AGP Executive Report

WA University Merger: The Cook government is investigating a merger of UWA, Curtin and Murdoch, despite Curtin’s opposition and strong resistance from university staff. Schools: Chronic absences in WA have reached record highs, while the state plans to cut screen time in classrooms. University Workforce: Staff at three Brisbane universities held a joint stoppage. Student Projects: UTS has halted its planned $100 million Indigenous student residence amid the tender process. Student Rights: Advocates are urging Labor to back a bill ending exemptions that allow religious schools to expel students or dismiss staff over sexuality or marital status. International Education: Universities warn student-number cuts could leave a major funding gap, as regional institutions struggle with visa refusals and falling overseas enrolments.

Indigenous Student Housing: UTS has halted the tender for its planned 250-bed National First Nations College in Sydney, ending negotiations with its development partner and putting the long-delayed project on ice. International Education: Universities warn student-number cuts could leave a “very significant hole”, as regional campuses struggle with visa refusals and political uncertainty. University Reform: Western Australia’s proposed mega-university is advancing amid concerns, with Curtin opposing the plan. Rural Learning: Link 2 Country has given about 1,000 students hands-on experience in farming in just over a year, as agriculture seeks to attract its next generation. Young Carers: An estimated 40,000 young people in WA care for family members; one student says those responsibilities are making it harder to compete for a place in medical school.

WA University Merger: Curtin says it will “vigorously oppose” a proposed merger with Murdoch and the University of Western Australia, warning of costs, job losses and reduced student choice. The state is developing a business case before making a final decision. Student Safety: A Melbourne primary school teacher is accused of secretly filming more than 350 children in toilets using hidden cameras; the allegations are before the courts. International Students: Regional universities are struggling to enrol overseas students amid visa refusals and heated migration debate. Universities have warned that proposed cuts to international student numbers could leave a major funding hole. HSC Pressure: Students are cramming as NSW’s HSC exams begin, while an opinion piece urges them to aim high and be kind to themselves. Skills Pathways: Victoria’s opposition has pledged nearly a dozen technical colleges to fast-track students into apprenticeships, putting vocational training in focus ahead of the state election.

University Funding: Australian universities are filling only about two-thirds of international student places, with regional Charles Sturt at 40%. Visa uncertainty and proposed migration cuts are deepening deficits, prompting job losses and raising concerns for domestic students. HSC Exams: More than 60,000 NSW students begin exams Tuesday, with schools and libraries offering extra revision support as candidates cram. Childcare: Albanese wants universal childcare to be his legacy, but soaring fees and safety scandals complicate both public confidence and the cost of expansion. School Costs and Pathways: Independent schooling could top $800,000 over 13 years by 2039, while Victoria’s opposition proposes 10 trade colleges for 5,000 secondary students, offering hands-on routes into construction, health and hospitality.

School Policy: One Nation’s proposal to ban niqabs and burqas in all Australian schools drew criticism from Sydney’s Lebanese Muslim Association, which said it targets a small number of Muslim students rather than addressing a genuine classroom issue. Child Safety: A Melbourne primary school teacher has been accused of secretly filming children in toilets; reports say more than 350 children may have been filmed. University Staff: University of Melbourne workers walked out as talks over pay and conditions stalled. Student Visas: The Coalition’s proposed cuts to migration include scrapping temporary graduate visas and reducing student numbers, prompting warnings of a bleak outlook for the education sector.

School Safety: A Melbourne primary school teacher has been accused of secretly filming more than 350 children in toilets using cameras hidden in fragrance dispensers. University Jobs: University of Melbourne staff walked out as talks over pay and conditions stalled. Student Policy: The Coalition’s plan to cut international student numbers and scrap Temporary Graduate visas has prompted warnings from universities of a major funding hit and damage to Australia’s research talent pipeline. New visa rules also restrict dependants and onshore applications. School Funding: Disputes over public-school budgets and proposed disability-education cuts are drawing calls from parents for clearer information.

School Safety: A Melbourne primary-school teacher faces 16 charges over allegedly filming more than 350 children in school toilets. The case returns to court on November 20. University Dispute: University of Melbourne classes face disruption after staff called a 24-hour strike and teaching ban over pay, career pathways, AI policy and academic freedom. Safer School Zones: Western Australia is adding speed cameras near schools after its first camera issued 833 infringements in seven weeks; Churchlands Primary is among the next locations. International Education: Universities warn further international-student cuts could leave the sector with a major funding gap, as new student-visa restrictions take effect and the opposition proposes deep migration cuts.

International Students: The Coalition has pledged major migration cuts, including scrapping Temporary Graduate visas and reducing student numbers, prompting warnings universities could lose vital income and employers face skills shortages. Visa Changes: New rules are now in force limiting dependants and onshore student visa applications, while Bhutanese students are reconsidering plans to study in Australia. Schools: Parents are demanding clearer details on public school funding after the government rejected budget claims; separate reports say disability education cuts are being justified with fraud allegations. Early Learning: Family day care is shrinking as parents choose centre-based care, while educators cite heavy paperwork and feeling undervalued. School Communities: Four Australian schools have announced closures, leaving families scrambling and communities devastated.

International Student Policy: Universities warn proposed cuts would leave a “very significant hole” in the sector, after the Coalition pledged to reduce student numbers and scrap Temporary Graduate visas. These are election proposals, not enacted changes. Visa Changes: New rules now restrict student visa dependants and some onshore applications, ending “visa hopping” from October 2. Global Expansion: The University of Western Australia has received approval to establish a campus in Chennai, making it the first Australian university to open an international campus there. New Study Pathway: The University of Canberra and The Grove Studios Academy will launch a contemporary music degree on the Central Coast in 2027, combining university study with studio-based training. Classroom Research: New Australian research examining how screens are used in classrooms may challenge assumptions about their role in learning.

Teacher Wellbeing: New research reviewing 186 studies and more than 350,000 teachers found links between teachers’ wellbeing and students’ motivation and achievement, adding a learning case for tackling staff burnout and workload. International Students: The Coalition’s pledge to scrap Temporary Graduate visas and cut student numbers has raised concerns about lasting damage to the education sector; new visa rules already restrict dependants and some onshore applications. University Expansion: The University of Western Australia has received approval for its Chennai campus, with classes due to begin October 19. Classroom Technology: Nearly 1,000 NSW teachers were surveyed about screens in class, but only 53% said they helped students learn.

University Leadership: University of Newcastle VC Prof Alex Zelinsky will retire in February 2027, after leading work placements across degrees and boosting Indigenous education pathways. Workplace Mental Health: A new guide finds median workers’ comp mental health claims cost about $67,000 and keep people off work for ~35.7 weeks; bullying/harassment is the top cause, with education and professional roles flagged for burnout and admin burden. Early Learning Quality: A sector piece argues high-quality early childhood education is built on educator-child relationships, strong leadership, and family partnerships—while warning against one-size-fits-all policy. Student Visa Pressure: Coalition plans to cut migration and tighten student-related rules are drawing fresh scrutiny, with business and universities warning of shortages and damage to international student enrolments. Privacy in Schools Tech: Kmart has pulled camera-equipped Anko smart glasses from Australia and NZ amid growing privacy backlash and regulator attention. Health Research: Curtin research reports 45.6% of concussion patients still have symptoms a year later, with early severe symptoms a key risk marker. Climate & Coal Law: Australia’s High Court ruling on NSW Mount Pleasant coal mine emissions could reshape how mines are assessed nationwide.

Student Safety & Digital Access: Australia’s Ask Izzy crisis directory funding was axed, with charities warning the $2m-a-year cut could leave vulnerable people without a key referral tool after 9.1m searches in the past year. Classroom Screens: New research questions how screens are actually being used in Australian classrooms, with findings that challenge simple “screens help” claims. AI & Education Policy: An Australian government AI inquiry is grilling data-centre firms as concerns grow about local capacity, ownership and community consultation. Health & Learning Support: Anaesthetists warn patients using GLP-1 weight-loss jabs or unapproved peptides must disclose before surgery due to serious aspiration risk. Early Childhood & Wellbeing: A Smartphone Readiness model in the US pushes “readiness” over age for when kids get smartphones—an approach likely to resonate with Australian parents and schools. Climate & Schools: Pacific leaders at pre-COP31 say climate finance failures are leaving communities, including low-lying islands, facing rising seas and stronger disasters.

Migration & student visas: Australia’s Coalition has unveiled a “biggest cut” migration plan, targeting net overseas migration of 100,000 for two years and slashing temporary visas by about 650,000 over four years, including reducing international student commencements to 240,000 and scrapping the temporary graduate visa pathway—moves that higher education leaders warn could hit the sector hard. TAFE & skills pipeline: TAFE NSW is ramping up surveying training to tackle a forecast 2,000-professional shortfall by 2029, highlighting career pivots from trades into surveying via study while working. Schools & learning support: New research reports that only 53% of NSW teachers say screens help students learn, adding fuel to the debate over classroom technology use. Early childhood & workforce: Australia’s early childhood professionals are being recognised at the HESTA awards, while grants are set to expand access to early education for not-for-profit providers. International education links: Australia Awards Scholarships 2027 show a surge in STEM uptake among Cambodian recipients, with 40% heading into science and tech fields.

Screen-Time Crackdown in NSW: A Macquarie University-led study for the NSW government found students struggle to regulate device use, with distraction rising sharply in upper high school years and only 53% of teachers saying screens help learning. Queensland’s Different Approach: Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek says schools should keep a balance rather than follow the same strict limits. After-School Care Gets a Boost: An Adelaide University study says OSHC programs using the Activated OSHC training can significantly lift kids’ physical activity and reduce screen time. Student Visa Tightening: Australia’s new student visa rules are now in effect, limiting dependants and onshore applications and reshaping plans for international students. Teacher Workforce Pressure (Regional): Fiji’s World Teachers’ Day message highlights retention risks as teachers consider moving to Australia and New Zealand. Job-Search Scams Hit LinkedIn: Australians are being targeted with fake recruiter profiles and “CV help” scams, with ACCC reporting major losses.

Remote Learning & Access: Australia will fund solar power for remote and maritime schools via a $1m boost to the It’s Time Foundation with Fiji’s Ministry of Education, aiming to support Pacific transitions ahead of COP31. Climate & Health: New research warns climate change is raising the risk of mosquito-borne diseases in Australia, with dengue and malaria threats expected to spread as warmer conditions expand. Digital Safety for Kids: Police say a Western Australian teen was targeted by a sadistic online cult linked to self-harm coercion, highlighting growing risks for children on gaming platforms. Teachers & Workforce: World Teachers’ Day spotlights global shortages, with UNESCO estimating a 44m teacher gap by 2030 and pressure on countries to hire, place and retain staff. AI in Education/Research: Murdoch University researchers are using AI to identify enzymes that could break down plastic pollutants, pointing to faster pathways for environmental problem-solving. Education City Culture: Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) is hosting ACMI’s touring exhibition “All That Is Unseen,” using immersive experiences to make hidden systems visible. Security & Aviation (education angle): Australia’s counter-terror team is investigating alleged Flydubai co-pilot links to Australia, including claims he studied at Melbourne’s RMIT.

Flydubai Terror Probe: Australia’s counter-terror team is investigating the Flydubai co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain and trying to seize control of an Israel-bound flight, with reports he studied in Melbourne (including at RMIT) and allegedly visited radical sites while in Australia. School & Student Safety: Experts warn sadistic online networks are targeting Australian children through major gaming platforms, urging stronger safeguards after an e-safety commissioner report flagged failures by companies including Valve and Epic Games. Early Learning & Community: Imua Family Services is launching “100 Voices,” a youth choir for ages 11–18 in Maui with no auditions and community-service hours. Sport Infrastructure: Logan City Council will review a pre-feasibility report for a $156m Brisbane 2032 baseball/softball stadium at Griffith University’s Logan campus. Student Life & Learning: A high school student has been named Australia’s Portrait Artist of the Year after impressing judges in a fast-paced celebrity portrait competition. Cost of Living for Renters: A surcharge ban is already forcing some renters off credit-card rent payments, with banks changing processes ahead of payments reforms.