The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is seeking feedback on draft guidance for how higher education providers should adopt a definition of Islamophobia.
Under new standards taking effect on 1 January 2027, every registered provider will need a definition relevant to its community. TEQSA is not prescribing which definition to use. Its draft Statement of Regulatory Expectations: Adopting a definition of Islamophobia sets out the process it expects providers to follow.
That includes governing body oversight, consultation with students and staff, and a record of why a particular definition was chosen. Providers would also need to consider how it will work in their policies, complaints processes and training.
TEQSA recommends considering advice from the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, including how the chosen definition relates to anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab racism and addresses risks affecting international students and staff.
TEQSA is asking whether its proposed expectations will work in practice and whether they could have unintended consequences or create resourcing difficulties. The consultation follows a similar exercise on adopting a definition of antisemitism. Both final statements are expected in October.
Feedback on the consultation paper can be emailed to consultation@teqsa.gov.au by 5 pm AEDT on Monday 12 October.
