They set the minimum requirements all registered higher education providers must meet and continue to meet to be registered to operate as a higher education provider in Australia.
The national higher education regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), uses the Threshold Standards to regulate higher education providers and courses.
The ATEC is responsible for providing advice to the Minister for Education and TEQSA on the Threshold Standards.
Higher Education Standards Committee (HESC)
The Higher Education Standards Committee (HESC) is a statutory committee of the ATEC established to provide independent expert advice and recommendations in relation to the Threshold Standards. The HESC:
- provides advice and recommendations on the Higher Education Standards Framework to ATEC
- draws on collective expertise in higher education and the development of quality standards
- supports the continuity, integrity and expert‑led development of the standards for higher education.
Prior work on the Threshold Standards
With the commencement of ATEC, the Higher Education Standards Panel (HESP) has ceased and its standards‑related advisory role has transitioned to ATEC, supported by the HESC. This change supports continuity of expert advice while aligning standards stewardship with ATEC’s broader system‑level functions.