Australia considers tighter regulation of international education agents as industry seeks mandatory accreditation

Australia is considering possible changes to the way international education agents are regulated, with the country's newly merged representative body calling for mandatory accreditation and stronger accountability measures to protect students.

Australian Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill said the government was open to exploring a light-touch regulatory framework for education agents, following calls from the sector for minimum professional standards.

Speaking at a symposium organised by the Australian International Education Consultants Association (AIECA), Hill said the government had heard the industry's demands for accreditation and would examine possible regulatory models with the Department of Education.

The minister also indicated that sector representatives could be involved in discussions on the framework. Consultants appointed through the International Education Innovation Fund are expected to work with the department to assess possible approaches.

Hill said he was concerned that agents found to have breached professional codes and consumer obligations could continue operating without facing meaningful consequences.

However, he cautioned against introducing an expensive licensing system that could create additional costs for education agents. He suggested that industry self-regulation could be one possible starting point.

AIECA calls for government-backed accreditation

AIECA has called for mandatory minimum professional standards and accreditation for agents recruiting international students to Australia.

The association was formed through the merger of the Education Counsellors Association of Australia (ECAA) and the International Student Education Agent Association (ISEAA). The symposium marked its first major event following the merger.

The association favours a co-regulatory approach that combines government-backed minimum requirements under the National Code with industry involvement in developing accreditation and professional development programmes.

Under its proposed framework, agents would need to meet minimum competency requirements, follow a common code of conduct and undertake continuing professional development. A public register would also allow students and their families to check whether an agent holds recognised accreditation.

AIECA has argued that voluntary self-regulation would have limited reach because agents could choose not to participate. Government backing, it said, would help ensure more consistent coverage across the sector.

The association has also called for greater transparency around commission payments, relationships between agents and education providers, and potential conflicts of interest.

Student protection and agent accountability

The proposed framework would also seek to address misleading course advice, unrealistic promises about employment or migration outcomes, and misconduct involving subcontractors and offshore recruitment networks.

AIECA has called for accessible complaints procedures, independent investigations and proportionate penalties for misconduct. It has also argued that agents should not be the only parties held accountable, pointing to the role of universities and other education providers in selecting, monitoring and incentivising their recruitment partners.

The association said accreditation should demonstrate professional competence rather than simply involve payment of a registration fee or completion of a short online course. It also wants the framework to remain affordable for smaller agencies.

The Australian government has already mandated the collection of education agent commission data to improve its understanding of the recruitment market. However, AIECA has questioned whether existing indicators, such as student visa refusal rates and student outcomes, can reliably establish an agent's professional competence or misconduct.

While the government is examining possible approaches, no final regulatory model or mandatory accreditation requirement has been announced. The discussions could shape how education agents recruiting international students to Australia are monitored and held accountable in the future.