Council for International Education

Question

Dr Oliver: But I'm very happy to talk through the role of the Council for International Education. It was established in 2016 by then minister Simon Birmingham. Expert members are appointed by the Minister for Education based on their experience and expertise. The intent is for expert members to be able to provide advice and perspectives, across the range of issues or intersecting areas that go to international education, from providers, from the trade perspective and the foreign affairs perspective as well. The other aspect that's reflected in the current membership of the expert members is to ensure that the various sectors of international education, higher education, vocational education and training schools are represented as part of that as well. Senator KOVACIC: Is there specific membership criteria? Could you let me know what that is or table it if you have it at hand. Dr Oliver: There are terms of reference for the council, which would probably be the closest thing to membership criteria. Senator KOVACIC: Are you able to table that document? Dr Oliver: Yes. .......... Dr Oliver: ...............In terms of the range of input, what I would say is the Council for International Education is an important body for the minister, but it's not the only channel that the government uses to engage with the sector. There's also the international education stakeholder forum, which has a broad membership, including relevant peak bodies; the Independent Tertiary Education Council of Australia; the Independent Higher Education Association; English Australia; Universities Australia; and the other peak bodies, state and territory representatives and so on. Senator KOVACIC: Just to clarify, the expert members are not paid. Dr Oliver: The expert members are not paid, no. Senator KOVACIC: So there's no-one paid on this body? Dr Oliver: No. Senator KOVACIC: Was the reappointment of the expert members done via ministerial appointment as well? Is that correct? Dr Oliver: That's right. Senator KOVACIC: So there was no public application process where a list was given to the minister? He just made those appointments? Dr Oliver: That's right. Senator KOVACIC: The department's website shows no communique from the council since 6 June 2025 and none from the expert members since 20 February 2024. Do you know whether there's been an issue with that or why those haven't been uploaded? Dr Oliver: I would need to take on notice if there are particular reasons why the communiques might not have been updated. I can tell you that the council did meet a number of times in 2025, past the June date, including 26 November, 8 October, 24 September and 4 August. Senator KOVACIC: Are you able to provide on notice copies of those communiques, given they haven't been uploaded, from each of those meetings? Dr Oliver: Yes, we'll take that on notice.

Answer

Please see the attached PDF.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• SQ26-000728.pdf (opens in a new tab)