Universities Australia

Great to reconnect with the Swiss Embassy and Ambassador H.E. Mr Nikolas Stürchler to discuss strengthening Australia–Switzerland collaboration in education, research and innovation. We talked about the strong synergies between our research strengths and economies, and lessons from Switzerland’s association with Horizon Europe. We look forward to building on our longstanding relationship and exploring new opportunities. #Internationaleducation #HorizonEurope #research #AustraliaSwizerland @SwissEmbassyAUS @uniaus

Australia’s universities are home to some of the country’s best and brightest. Every day, talented people are helping solve problems, create opportunities and improve lives right across Australia. The #ShapingAustraliaAwards celebrate the people and initiatives driving this impact. Last year, we received more than 100 outstanding entries, showcasing the remarkable contribution universities are making to Australia’s future. And I can’t wait to see another exceptional field of entries this year. If you or your university teams are making a difference, now is the time to share your impact. Submit your entry for the 2026 Shaping Australia Awards today. Entries are open until 1 September 2026. For more info visit - shapingaustraliaawards.com.a… #ShapingAustraliaAwards26 #research #teaching #communityimpact @uniaus @JasonClareMP @AusGovEducation @arc_gov_au

Today I joined Australian Prime Minister @AlboMP, Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi, and leaders from business, education and government at the Australia-India CEO Forum in Melbourne. The Forum brought together leaders from both countries to discuss barriers to growth and identify initiatives that can strengthen the relationship between two countries. The discussions reinforced the important role education plays in deepening Australia-India ties, and @uniaus looks forward to supporting the strengthening of this important partnership. @JasonClareMP @JulianHillMP @AusHCIndia @Austrade @BCAcomau @MineralsCouncil @OricaLimited @Populous @Macquarie @ACCINews @bhp @GrainCorp @The_AiGroup #highered #AustraliaIndia #internationaleducation

Great to host Professor Barney Glover AO for our latest Solutions Series: In Conversation. A candid and thoughtful discussion on the future of Australia’s tertiary education system, the role of the new Australian Tertiary Education Commission and what comes next for reform. Thanks to Barney for joining me – and to everyone who tuned in. If you missed it, you can watch here: events.uniaus.edu.au/barneyg… Big challenges need real solutions, and conversations like this matter. Stay tuned for the next conversation in our series. #highered #policy #auspol #HigherEducation @ATECtoday @AusGovEducation @uniaus

Australia’s tertiary education system is at a defining moment of reform. The establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) marks a major shift in how we plan, coordinate and strengthen higher education for the future. But what does this actually mean in practice? I’m looking forward to unpacking that question with Professor Barney Glover AO, Chief Commissioner of the ATEC, in the next @uniaus Solutions Series: In Conversation. We’ll explore what’s changing, what it will take to deliver the Australian Universities Accord, and how we ensure the system is fit for purpose in a rapidly evolving economy and society. Register here and join us - ow.ly/5f2r50Zhp45 📅 Wednesday, 8 July 2026 🕐 1-2pm AEST #highered #research #auspol #HigherEducation @ATECtoday @AusGovEducation

Students are paying more to live and more to study. It was great to join today’s crossbench roundtable on the future of the Job-ready Graduates Package. Thank you to Senator @DavidPocock, Dr @Mon4Kooyong and Allegra Spender MP @spenderallegra for bringing together an important discussion on how we build a fairer funding system for students. Today, @uniaus also released new analysis showing students are facing a double squeeze. The cost of maintaining a basic student standard of living has risen faster than students can keep up, while many continue to face some of the highest university fees in Australia’s history. Job-ready Graduates was introduced by one government and retained by another. Five years on, it’s a legacy of both governments - and students are still paying the price. It’s time for it to go. Learn more - universitiesaustralia.edu.au… #auspol #highered #unifunding @JasonClareMP

It was a real privilege to visit @EdithCowan's new city campus yesterday with Clare Pollock. What an incredible addition to Perth’s CBD - a place where students, researchers, industry and the arts will come together right in the heart of the city. Campuses like this show the best of what universities do: opening doors for students, creating new opportunities for communities and helping shape the future of our cities. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this bold vision to life. @uniaus #UniversitiesMatter

Strong leadership will shape the future of Australian higher education. At the Future Campus conference in Melbourne today, I spoke about the evolving leadership challenge facing our universities and why the task ahead is not simply to respond to change, but to help shape it. Australia’s ambitions for productivity, skills and innovation depend on a strong university sector. Achieving them will require leadership that is forward-looking, purposeful and committed to delivering better outcomes for students, institutions and the nation. I look forward to continuing this important conversation with colleagues across the sector. @uniaus @SRMatchett @FutureCampusAus

I’ve had a great couple of days in Lismore and on the Gold Coast, visiting our wonderful members in @SCU_Australia, @BondUniversity and @Griffith_Uni.   I also had the pleasure of meeting with Leon Rebello MP, co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of International Education group to discuss the future of this important sector. Valuable discussions with parliamentarians and sector colleagues all round and wonderful to see the fantastic work happening at campuses across the country.   Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their work and perspectives. I look forward to continuing the conversation. @uniaus   #auspol #highered #Universitiesmatter

It was a privilege to spend time with Dr Kiran Martin from @AshaSociety in Sydney today. For decades, Asha has been doing extraordinary work alongside some of the most disadvantaged communities in India – opening up access to education, healthcare and opportunity where it’s needed most. I spoke with Dr Martin about how we can build on that work by creating more pathways for students who might otherwise never get the chance, and how education can deepen the ties between Australia and India in a meaningful, human way. @uniaus

Yesterday, I was pleased to appear before the Senate committee exploring changes to the failed Job-ready Graduates Package. This was an important opportunity to shine a light on the flaws of JRG and the harm it has and continues to have on students and our universities.   JRG isn’t working – everyone agrees on that. What we all also agree on is that it needs to go and now. But reforming JRG needs to be done properly to ensure both students and universities aren’t shortchanged.   We must make student fees cheaper, but any move in that direction must be accompanied by additional Commonwealth funding – otherwise we risk hollowing out a university system already under immense financial pressure. And if we do that, students end up paying anyway – not through higher fees but through fewer services, less support and a diminished university experience.   I made this case in my opening statement at yesterday’s hearing and again in a follow-up opinion piece in today’s edition of Future Campus. You can read both at the links below.   I want to thank my sector colleagues and our many parliamentary allies for their continued advocacy to replace JRG. Students deserve better and so do our universities. Let’s keep up the fight. universitiesaustralia.edu.au… @JasonClareMP @AlboMP @JEChalmers @DavidPocock @JulianLeeser @MehreenFaruqi @IRUAustralia @RegUniNet @GroupOfEight

This morning, I joined a roundtable with Minister Tim Ayres @ayrestim and Assistant Minister Dr Andrew Charlton on implementing the Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) final report.   It was a big opportunity to be a part of the discussion and reinforce the central role of research in driving productivity, strengthening sovereign capability, and enabling Australia’s future industries.   The SERD report provides a clear roadmap to help Australia stop punching below its weight and start competing properly in the global innovation race. Now the focus must be on implementation because reports don’t change countries, action does. This is where the rubber hits the road. @uniaus @JasonClareMP universitiesaustralia.edu.au… #SERD #research #productivity