TEQSA’s provider portal is unavailable.
This section of the toolkit explores assessment security and the risks associated with different forms of assessment. The section includes frameworks for academic integrity and assessment security, and showcases different ways of securing assessment to provide assurance that they are completed with integrity.
In March, TEQSA published our revised Academic Integrity Toolkit. The updated toolkit includes two new sections as well as new and updated case studies to support higher education providers in promoting academic integrity and managing academic misconduct at their institution.
Updated sections:
New sections:
Today we’re pleased to add new and updated resources to the toolkit, including a Good Practice Note, and guides related to substantiating contract cheating, detecting AI in texts, and the common roles and responsibilities relating to academic integrity.
These resources add to the case studies and resources we published in March. The Academic Integrity Toolkit can be found in the Guide and resources section of our website.
The project team which delivered the toolkit’s update was led by Associate Professor Guy Curtis (University of Western Australia). Thank you to the project team for their work.
The Australian Government released the Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy in November 2023, setting out the overall approach and action required by Commonwealth entities to achieve the APS Net Zero 2030 target.
The Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy represents a strong commitment by the Australian Government to lead by example on emissions reduction and contribute to the decarbonisation of Australia’s economy.
TEQSA is committed to the achievement of the Government’s APS Net Zero 2030 target. TEQSA is following the APS Net Zero 2030 target in full, as per the Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy.
This Emissions Reduction Plan describes the priorities and actions TEQSA is taking to reduce our operational emissions and contribute to the APS Net Zero 2030 target.
As a statutory agency, we must meet specific government accountability requirements.
The publications available in this section show how we operate as an open and transparent agency:
We report on our performance through our annual report to the Australian Parliament.
Our work is also examined by the Australian Parliament at Senate Estimates committee hearings three times each year.
Australia’s anti-cheating laws make it an offence to provide or advertise academic cheating services in higher education.
TEQSA is working to disrupt access to these sites to protect students and the integrity of higher education.
An alphabetical list of blocked illegal cheating websites is available below:
TEQSA continues to disrupt predatory academic cheating services, by blocking their websites in Australia.
TEQSA has blocked another 61 commercial academic cheating websites, disrupting the operations of these illegal services which target students.
This recent action brings the total number of websites blocked, under protocols with major internet service providers (ISPs), to 616. A list of the blocked illegal cheating websites is available at teqsa.gov.au.
Academic cheating services allow students to pay someone to complete assessments for them. This undermines the student’s learning and the trust in the qualification they receive. Further, using these services leaves the student vulnerable to blackmail and identity theft.
Blocking illegal academic cheating service websites is part of TEQSA’s multi-pronged approach to protecting the integrity of higher education awards.
TEQSA has numerous resources available to support higher education students, academics and professional staff. These resources include:
Our Commissioners are appointed by the Commonwealth Minister for Education based on their expertise in higher education quality assurance and regulatory practice. Commissioners are responsible for making regulatory decisions, setting strategic directions, monitoring risk in the sector and deciding on matters relating to the development of our quality assurance and regulatory functions. The Commissioners are TEQSA's accountable authority.
TEQSA's Commissioners also inform the higher education sector about our work and the responsibilities of higher education providers under the Australian Government’s regulatory system. Our Commissioners are:
 |
Professor Krause PhD GAICD PFHEA commenced as TEQSA’s Chief Commissioner on 7 April 2025. She is an experienced Board Chair and brings extensive higher education leadership and knowledge to TEQSA, with more than 30 years’ experience in public universities and independent institutions. Formerly Chair of the Higher Education Standards Panel advising the Minister for Education, Professor Krause combines regulatory and governance expertise with a deep commitment to quality, integrity and transparency. Her university executive leadership has focused on leading systemic organisational reform through enhancing the quality of university learning, teaching and student experiences, particularly among diverse student cohorts. Professor Krause’s most recent book, Learner-centred leadership in higher education, is a practical guide on strategic higher education leadership practices with learners at the heart. Prior to joining TEQSA, she was Vice-Chancellor of Avondale University, where she successfully led Avondale’s transition from University College to University, applying lessons learned over many years of leading sector-level quality enhancement and university-wide organisational renewal and strategic improvement. She also held the role of Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Centre for the Study of Higher Education. Other executive leadership roles have included Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at Western Sydney University and La Trobe University and Provost at Victoria University where she led the introduction of the block model curriculum initiative and workforce renewal spanning the higher education and TAFE sectors. As Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Melbourne, she led the Student Life executive portfolio, partnering with students, heads of student residential halls and colleagues across the university to enhance the quality of student engagement, safety and wellbeing. Professor Krause is internationally recognised for her contributions to higher education policy research and practice, including research on the evolving nature of higher education curricula, learners, academic work and implications for leadership, quality, standards and university governance. |
 |
Prior to her appointment to TEQSA, Adrienne held senior positions at the University of South Australia, most recently as the Director of the Office of Vice Chancellor, and in state government as the Director Quality, Tertiary Education, Science and Research in the South Australian Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology. While in this role, Adrienne worked closely with the Australian Government in the establishment of the national regulatory systems for both higher education and VET. Adrienne was an inaugural member of the Higher Education Standards Panel (2011–14) and the National Skills Standards Council (2011–13). She was reappointed to the Higher Education Standards Panel for a further three-year term in 2018. Adrienne also has extensive experience across the tertiary education sector, including membership of the South Australian Skills Commission (2013–2025) and member of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (2019–2022). In 2022 she was appointed to the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Advisory Council and in 2024 was appointed to the Commonwealth’s Initial Teacher Education Quality Assurance Oversight Board. Adrienne has over 30 years’ experience in tertiary education, regulation, and public administration, management and governance. She has been a member of various state and federal committees and working parties associated with both VET and higher education and public policy. In recognition of her contributions to tertiary education Adrienne was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 South Australian Training Awards. Adrienne holds an honours degree in science and a master’s degree in tertiary education policy and administration. |
 |
Professor More was appointed to the TEQSA Commission in February 2025. Prior to her appointment to the TEQSA Commission, Professor More held a number of senior academic and leadership roles in higher education. Most recently, Elizabeth has been Chair of the Academic Board of the SP Jain School of Global Management, Board Chair of Nexus Education, and on the Council and Academic Board of Kings Own Institute. Previously, she was the Chief Academic Advisor/Director of Research at Study Group and a member of its senior leadership team. She has also served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Macquarie and Canberra universities and Director of the Macquarie University Graduate School of Management (MGSM), Managing Director of MGSM Pty Ltd; Chair of the Academic Senate at Macquarie University; Foundation Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business at the Australian Catholic University; Professor of Management and MBA and Research Director at MGSM; and Academic Director of Macquarie University’s city campus. She was also the Dean of the Faculty of Business, Management and Wellness, incorporating the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) School of Business and the Australasian College of Health and Wellness. A past president of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management, and of the Australian Communication Association, Elizabeth also has extensive experience in governance, and consulting to both private and public sector organisations. Before becoming a university academic, she worked as a classical ballet dancer in theatre and television, and in the advertising industry. In addition to being a member of the 2019 Australian Qualifications Framework review panel, Professor More has been on the editorial boards of the Journal of Global Responsibility, Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, Australian Journal of Communication, Journal of Communication Management, Journal of International Communication, Knowledge and Process Management, and the Journal of Corporation Transformation. Professor More’s academic achievements were acknowledged in the Queen’s Birthday 2005 Honours List, when she received the award of Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to education, particularly in the fields of communication, management and organisational change. Her most recent research presentations and publications have been focused on change management in the non-profit sector, highlighting the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Her latest publication with co-editors Associate Professor David Rosenbaum and Mark Orr, Journeys through the Disability and Mental Health Nonprofit Sector – The Theory and Practice of Leadership, will be published in April 2025 by Springer UK. Her academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (UNSW), Graduate Diploma in Management (Central Queensland University), Masters of Commercial Law (Deakin University), and a PhD (UNSW). Her recent work in the nonprofit sector has been as Chair of Flourish Australia, a Director of the Symphony for Life Foundation, and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ NFP Chairs’ Forum. |
 |
Steve Somogyi was appointed a TEQSA Commissioner in November 2021. He has extensive global experience in the financial services, health care, higher education and prudential regulation sectors and has chaired boards and audit and risk committees. Steve served as the Chief Operating Officer at RMIT University for 10 years from July 2006 until July 2016. He then became a Strategic Adviser to Monash University, Victoria University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Adelaide, Siemens, Queensland Investment Corporation and Energy Trade. He has chaired complex projects including the Queen Street Precinct project to improve student experience for Victoria University. He also helped create the Net Zero Program for Monash to achieve energy savings and zero net carbon emissions by 2030 and developed a strategic approach to the Higher Education and Health Care sectors for the Siemens Smart Cities Business Unit. He was a member of the Expert Review Group for the Australian Council for Educational Research. Steve has held a range of senior roles in government and industry at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, Trowbridge Consulting, Mayne Nickless, Bonlac Foods, IOOF and the CPI Group. He worked at National Mutual for 27 years and ended his career there as Chief Finance Executive and Chief Actuary. His work on boards includes serving as a Commission Member of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, former Chair of Guild Group, Director of UniSuper including Chair of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, former Chair of Higher Ed Services, Chair of Course-Loop and former Director of Study Loans. Earning a Master of Science in High Energy Physics from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Science in Management (Sloan Fellow) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Steve is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia, of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and of the Financial Services Institute of Australia. |
 |
Dr Mary Russell is CEO at TEQSA. She was appointed to the role in May 2024, having led TEQSA as acting CEO since June 2023. Mary joined TEQSA as the Executive Director of Regulatory Operations in 2022. In this role she led the regulatory teams which manage higher education provider registration, course accreditation, compliance and regulatory risk assessments. Before joining TEQSA, Mary was Assistant Ombudsman for Dispute Resolution at the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman. She held executive roles at the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) for six years, including as State Manager for Victoria, National Manager of Notifications and National Manager of Regulatory Risk Strategy. While at AHPRA, she led the development and implementation of a risk-based approach to managing concerns about the performance and conduct of health practitioners. Mary has served as chair and member of regulatory boards, concurrently with roles as a health practitioner and a tertiary educator. She has extensive experience of university teaching, curriculum development and delivery, and has completed her PhD in Health Sciences. |
The Commission is supported by an Executive Leadership Team (ELT) comprising the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director of Regulatory Operations and senior managers. ELT is responsible for the management of our regulatory business, corporate processes and people.
We have established an Audit and Risk Committee in compliance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and PGPA Rule.
The Higher Education Standards Panel (HESP) is an expert statutory advisory body, established under the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), with responsibility related to the standards for delivery of higher education in Australia.
HESP is independent of TEQSA.
TEQSA warmly congratulates our Commissioner, Professor Elizabeth More, AM, FAICD, on being named a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
AICD Fellowship recognises the professional standing and the esteem in which a person is held by their peers, earned through a sustained commitment to exemplary governance, leadership and service. As one of the highest distinctions conferred by the institute, this milestone acknowledges the depth of Professor More’s contribution to date, and her continued influence in advancing high standards of governance.
“I am indeed most honoured by the award and recognition,” she said.
Professor More’s experience spans governance roles in higher education, government, media, business management and the performing arts. In her academic career, she has held key leadership roles including that of Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Macquarie and Canberra universities, Dean of the Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM), and Foundation Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business at the Australian Catholic University.
Alongside her duties as a TEQSA Commissioner since 2025, Professor More recently stepped down after a decade as Chair of Flourish Australia, one of the largest service providers supporting people with complex mental health issues, and as a member of the non-profit AICD Chairs Forum. She has been an influential voice across more than 20 boards through a distinguished career of service.
For several decades, the former classical ballet dancer has also contributed significantly to the advancement of organisation studies particularly in the areas of organisational change, communication, culture, communications technology and policy, sustainable leadership, knowledge management, and management in the performing arts.
In 2005, Professor More was acknowledged in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to education, particularly in the fields of communication, management and organisational change.
She hopes to continue sharing her experience, supporting and mentoring others, and contributing to the important conversations that define contemporary governance.
The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) established TEQSA as an agency.
The objects of the TEQSA Act are to:
The following legislative instruments have been made under the TEQSA Act:
Academic integrity toolkit