The Impact of Ministerial Direction 107 and 111: It’s Time for Action!

The Australian international education sector is under siege, and the fallout from Ministerial Direction 111 is devastating private education providers, particularly in the ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) and VET sectors. But as many of you in the industry are aware, this crisis didn’t start with Direction 111—it goes back to Ministerial Direction 107 and policies that set us up to fail.

Remember, Remember!

•  From 13 January 2022 to 30 June 2023, the government lifted work restrictions for international students, allowing them to work unlimited hours. While this helped industries facing labor shortages, it also incentivized some non-genuine students to enter Australia primarily for work, not study. We all would like to believe the government didn’t know that would happen; however, believing that would insult everyone’s intelligence (including the government’s), so let’s not!
• Instead of tackling this issue at the root, the government used Direction 107 to start arbitrarily refusing visa applications, all to appear tough on migration.

The result? A plummeting Evidence Level Index (ELI) for private education providers—institutions that are now being penalized for a problem caused by government policies.

For those unfamiliar, ELI acts like a report card for countries and education providers:

• Low-risk (ELI 1) means students have an easier visa process.
• Medium-risk (ELI 2) means students face more hurdles, but still have a relatively easy visa process
• High-risk (ELI 2) means students are very scrutinized and must deal with stricter financial and English language requirements.

When visa refusals skyrocketed, private providers’ ELIs dropped, making it harder for them to enroll students. Now, many ELICOS providers are struggling to survive, and Australia’s reputation as a top education destination is taking a hit.

🎯 Here’s what needs to happen:
I urge English Australia and NEAS to step up and take bold, collective action.

1. Draft a united letter on behalf of all ELICOS providers.
2. Demand the government reset the Evidence Level Index to pre-June 2023 levels, restoring fairness to the system.
3. Get the letter signed by every ELICOS provider.
4. Send it to Tony Burke and every major media outlet to ensure this issue gets the attention it deserves.

International education isn’t just an industry; it’s a cornerstone of our economy, a source of jobs, and a bridge to global engagement. Punishing providers for government-made problems is unjust and counterproductive.

Now is the time for unity and action. Let’s reset the ELI, rebuild trust, and secure the future of Australia’s international education sector.

To all ELICOS providers: Join this movement. To my network: Share this post to amplify the message. Together, we can push for the change we need.

#InternationalEducation #ELICOS #MinisterialDirection111 #MinisterialDirection107#PolicyReform #FairnessInEducation #Australia #LaborFailedPolicies