has publicly acknowledged that this type of “course hopping” undermines the integrity of the international education system. Allegations of collusion between some providers and agents are now a key focus of both ASQA risk audits and Home Affairs visa integrity measures.

Recent policy announcements indicate that agent regulation is tightening, with growing pressure for greater transparency, accountability, and government oversight. This signals a shift, where education providers will no longer be able to distance themselves from agency misconduct; instead, they will be held directly accountable for the behaviour of their recruitment partners.

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