Australia’s Assistant Minister for International Students, Customs, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, The Hon. Julian Hill, concluded a significant two-day visit across Hyderabad and Amritsar, where he met with education agents, senior officials and sector leaders to reinforce the strength of the India–Australia education partnership and address current challenges affecting student mobility.
The visit commenced on 5 December in Hyderabad, where AAERI, in partnership with Austrade and the Australian Consulate-General, hosted an evening reception attended by AAERI members from across South India as well as representatives from numerous schools, colleges and universities. Among the distinguished attendees was Mr Balakishta Reddy, Chairman of the Higher Education Council in the Government of Telangana.
The event opened with remarks from Ms Hilary McGeachy, Australian Consul-General in Bengaluru, followed by a panel discussion featuring Minister Hill, Ms Sonya Singh of AAERI and Mr Reddy. The discussion was moderated by Trade and Investment Commissioner Mr Vik Singh and focused on policy developments, visa processing trends and the broader market landscape.
AAERI President Mr Nishidhar Borra delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging the Minister’s willingness to engage directly with the agent community and expressing appreciation for the clarity he provided on policy updates and sector expectations.
The following day, 6 December, Minister Hill travelled to Amritsar, meeting AAERI members from the Punjab region during a luncheon session. Despite significant travel constraints and multiple connecting flights, the Minister made a point of attending in person, signalling his commitment to understanding the concerns of the agent community firsthand.
During the discussion, the Minister reflected on the depth of the India–Australia relationship, noting the prominent and growing presence of the Indian diaspora in Australia, the strong contribution of Indian skilled migrants to the nation’s workforce, and the way Indian culture and traditions have become integral to Australian multicultural life.
The conversation also addressed concerns regarding an increase in visa refusals in some parts of India. Minister Hill emphasised that Australia continues to welcome genuine, academically strong and high-quality students. He explained that heightened refusal rates in certain regions were often linked to the submission of fake or unverifiable documents, which Australian visa officers are unable to process. He underscored that applications are assessed by hundreds of trained officers who rely on the authenticity and verifiability of documents to make sound decisions.
The Minister also clarified recent amendments to the ESOS Act, outlining how the new legislation better defines who qualifies as an education agent and what constitutes an education commission. These changes, he said, are designed to strengthen integrity and address long-standing loopholes in the system. Mr Steve Biddle, Regional Director at the Department of Home Affairs, joined the discussion and provided responses to several technical questions related to visa processing, compliance mechanisms and assessment standards.
Minister Hill additionally raised concerns regarding the high volume of onshore student transfers, particularly instances in which students shift to lower-cost providers shortly after arrival in Australia. He noted that nearly half of these students originate from India, and that this trend is affecting academic outcomes, institutional accountability and overall sector integrity.
AAERI reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining transparency, integrity and ethical recruitment practices across the international education ecosystem. The organisation highlighted its ongoing initiatives, including the AAERI Verify project, which is designed to strengthen document authentication, enhance student quality checks and improve regulatory compliance. AAERI reiterated the importance of constructive dialogue with Australian institutions and government stakeholders, and expressed support for new ESOS regulations—particularly the commission ban on onshore transfers, which it believes will curb unethical recruitment behaviour and better protect students, reputable agents and the sector more broadly.
Minister Hill concluded the visit by reaffirming that Australia remains a safe, inclusive and welcoming destination for international students, and emphasised the nation’s commitment to deepening its education partnership with India. He commended AAERI for its leadership and longstanding efforts to promote integrity in international student recruitment, noting that while isolated issues may be amplified online, the overall India–Australia education relationship remains strong, stable and underpinned by shared goals and continued collaboration.
Video recordings of the Minister’s speeches are available here:
Hyderabad: https://youtu.be/EqHxu8RfXZY
Amritsar: https://youtu.be/bNjVVrxaalc
