Minister for Education, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced the establishment of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) Advisory Council. Mr Pyne explained that the new Advisory Council will help uphold high standards and quality throughout higher education in Australia, protecting our reputation at home and abroad while reducing unnecessary regulation and red tape for the sector.
“I look forward to working with the Council to uphold standards and quality in higher education while also reducing the regulatory burden, including excessive reporting requirements, where possible.” Mr Pyne commented.
Mr Pyne explained that under its Terms of Reference the Advisory Council will advise TEQSA and the Minister on all aspects of ‘minimising regulatory intervention relating to Australian higher education, consistent with ensuring accountability for quality.
“We must ensure the national higher education quality agency, TEQSA, is working as efficiently and effectively as possible in fulfilling its most important function of upholding quality across all providers, especially through provider registration and course accreditation.” Mr Pyne commented.

TEQSA Advisory Council members
• Professor Peter Shergold AC (Chair), Chancellor of the University of Western Sydney and former Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
• Emeritus Professor Alan Robson AO, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, and Chair of the Higher Education Standards Panel
• Professor Greg Craven, Vice-Chancellor of Australian Catholic University
• Ms Karen Thomas, partner of lawyers Fisher Jeffries with extensive experience in risk management
• The Hon Phil Honeywood, National Executive Director of the International Education Association of Australia, with extensive experience of private and public higher education.