Australian Government Intensifies Its Assault On International Education Sector Jobs
Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia Media Release
The Australian Government has intensified its attack on jobs in the international education sector, releasing details of the proposed 2025 caps on the number of international skills training students last Friday. The peak body representing independent Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), higher education and international education providers, the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), has been inundated with questions from members who are perplexed, bewildered, and deeply worried.
“College closures are now inevitable, and ITECA members lay the blame squarely at the feet of Australian Government politicians responsible for international education policy,” said Troy Williams, ITECA Chief Executive.
Over the weekend, the ITECA membership considered the advice concerning next year’s international student intake, and the response was negative and worrying.
“The impact of these cuts on the number of international students able to come to Australia is staggering with up to 300 independent colleges expected to close. Their employees will lose their jobs, as will other employees in colleges that will have to scale down to survive,” Mr Williams said.
Colleges now facing an existential threat support international students in key industry sectors, including aviation, aged care and healthcare.
“There is a widespread and chilling belief within the ITECA membership that Australian Government politicians simply do not care about the livelihoods they are destroying,” Mr Williams said.
ITECA is deeply concerned about the welfare of those who will lose their jobs due to the Australian Government’s approach to international education.
“ITECA is working collaboratively with Departmental staff to mitigate the worst impacts on RTOs that deliver quality student outcomes. However, there is only so much that can be done while Australian Government politicians issue directives and say how international students are pushing up housing costs, a widely debunked false narrative,” Mr Williams said.
ITECA has reissued its call for a long-term strategy for international education that creates a framework where the sector can operate sustainably, jobs are protected, and international students feel welcome.
“Sadly, the current approach of the Australian Government to international education is opposed to these outcomes,” Mr Williams concluded.
According to ITECA, the Australian Government needs to rethink its approach to consider the impact on the sector more completely, restoring an evidence-based approach to policymaking.
“The most sensible thing to do, given the proximity to the 2025 academic year, would be to delay the commencement of the caps for at least six months. This allows the Australian Government to be transparent in its methodology and develop a sustainable approach that supports quality RTOs and the people they employ,” Mr Williams concluded.
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2 comments
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Andrew Smith
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Tony
Return to home pageStarted as a dog whistle claiming ‘high immigration’ of international students temporary residents were creating housing shortages, high prices and rents, crowding out locals.
Set against COVID catch up on border movements, opportunity to wedge ALP govt. by RW MSM stagnant median house values, plunging apartment values too; now not a whisper from media?
How easy is it to dog whistle Australians, to indirectly then support duff energy and migration policies for <0.1%? Too easy……
Is the real reason for running uni courses for foreign students about educating people from other countries (improving their English skills in the process), or about providing a pathway for permanent resident status which fits in nicely with the Lib-Lab agenda of increasing rapid population growth? The flow-on effect of inflation via accelerated demand for goods & services (think GST) helps the protected species – vested interests. Isn’t it obvious?
Andrew, I watched some Q&A on ABC last night and panellist Alan Kohler suggested there be a built-in mechanism where immigration numbers are matched to the number of houses being built. That would solve the problem and end the perception that immigrants ’cause’ the housing problem rather than the lack of political interest in this matter because it might interfer with their investment portfolio strategy in some way.