Interim Australian Tertiary Education Commission
Interim ATEC
1 July 2025 – 29 April 2026
Interim body within the Department of Education that stewarded the tertiary education system, including planning and funding advice for higher education, ahead of a statutory Australian Tertiary Education Commission.
How it came into existence
Established on 1 July 2025 as a non-statutory interim commission within the Department of Education, implementing the Australian Universities Accord final report's (2024) recommendation for a tertiary education commission. It was led by an interim Chief Commissioner and an interim First Nations Commissioner working with the Jobs and Skills Australia Commissioner, and took over higher education system planning and funding advice from the department.
- Higher education system planning and funding advice
How it ended
Superseded on 29 April 2026 by the statutory Australian Tertiary Education Commission under the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Act 2026, with the interim Commissioners continuing until statutory Commissioners were appointed.
- Stewardship and planning of the higher education system
- Advice on higher education funding and student places
Main functions
- Stewardship and planning of the higher education system
- Advice on higher education funding and student places
- Work towards closer alignment of higher education and vocational education and training
- Preparation for a statutory Australian Tertiary Education Commission
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Education.
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 7 July 2025 to the latest release (30 June 2026))
- Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Act 2026, Federal Register of Legislation
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.