Policy is not made in a vacuum, and policy makers don’t work in a void. Regardless of the scope and shape, policy is made by those that show up, who are at the table, who engage and influence on critical issues that affect them.
It can certainly be the case that policy is made or designed without input from critical stakeholders. This can happen in all sectors of the economy and is not only a feature of the tertiary education sector. But when those affected by policy are not proactive about it, they are absent from the policy table, the results are always predictable. We see more blunt, unintended consequences, and missed economic opportunity.
The result when policy is developed without engagement by critical stakeholders is urgent and coordinated push for redesign of policy frameworks, as we have seen recently.
Nowhere is the need for stakeholder engaged policy making clearer than in Australia’s tertiary education and skills system. Decisions made in Canberra shape how the tertiary education system operates, how students access education and training, and how industry accesses the workforce it needs. But too often, decisions are made at a distance from the realities of delivery.
A seat at the policy table is never about influence for its own sake. It is about engaging in informed decision-making. Evidence from across the tertiary education system has consistently highlighted the importance of industry engagement, provider insight, and real-time feedback in designing effective policy. Without it, policy and regulation is reactive rather than a strategic economic and social mechanism.
This is why representation matters, and where organisations like the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) are fundamental to the success of the independent tertiary education system.
It is not enough to advocate in one area; policy development and advocacy must happen across multiple areas simultaneously. Translating the operational realities of ITECA members into policy-relevant intelligence for stakeholders, business and governments is key at that policy table. These issues are particularly notable where members support students and businesses across industries, regions, and student cohorts where the public system has little to no reach. There is breadth in these contexts that delivers unique insight into what is working, what is not, and where policy settings are misaligned with outcomes.
Issues and concerns such as inconsistent regulatory implementation, administrative burden including lack of inter-agency communication, and barriers to innovation are not theoretical concerns. These are operational challenges. When these realities are brought into policy discussions, they allow for more targeted, proportionate, and effective responses.
Effective representation strengthens the system and provides those that show up with the ability to engage at the forefront. When high-quality independent providers are part of the conversation, policy can better understand and differentiate genuine risk for example. The result is smarter regulation that can focus on protecting students and outcomes while enabling quality providers and business to thrive.
There is also a broader economic imperative. Australia’s productivity and workforce participation depend heavily on a responsive, high-performing tertiary education system. Policy settings cannot discourage quality providers or create uncertainty for new entrants as the long-term cost is borne by students, employers, and the economy.
ITECA’s role extends beyond advocacy on behalf of the independent sector. It is a role which is about ensuring tertiary education policy is grounded in evidence, informed by practice, and aligned with national priorities.
The absence of that is a system where decisions are made without sufficient input from those who deliver outcomes on the ground.
Good policy requires more than good intentions. It requires informed voices at the table.
Felix Pirie
ITECA Chief Executive Officer
Further Information —
If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact the ITECA team at [email protected].