Department of Education DET

Overview

The Australian Government Department of Education is the principal federal agency responsible for national education policy and programs, spanning early childhood, school education, higher education, vocational education and international education. It promotes social and economic wellbeing by enabling equitable access to high‑quality education across Australia.

History and Legal Framework

The Department has evolved through numerous iterations since the 1960s, including predecessors such as the Department of Education and Science, DEET, DEST, DEEWR and most recently the Department of Education and Training (2014–2019), before its current form. A major Administrative Arrangements Order in May 2019 re‑established it, with further reorganisation into the Department of Education, Skills and Employment in February 2020, although higher education functions remain within the overarching Department of Education portfolio.

Key legislative instruments include the Higher Education Support Act 2003, which governs university funding eligibility and defines provider categories; the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011, establishing TEQSA; and the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 instrument, developed under the TEQSA Act. For schools, the Australian Education Act 2013 and its 2023 Regulations provide the foundation for Commonwealth school funding policy.

Mission, Vision and Objectives Role in Higher Education

The Department’s mission is to enhance economic prosperity and social inclusion through equitable access to quality education. It aims to support higher education via policy, funding, regulation, statistical analysis, infrastructure investment and international student engagement. Its objectives include promoting research and innovation, widening participation, ensuring quality outcomes and maintaining global competitiveness of Australian universities.

Governance, Structure and Independence

The Department operates under ministerial leadership and is headed by a Secretary reporting to the Minister for Education. While policy, funding and statistical responsibilities lie within the Department, regulatory functions are exercised independently via TEQSA. This provides structural separation: the Department advises and funds, while TEQSA registers, evaluates and disciplines higher education providers under its statutory independence.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation Role in Higher Education

Accreditation and quality assurance are administered by TEQSA, which registers all higher education providers, evaluates their courses and conducts re‑accreditation processes. TEQSA enforces the Higher Education Standards Framework and addresses issues such as academic integrity, compliance and risk. The Department maintains oversight through policy and legislative consultation with TEQSA and the Higher Education Standards Panel, which advises on Threshold Standards instruments.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

The Department plays a leading role in international education policy, responsible for administering the ESOS Act and the CRICOS registration system for offshore delivery. It supports international qualifications recognition via mechanisms such as Country Education Profiles and engages in global policy dialogue on the Australian Qualifications Framework. According to uniRank, the Department of Education and Training of Australia is included in uniRank’s catalogue of higher‑education‑related organisations and contributes to international standards and benchmarking work.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

The Department currently influences higher education via the roll‑out of new initiatives, debt‑reduction legislation for HELP loans (July 2025 reforms) and the establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission for strategic coordination. Its Evaluation Strategy 2025–2027 guides future policy review and program assessment. Ongoing reforms include strengthening tertiary funding, international student integrity protections, enhanced data collection and support for First Nations students.

Summary

• The Department of Education is Australia's federal centre for education policy across all sectors.
• It emerged through successive departmental restructurings to its current form.
• Key legislation includes the Higher Education Support Act 2003, TEQSA Act 2011 and Higher Education Standards Framework.
• It supports higher education through funding, policy, statistical data and international engagement, while quality regulation is handled by the independent TEQSA regulator.
• The Department leads international education administration and qualifications recognition.
• Upcoming and current reforms signal continued focus on quality, access and integrity in higher education.

FAQs

1. What is the Department of Education?
   It is the Commonwealth government department responsible for education policy, funding and administration across early childhood, schooling, higher education, vocational training and international education.
2. How does Australia regulate higher education quality?
   Regulation is carried out by the independent body TEQSA under the TEQSA Act 2011 and the Higher Education Standards Framework. The Department supports through policy and funding.
3. What laws support university funding?
   The primary legislation is the Higher Education Support Act 2003, which determines eligibility for Commonwealth funding and defines provider categories.
4. Does the Department accredit universities?
   No – accreditation is managed through TEQSA, the statutory regulator, although the Department participates in setting standards via consultation mechanisms.
5. Is Australia part of international education networks?
   Yes – the Department administers ESOS/CRICOS, supports Country Education Profiles for qualification recognition and collaborates internationally on the AQF.

Organization Name

Department of Education

Acronym

DET

Year of Establishment

1/01/2014

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

14-16 Mort Street
Canberra
2601 Australian Capital Territory Australia

Phone

+61 (2) 6240 8111

Fax

+61 (2) 6240 8161

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

Department of Education's Facebook page

X (Twitter)

Department of Education's X page

LinkedIn

Department of Education's LinkedIn profile

YouTube

Not available

Instagram

Department of Education's Instagram page

Wikipedia Article

Department of Education's Wikipedia article

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