Through our Government Relations and External Engagement team within the Vice-Chancellor's office, we liaise with federal, state and local government on issues critical to the higher education sector.
Public policy submissions
Our engagement with government takes many forms, including providing submissions in response to the complex challenges facing our sector, the local community and, more broadly, New South Wales and Australia.
Our submissions are shaped by our deep expertise and bring together our experts across the university, covering topics such as technology, health, the economy, creative industries and Indigenous affairs. We also collaborate with our partner organisations within the higher education sector on policy issues of common concern.
View our submissions below.
2024
Inquiry into the Universities Accord (National Student Ombudsman) Bill 2024 – October
The Universities Accord (National Student Ombudsman) Bill 2024 amends the Ombudsman Act 1976 to establish the National Student Ombudsman (NSO) as a new statutory function of the Commonwealth Ombudsman to deal with complaints about, and conduct investigations into, actions of higher education providers.
The Bill was referred to the Senate Education and Employment Committees for inquiry and UTS made a submission.
UTS supports the establishment of the NSO as the first action of the Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education (the Action Plan). Establishment of this body will ensure domestic and international students have an effective, trauma-informed mechanism for escalating complaints relating to gender-based violence.
Together with the forthcoming National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence, this legislation will support appropriate accountability for higher education providers to create safe learning environments that are free of sexual violence, harassment and discrimination.
We are also pleased to see that the Bill gives full effect to recommendation 18(b) of the Australian Universities Accord Final Report to establish a NSO to respond to student complaints concerning a range of issues relating to their studies and student life.
Inquiry into a Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities Bill 2024 – August
In light of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and its flow on to our communities here in Australia, UTS provided a submission to the Commonwealth Senate Committee into a Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities Bill 2024. Our submission emphasises our commitment to creating a campus environment free of antisemitism and other forms of racism and discrimination through:
- awareness raising campaigns
- a comprehensive policy framework
- complaints mechanisms for students to report incidents of racism, discrimination and harassment, and
- the provision of support services for students and staff.
UTS also welcomes the recommendation of the Australian Universities Accord Final Report to conduct a study into the prevalence and impact of racism across the tertiary education system to be led by the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission).
Consultation on a new Managed Growth Funding System and Needs-based Funding – July/August
As part of the Australian Universities Accord Final Report, the Australian Department of Education commenced consultation on the implementation of a new funding model for higher education by seeking feedback on a new Managed Growth Funding System and Needs-based funding. We reaffirmed our commitment to a new funding model but expressed concern regarding managed growth targets, transition periods and variances, student choice, catchment concepts and more detail regarding the needs-based funding component.
Our specific recommendations included:
- supporting a transition period up to 2030 with a guarantee that the Managed Growth Targets (MGT) do not apply to students who commenced prior to 2025
- ensuring fully-funded Commonwealth Supported Places for students from equity backgrounds, extending the guarantee to the student's chosen university and course, and
- designing the needs-based funding system on headcount, rather than equivalent full time student load (EFTSL), and including elements such as valuing the self-determination of First Nations students and providing universities with autonomy to support students based on needs.
Consultation regarding the establishment of an Australian Tertiary Education Commission – July
In response to the recommendation of the Australian Universities Accord Final report, the Australian Department of Education has consulted universities on the establishment of an Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC). It is intended the ATEC be established in an interim capacity from 1 July 2025, and formally established from 1 January 2026, subject to the passage of legislation.
We welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to establish an ATEC as the sector’s steward and welcomed the commitment to plan for ATEC implementation in consultation with the sector. However, we expressed concern that the proposed model diverged from the model outlined in the Australian Universities Accord Final Report in a way that undermined its effectiveness.
To ensure the ATEC delivers on the ambitions articulated in the Accord, we made the following recommendations:
- establish ATEC as an independent statutory authority reporting directly to the Minister for Education, rather than the Secretary of the Department of Education
- articulate core system stewardship accountabilities in the legislated ATEC objectives and purpose
- allow the appointment of Commissioners with recent higher education experience, with conflicts of interest managed through a Board Code of Conduct and a conflicts disclosure and management policy
- establish an ongoing Advisory Board with representatives from various stakeholders
- include an Equity Commissioner in the ATEC structure, and
- release an exposure draft of the ATEC legislation for consultation before introducing it to Parliament.
Inquiry into the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 – July
The Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 (the Bill) amends the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (the ESOS Act) to introduce new measures aimed at improving the quality, integrity and sustainable growth of the international education sector.
Similarly to our submission regarding the draft Australia's International Education and Skills Strategic Framework, this submission highlighted the links between international education, the Australian Universities Accord and the social and economic benefits of international education and students.
Our specific recommendations regarding the Bill included:
- an extended transition period to 1 January 2026 to allow thorough consultation ahead of forward planning and admissions processes
- minimising any further changes and disruptions to current settings during this transition
- clarifying the methodology used to determine enrolment limits and that enrolment limits be at the provider level only, and be decoupled from student accommodation
- replacing automatic suspension with a margin of flexibility or grace period
- clarifying the proposed definition as it relates to education agents
- adopting a flexible, risk-based approach to reporting and compliance, focusing on high-risk areas to ensure that the allocation of resources is efficient and effective, and
- including a sunset clause acknowledging the future role of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission.
Draft National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence – June
As part of the Australian Department of Education's consultation, UTS provided feedback on the potential Standards of the National Code to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
In our submission, we recognised the unique role of higher education providers in driving broad social change but noted that UTS is at varying levels of readiness to achieve compliance by 1 January 2025 and reporting by 1 January 2026.
Our key points of feedback urged the Department to:
- foster collaboration within the sector to lift collective capability to prevent and respond to gender-based violence
- provide further guidance required on data collection and reporting requirements, managing perpetrators, offshore campuses and student support
- provide additional funding for the support services required, and
- conduct a comprehensive evaluation after 3 years of operation.
Draft Australia's International Education and Skills Strategic Framework – June
As part of the Australian Department of Education's consultation, UTS provided feedback on a draft Australia's International Education and Skills Strategic Framework. UTS supports the Australian Government's aim to ensure the sustainability, quality and integrity of our world-class international education sector.
In our submission, we highlighted the links between international education, the Australian Universities Accord and the social and economic benefits of international education/students.
Our key points of feedback included:
- a call for a genuine co-design with the sector
- an extended transition period to 1 January 2026
- prioritising public providers and university pathways colleges
- decoupling student accommodation from growth caps, and
- separating discussions on diversification and Transnational Education from the draft Framework.
NSW Higher Education Strategy – May
UTS provided input into the NSW Department of Education's Higher Education Strategy for NSW.
In our submission, we recognised the changing higher education landscape and the importance of the NSW Government and the higher education sector working together to support the future direction of higher education in NSW.
Our key points of feedback included:
- leveraging NSW's research strengths in critical science and technology areas
- taking a systemic approach to improving the foundations of effective engagement between government, higher education and industry, and
- implementing a whole-of-government approach to policymaking.
NSW Innovation Blueprint – April
UTS provided feedback to Investment NSW on developing a NSW Innovation Blueprint, aimed at giving NSW the leading edge in the global battle to attract new investment, ideas, industries and talent.
Our feedback included suggestions on how the NSW Government can best support innovating businesses and drivers of innovation in the four focus areas of ideas, investment, industrialisation and internationalism.
Our key points of feedback included:
- developing a dedicated Industry Policy to support the Innovation Blueprint
- introducing Work Integrated Learning Vouchers to fund NSW businesses to employ university students on short-term projects to drive innovation
- creating dedicated Innovation Facilitators to connect business with the NSW tertiary education and research sector, and
- securing a greater proportion of Australian R&D funding for the whole of the NSW innovation ecosystem.
Australian Research Council Amendment (Review Response) Bill 2023 – January
UTS provided input in response to the Senate Education and Employment Legislative Committee inquiry into the Australian Research Council Amendment (Review Response) Bill 2023.
UTS is supportive of the Bill, which included the establishment of the Australian Research Council Board and amendments to the current funding arrangements but retains a series of concerns.
Our key points of feedback included:
- the role of the CEO in relation to the Board be made explicit
- a review of the board within 12 months to ensure that its number and composition are appropriate and that the Board is functioning efficiently and effectively, and
- that the approval pathway for the ARC funding rules mirror that of other government funding programs.
Draft Action Plan addressing gender-based violence in higher education – January
UTS provided feedback regarding the Australian Department of Education's Draft Action Plan addressing gender-based violence in higher education, including the establishment of a National Student Ombud.
UTS supports the Action Plan and welcomes the guidance developed to support the implementation of the Respect@Work legislation to ensure that our work in sexual harm prevention and response is best practice in relation to our staff and other members of the UTS community.
Our key points of feedback included:
- ensuring easily accessible, easy-to-use confidential reporting tools and processes for universities
- transparency and co-designed, intersectional, trauma-informed and evidence-based approaches
- flexibility to allow universities to continue to focus on specific needs of their own local communities, while supporting national efforts to eliminate gender-based violence, and
- the need for government to consider the findings from UTS's Community Voice Report for how we can better serve our community in the prevention and elimination of sexual violence.
2023
UTS submission to the NSW VET Review – November
UTS submission to the Special Commission of Inquiry into health care funding – October
UTS response to National Science Priorities – September
UTS submission to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report – September
UTS submission UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia – September
Tech Central Creative Industries Steering Committee submission – August
2022
