Tertiary Education Quality & Standards Agency (TEQSA) (to be established by 2011 and will incorporate AUQA)

Australian Universities Quality Authority (AUQA)

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Advisory Board

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) sets out a unified national system of qualifications across secondary schools, private TVET providers, and Technical and Further Education colleges (TAFEs). Working within the AQF framework are the state and territory level regulatory and quality assurance authorities. These are responsible for the accreditation of non-government training providers as Registered Training Organisations. There are also a number of professional organisations responsible for accreditation in specialised fields.

Quality assurance activities at the institutional level are overseen by the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA). AUQA is an independent national agency that promotes, audits, and reports on quality assurance in Australian higher education. One of AUQA’s main tasks is to undertake periodic audits of Australian universities and other institutions of higher education. AUQA also periodically audits the quality assurance processes of State, Territory and Commonwealth higher education accreditation authorities. AUQA is part of the Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment (MCTEE), a body comprising Commonwealth, State and Territory ministers with responsibility for tertiary education and employment.