In response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the Australian Government implemented the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework (the Framework) to ensure minimum standards for child safe behaviours and practices are in place at Commonwealth entities.
The Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) is Australia’s independent national quality assurance and regulatory agency for higher education. Our purpose is to safeguard student interests and the reputation of Australia’s higher education sector by assuring the quality of higher education providers through a proportionate, risk-reflective approach to regulation.
Although TEQSA’s business activities do not directly involve interaction with children, our agency remains proactive in identifying and mitigating any potential risks associated with its operations, roles or business interactions. We are committed to fostering a culture of awareness, accountability, and continuous improvement in child safety. TEQSA does not fund third-party providers to deliver services to children.
TEQSA is compliant with the Framework’s four key requirements. The agency maintains a position of zero tolerance for child abuse, neglect, and exploitation. TEQSA evaluates risks to child safety in relation to its activities and operations and monitors the effectiveness of strategies implemented in managing identified risks.
In 2025, TEQSA conducted its annual child safety risk assessment. The assessment found no material changes to the agency’s overall risk profile compared to 2024. However, the assessment identified further opportunities to strengthen existing controls and processes. The identified risks are rated as minor, and controls remain effective and proportionate to the nature of TEQSA’s activities.
TEQSA has reviewed its Child Safety Policy and will continue to regularly review the policy to ensure the agency remains aligned with current best practice child safety measures. TEQSA incorporates the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations into its culture and practices where these apply.
TEQSA continues to embed the Framework and National Principles into its culture and practices by:
- incorporating the Framework into its mandatory annual training performance development processes
- building staff capability through online training modules and awareness initiatives
- reviewing roles during recruitment activities to determine whether they involve potential interactions with children and, if so, classifying them as child safe positions
- maintaining a comprehensive register of child-safe positions and Working with Children Checks (WWCC).
TEQSA will continue to monitor its risk environment, strengthen its child safety governance, and promote a culture of shared responsibility to ensure the highest standards are upheld across all areas of the agency’s work.
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