TEQSA registers providers to deliver higher education for a specific period, up to a maximum of 7 years. Each registered provider is required to apply to renew its registration at least 180 days before its current registration period lapses. Your registration period is published on the National Register under the ‘Registration’ tab.

Applications must be on the approved online application form (available from the Provider Portal), include all information requested, and be accompanied by the applicable fee and payment/invoice form. See more information on our fees page.

Once an application has been submitted, your registration continues until TEQSA has made a decision on the application. There are no additional restrictions on a provider’s registration while an application is under assessment.

The time it takes for TEQSA to assess an application to renew registration depends on the quality of the submission, any concurrent assessments being undertaken by TEQSA, and the time it takes for providers to respond to requests by TEQSA. As part of the assessment, TEQSA may request evidence to address gaps in the application, or to substantiate claims made in the submission.

Key stages

• Stage 1: Prepare your application
• Stage 2: Submit your application
• Stage 3: Application is assessed by TEQSA
• Stage 4: Findings and recommendations
• Stage 5: Application is decided by the TEQSA Commission
• Stage 6: Decision is published on the National Register

Application guide for renewal of registration

TEQSA encourages all applicants to read the application guide for renewal of registration before submitting an application. The application guide explains the application process, sets out the required evidence that will need to be submitted with each application, and provides guidance in preparing the application.

• Access the application guide

Key considerations for providers preparing a self-assurance report (renewal of registration)

All providers are required to prepare and submit a self-assurance report as part of an application for renewal of registration. This report should demonstrate the effectiveness of a provider’s self-assurance processes as an integral part of their day-to-day operations in identifying, managing, and mitigating institutional risks.

In preparing the report, providers should consider the key sector-wide issues that pose significant institutional risk. Guidance on what TEQSA expects providers to consider is available on TEQSA’s website.

• Key considerations for providers preparing a self-assurance report (renewal of registration)

Multiple applications

Providers are encouraged to apply for renewal of registration at the same time as renewal of CRICOS registration, course reaccreditation, and where applicable, other regulatory processes such as application for self-accrediting authority or an application to change provider category. The ability to submit concurrent applications will depend on a range of factors, including accreditation and registration periods. Providers are strongly encouraged to contact us to discuss the best way of packaging applications prior to submission.

Further information

For further information when preparing your application for renewal of registration, please contact TEQSA’s re-registration team at reregistration.enquiries@teqsa.gov.au.
 

If you want to work for a mission-focused organisation that offers flexibility, great conditions, and the ability to contribute to the excellence of Australian higher education, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency is the place for you.

Jobs at TEQSA

Search for current vacancies on our online job portal.

You can also register your interest in temporary employment opportunities through our Temporary Employment Registers and sign up to receive job alerts.

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Working at TEQSA

Why choose TEQSA?

At TEQSA, we are committed to providing a workplace that recognises and values the diversity of its employees and we encourage excellence, continuous improvement, professional development, integrity and an array of perspectives and contributions.

Our purpose

TEQSA is Australia’s independent national quality assurance and regulatory agency for higher education. TEQSA’s purpose is to deliver quality assurance that protects the interests of students and the reputation and standing of Australian higher education.

TEQSA has three strategic objectives in delivering its purpose:

1. Promote and support good practice and effective self-assurance across the sector.
2. Identify, analyse, and respond to risks to the sector.
3. Ensure compliance with applicable legislation through effective and efficient regulation.

Our culture

At TEQSA we want and promote a work environment that is characterised by fairness, personal accountability, and mutual trust and respect. We understand our employees are the key to our success and our focus is to ensure they feel safe, valued, and fulfilled in the work that they do.

The core values by which we operate include:

• Trust – We have confidence in each other to do our best. We encourage open and honest conversations that focus on the issue, not the person. We promote a supportive and safe workplace environment.
• Respect – We approach every situation with kindness, compassion, and an open mindset. We value people, the range of views and experience they bring, and the work they undertake.
• Accountability – We hold ourselves and each other accountable for our actions, how we work together, and the quality of what we deliver. We gather feedback, reflect, and act on opportunities for improvement.
• Collaboration – We draw on our collective strength by encouraging each other to contribute to the achievement of shared objectives. We provide context and information to help others succeed.

Our offer

People are at the heart of TEQSA’s success, and we are committed to enabling our employees to perform at their best. We offer the following benefits:

• work that is meaningful, diverse, and challenging
• genuine flexibility to help achieve a balance between work and life, including access to flexible hours, opportunities for hybrid work and flextime
• competitive salaries and 15.4% superannuation
• generous leave provisions to help you live your best life outside of work, including:
  • 4 weeks annual leave, plus additional paid leave when we close down over the Christmas to New Year period
  • option to purchase up to 4 weeks additional leave per year
  • paid parental leave, including maternity leave, supporting parents leave and adoption and foster care leave
  • up to 18 days paid personal leave per year to recover from illness or injury or to care for a family member
  • paid study leave.
• salary packaging options for eligible staff
• a national presence (TEQSA’s new, contemporary office is located in Melbourne CBD and remote working arrangements are supported for employees living interstate)
• a focus on your health and wellbeing with subsidies for flu vaccinations and an Employee Assistance Program. 

Investing in your professional growth and career development is our key to success. Access to training courses, conferences (including the annual TEQSA conference), webinars, and external study support will ensure you’ll never stop learning and will open doors to rewarding career pathways.

Our community

By joining TEQSA, you become a part of the Australian Public Service community of strong, passionate, and proud professionals, and affirm your commitment towards working for something greater than yourself.

The Australian Public Service (APS) offers a clear purpose and meaningful work where you can make a positive impact in people's lives. We provide a work life balance that supports your lifestyle with great employment conditions.

Working with us means you’re contributing to improve outcomes for Australia and Australians.

Find out more

Applying for jobs

Find out more about how to apply for a job at TEQSA

Questions about the recruitment process

If you have specific questions about an advertised job, please call the contact officer listed on the job and found in the Additional Information section (in the Candidate Information Pack).

If you have any general questions about the recruitment process, please contact TEQSA’s Recruitment team at recruitment@teqsa.gov.au.

The information on the Understanding Academic Integrity webpages is available in the following languages:

• Filipino – Pag-unawa ng pang-akademikong integridad
• Hindi – शैक्षणिक निष्ठा को समझना
• Indonesian – Memahami integritas akademik
• Malay – Memahami integriti akademik
• Nepali – शैक्षिक इमान्दारी बारे बुझ्नु पर्दा
• Portuguese – Entendendo o que é a integridade acadêmica
• Punjabi – ਅਕਾਦਮਿਕ ਇਮਾਨਦਾਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਣਾ
• Simplified Chinese – 理解学术诚信
• Spanish – Información sobre la integridad académica
• Vietnamese – Hiểu biết về tính chính trực trong học tập

Back to Understanding Academic Integrity landing page

August 2024

TEQSA reminds all registered higher education providers and their governing bodies of the obligations they have under the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 to assure student and staff wellbeing and safety, freedom of speech and academic freedom. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is impacting many Australians, including students and staff within higher education institutions, and protest activities have escalated on some university campuses. It is important that all providers are prepared so they can manage and respond to these activities, and other student protests related to any cause or purpose, in ways that ensure they are meeting the Threshold Standards.

Key points

When responding to student protest activity, providers will consider the following parts of the Threshold Standards:

• Standard 2.3 encompasses organisational responsibilities for safeguarding and supporting the wellbeing and safety of students and staff.
• Standard 6.1.4 applies to the governing body taking steps to maintain an institutional environment where the wellbeing of students and staff is fostered, and freedom and speech and academic freedom are upheld and protected.

Providers

To manage and respond to the risks associated with student protest activity related to any cause or purpose, and to ensure providers continue meeting the Threshold Standards, TEQSA expects that providers will take the following measures:

Institutional policies and processes

In keeping with the requirements of the Threshold Standards, providers should clearly communicate institutional policies and procedures on topics such as academic support, freedom of speech and academic freedom, student and staff conduct, and misconduct. These policies and procedures should be up-to-date and applied consistently and fairly.

Information about student conduct policies, expectations and how to access support will be shared through communications to students and other communication channels. Policies and processes will be reviewed regularly to ensure their effectiveness, and any identified gaps in policies and procedures or legal frameworks will be addressed promptly.

Academic support and adjustment

Providers will give additional focus to identifying and supporting at-risk students. Currently, this includes those whose wellbeing has been significantly affected by the conflict in the Middle East or associated protest activity. Measures will include ensuring processes for academic adjustment are fit for the current circumstances and embedded with trauma-informed principles, and putting in place other academic supports to ensure students can continue their studies.

Ensuring a safe campus, including teaching and learning spaces

Providers will ensure materials that breach Australian law or conflict with institutional policies, including hate speech and symbols, are promptly removed from institutional property, including removal from both physical property and digital platforms.

Students and staff who have concerns for their safety and security on campus should be supported. Information on how to access the available supports should be shared routinely, and the effectiveness of supports regularly reviewed. The governing body of the provider will have appropriate oversight of concerns regarding student and staff safety.

Providers should have effective critical incident management structures and institutional security arrangements. This includes relationships with outside agencies, such as police, and proactive approaches to ensure any risks to student and staff safety are identified, shared and acted upon. As appropriate to the circumstances, efforts should be made to engage with student groups on campus to ensure any protest activities are respectful and in keeping with providers’ policies.

Particular attention will be paid to ensuring teaching and learning spaces are safe for all. While it has been a longstanding custom in some universities for students to announce details of protests at the start of classes, this has been problematic given the charged and often personalised nature of events related to the Middle East. Recent feedback to TEQSA indicates that people entering classrooms to voice positions on protests and on the conflict are engaging in behaviour that is disruptive and intimidating to many. Policies related to freedom and speech and academic freedom should be carefully considered in light of these concerns. Educating students about expectations for acceptable engagement and expression of views, as well as training and support for staff to respond to disruptions to learning environments both on-campus and online, will be important measures.

Ensuring complaint and support mechanisms are accessible

Providers will have a continued focus on ensuring students and staff are aware of complaint and support processes. TEQSA has received feedback that some students do not feel safe making specific complaints. Providers should ensure their complaint processes are trauma-informed and continue to highlight the ways staff and students can make complaints and access support. Measures for maintaining confidentiality during complaints processes should be considered.

Taking appropriate action in response to inappropriate conduct

Providers are expected to apply their institutional policies to students and staff whose conduct may be in breach of those policies – this includes behaviour as part of organised protest activity and language or conduct in learning settings that goes beyond what is acceptable in academic discussion. Providers will ensure institutional policies and procedures are fairly and consistently applied and any cases where action is taken are transparently reported in line with organisational policy.

Providers may take appropriate action to respond to people from outside the provider’s community, whose actions pose a risk to a provider’s property, digital environments, learning and teaching spaces or the safety and wellbeing of students or staff. TEQSA is aware that there can be complexity in legal provisions for dealing with occupation of an institution’s grounds and disbanding protests, and these can vary between providers. Providers should give ongoing consideration to managing building access, the use of student and staff ID cards, and making use of appropriate legal avenues to remove people that are not part of the provider’s community who are engaging in behaviour that poses a risk to the safety and wellbeing of students and staff.

Upholding freedom of speech and academic freedom

Providers will evaluate the effectiveness and operation of their policies relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom and make any required adjustments. Protest activity in the first half of 2024 presented a major test of changes to provider freedom of speech and academic freedom policies following the development of the French Model code in 2019.

Additionally, providers will actively consider how they work to assure their governing bodies that students and staff understand the content of the relevant policies and how they intersect with the law in relation to anti-discrimination and hate speech that may be applicable on-campus and online.

Good practice

TEQSA aims to develop a range of good practice resources and guidance to support providers in managing the ongoing risks associated with student protest activity and assure the wellbeing and safety of students and staff, as well as freedom of speech and academic freedom. Resources will be published on our website as they are developed.

TEQSA recognises that this is an evolving issue for higher education, and will continue to monitor and update our advice. As part of this work, we welcome feedback, including examples of good practice within the sector. You can provide feedback to us at: policyandresearch@teqsa.gov.au.