The peak regulator is about to get new powers from the Government – but it is not real fast in using the ones it already has.
The Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) Annual Report lists “reviewing and adapting TEQSA’s regulatory model and practices” as its’ first priority, and states that it fully or partly achieved 21 of 26 performance measures. But just 51% of respondents in its survey of providers rated the agency “good or excellent” for “not unnecessarily” impeding their efficient operation.
This might have something to do with the increased time TEQSA took to get things done. Overall, the agency reports its median processing times for assessing providers was within the nine-month legislated deadlines but some specifics stand out.
The median course accreditation for existing providers was 251 (calendar, not business) days (up from 179) in 2024-25, “reflecting the growing complexity of applications.” But that was good, compared to re-accreditation (321 days) – new courses had legislative priority.
Then again, the agency made ten initial registration decisions in pretty much the same time as 12 in 2025, although that was 260 days. “Assessment volumes have remained substantially higher than pre-pandemic levels, reflecting sustained demand for provider registration and accreditation services,” TEQSA explains.
The median time for reregistration of existing providers was 378 days, covering 35 decisions and another ten on self-accrediting authority. Another way of expressing that is that people waited for more than a year. There were also 44 notices under the transition to the new offshore authorisation framework.
Perhaps the absence of TEQcore was part of the problem. The new system will, “establish a modern, organisation-wide platform, support the full regulatory lifecycle, and improve how providers and members of the public interact with the agency.’’ But alas, it was delayed with a second stage now to deliver year end.
Overall the Agency reports commentary from providers surveyed, “focused on a perceived lack of timeliness.”