Australia has robust legislation in place to protect the rights of international students. Notwithstanding this, an important and under-researched area of our legislative framework is more comprehensive regulation of commercial education agents.
In 2025, as part of its commitment to developing an evidence base on effective agent management frameworks, IEAA assembled an Agent Quality Research Steering Committee. With the support of the IEAA Board, the Association went out to tender and subsequently commissioned education consultancy Edified to undertake comprehensive research.
The resulting report includes extensive literature review on global agent best practice and comparable sector models. It also includes stakeholder consultations with agent groups, Australian regulatory and peak bodies, and comparable global organisations.
The report recommends three scalable policy options. The first option involves government in a streamlined agent register approach. The subsequent two options require government and the sector to be more involved in strengthening agent quality, accountability and transparency.
“Our aim was to provide government with an evidence-based, sector-informed perspective and to support a co-designed approach to future frameworks. The report outlines a spectrum of models—from enhanced transparency and visibility through to more structured coordination and system-wide oversight,” says Rishen Shekhar, IEAA Board member and Agent Quality Research Steering Committee Co-Chair.
“This report does not seek to accelerate regulation given the many recent interventions by the government, nor does it jump to any conclusions on a recommended approach," says Jonathan Chew, Navitas Chief Insights Officer, IEAA Vice President and Agent Quality Research Steering Committee Co-Chair. "Instead, the report provides a menu of measured and meaningful regulatory models. It is principled and pragmatic, and the detail is there to inform future analysis and consultation.”
“Given that the federal government has made agent governance and integrity a key priority, our Association is proud to provide government with a way forward, which is informed by global best practice," says Hon Phil Honeywood, CEO of IEAA.
Learn more and read the full report
here.