IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA
The Australian Government has introduced changes to the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students. These changes are, namely, preventing onshore poaching of international students as this has been a long-standing issue where agents or providers recruit students already in Australia from one CRICOS-registered provider to another.
What is changing?
– The new National Code Amendment (Education Agent Commissions) Instrument 2026 has commenced, updating the National Code under the ESOS Act to strengthen integrity around education agent activities.
– Most notably, education agent commissions or incentives for onshore student transfers are now prohibited, meaning agents can no longer receive monetary or non-monetary benefits linked to moving students who are already in Australia from one provider to another.
These reforms are designed to:
– Protect students’ choices and welfare
– Uphold academic continuity and visa compliance
– Maintain fair competition across the international education sector
– Build trust and transparency between providers, students, and agents
Why this matter if you are an agent or provider
Strong systems for compliance, transparency, and risk management, especially around how agent relationships and payments are tracked, reported and evidenced under the National Code and ESOS framework is a must.
This is where Educli Agent Management helps::
* Track all agent engagements, statuses and performance in one place
* Record and report agent activities with audit-ready evidence
* Ensure transparency around commissions and compliance obligations
* Standardise your agent compliance workflows to align with the updated National Code
With regulatory scrutiny increasing, Educli helps providers stay compliant, organised, and prepared for audits, giving them peace of mind and a stronger foundation for growth.
Check out our FREE self-assessment tool to see where you are at! https://www.educli.com/en/agent-assessment/quiz
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