The government’s messaging on international education continues to lean heavily on words like “shonks,” “crooks,” and “integrity.” Many in the sector believe this language underpins the government’s planned changes to the ESOS Act—changes it failed to secure in its last term.
By using such language, the government undermines a sector it once called a national treasure, diminishing its credibility at home and abroad.
Just yesterday, Assistant Minister Hill rolled out these lines in an online forum, referring to “sex traffickers,” “dodgy providers,” and the need for “quality and integrity.” Reaction online was swift, with one commentator writing:
It was disappointing to see Hill descend back into his usual tired trope about ‘sex traffickers’, ‘quality and integrity’ and ‘dodgy providers’. I hope he can consider the quality of his engagement with the sector going forward, and work more constructively in building a sustainable policy framework.
It is very difficult to reconcile Hill’s claim that he wants to ‘build social license’ for the sector with his constant denigration of it. Perhaps it’s time for him to stop focusing on the small percentage of bad actors, and refocus his energies on supporting the very many ethical providers?
This frustration is spreading across the sector. Members recall earlier rhetoric such as “international students caused the housing issue”—a claim which numerous reports have rebutted, a claim Universities Australia chief Luke Sheehy recently dismissed as a “furphy”(TKN 13/8/25)—and the supposed “ghost colleges,” a narrative The Koala’s own Tracy Harris previously fact-checked and found misleading (TKN 23/8/24).
So, the question remains: can the government’s messaging really be trusted?
The Koala isn’t shy about shining a spotlight on the issue and has recently conducted some data checking on the latest messaging.
It started last month when the ABC ran the story “Fast-tracked childcare courses are putting Australian children at risk, insiders warn” (ABC Online 7/7/25). Journalists Adele Fergusen and Chris Gillett appeared keen to link international education to the crisis in Childcare and cited many sources in attempting to prove their point.
The passage that stood out to The Koala was:
Last year, the national vocational regulator ASQA revoked more than 21,000 certificates, including nearly 2,000 in childcare, after finding four private colleges had issued fraudulent paperwork.
It is part of a broader probe into 138 providers, 29 of which are registered to offer childcare courses.
You’d be forgiven for thinking the entire sector was in disarray.
The Koala thought it should follow up, just like in the ghost college situation. What does this actually mean? What is the relationship between this and international education?
The Koala wrote to ASQA on 13 August and received a response the next day, on 14 August. As a side note, The Koala thanks ASQA for its collegiality and professionalism, neither of which is in doubt or in question.
The ASQA response is as follows:
Confidence in the integrity of our VET sector and the qualifications issued by registered providers is paramount.
As part of its qualification integrity actions, since November 2024 ASQA has cancelled the registration of 10 critically non-compliant providers. Where providers were found to have issued qualifications without the appropriate training or assessment, regulatory action is taken to cancel qualifications and/or statements of attainment they issued.
As part of this work ASQA has also cancelled more than 25,500 qualifications and/or statements of attainment held by more than 23,000 individuals.
One of these providers were CRICOS registered, however the action to cancel qualifications of this provider did not relate to their overseas student cohort.
Information is published and updated regularly on ASQA’s website (https://www.asqa.gov.au/students/qualification-integrity-regulatory-action) and provides a summary of the reasons why ASQA cancelled the provider’s registration and details of relevant qualifications.
Background
In 2023, the Australian Government announced a $37.8 million investment to support Vocational Educational Training (VET) quality and integrity, including allocating $33.3 million to ASQA for a suite of measures including the establishment of an Integrity Unit and tip-off line.
The ASQA Integrity Unit is at the forefront of work to disrupt non-genuine or and bad-faith operators in the VET sector.
ASQA’s Integrity Unit is managing more than 200 serious matters, in relation to the conduct of more than 150 providers.
Around 79% of matters relate to alleged fraud, including cash for qualifications, fabrication of assessments and evidence, ghost colleges, funding fraud and visa/migration risks. More than 60% are linked to multijurisdictional actions such as Operation INGLENOOK, the Fraud Fusion Taskforce, NSW Building Commission and the disruption of alleged criminal networks.
Analysis
The Koala has reviewed this information multiple times to ensure the takeaways are accurate. Three key points stand out:
- Only one provider teaching international students was among the ten shut down by ASQA.
- While this provider lost its registration, the cancelled qualifications did not affect its overseas student cohort.
- It is unclear whether any international students had their qualifications cancelled in this process – The Koala infers not.
Not entirely out of the woods
The Koala followed up with ASQA regarding the comment:
ASQA’s Integrity Unit is managing more than 200 serious matters, in relation to the conduct of more than 150 providers.
It asked, “Of the 150 providers – how many of these are CRICOS registered?”
Again, ASQA responded quickly (Thank you!). Its response is “More than 90 are CRICOS registered.”
Beyond this data, it is difficult to determine what sanctions may be imposed, what actions may be taken, or whether these providers are indeed “shonks” or “crooks.” Time will tell.
For context, and according to the ASQA 23/4 Annual report, ASQA regulates:
3,938 total providers
2,936 NVR RTOs delivering VET to domestic students
648 NVR RTOs and CRICOS delivering VET to domestic and overseas students
275 NVR RTOs and CRICOS including ELICOS delivering VET to domestic and overseas students
79 ELICOS-only delivering to overseas students
That is 1002 CRICOS-registered providers, or in simple terms, providers that are registered to deliver to international students.
Meaning that:
- Against the total pool, the 90 that have a file open is 2.2 per cent
- Against CRICOS-only colleges, it is 8.9 per cent
Keep in mind these are open files that are in train, not yet sanctioned, or actioned to an outcome.
The Koala looks forward to following these.
Summary
The Koala doesn’t pretend the sector is spotless—there will always be bad actors. But those who do the wrong thing must be identified and, if serious, removed from the system entirely. Australia already has a strong governance framework, and regulators now have the resources they need to act.
That’s how we built a world-class education system.
What the sector needs now is collective support, transparency, and trust in the process—not misleading rhetoric, and not more “furphies.”
