Portfolio — 19 August 2026

The Minister for Education used two media releases across 18–19 August to advance reforms spanning the full education pipeline — from school attendance and curriculum through to university regulation and international student policy. The releases signal a portfolio-wide approach linking tighter university-staff standards and stronger regulator powers with efforts to improve student outcomes, curriculum quality and school safety.

**University regulation and international students**

The Minister said university teachers, tutors and other academic staff currently operate without a mandated accreditation system, and that the ATEC report will examine possible standards [TA-260818-educat-47af25b287ad]. He explained that forthcoming legislation will give TEQSA stronger powers while reducing administrative burdens, framing the approach as balancing "sticks" and "carrots" for universities [TA-260818-educat-47af25b287ad].

The Minister noted that visa charges for international students have risen from about $700 to $2,500, contributing to a decline in international student numbers [TA-260818-educat-47af25b287ad]. He announced that university teacher-training degrees will now include more neuroscience, literacy and classroom-behaviour management content [TA-260819-educat-6613aa452f17].

**School outcomes, curriculum and safety**

The Minister reported that school attendance and high-school completion rates are rising for the first time in a decade, with improvements for both boys and girls across government and non-government schools [TA-260819-educat-6613aa452f17]. He said NAPLAN results show gains in numeracy and that evidence-based phonics teaching is improving reading outcomes [TA-260819-educat-6613aa452f17].

A new bullying-prevention framework will require schools to act within two days of an incident [TA-260819-educat-6613aa452f17]. The Minister outlined upcoming curriculum reforms starting with the first three years of mathematics and a review to embed Australian values and counter antisemitism in schools [TA-260819-educat-6613aa452f17].

**Continuity**

Following the 6 August focus on early-childhood enforcement and Indigenous leadership, today's statements continue the portfolio's emphasis on quality and equity across the education pipeline. The Minister's call for feedback on the ATEC report builds on an earlier commitment to consult stakeholders on regulatory reforms.