IHEA: Independent Providers Crucial to Meeting Education Targets

Independent Higher Education Australia (IHEA) is calling on the next government to diversify its approach to higher education, highlighting independent providers as essential to meeting Australia's ambitious education targets by 2050.
Significant growth in student numbers is required for the Government to achieve its goal of four in every five working age Australians having a tertiary qualification by 2050. The Government's sole focus on public universities ignores the critical independent higher education sector. This will leave students and workers behind.
"Whoever wins the upcoming election must realise that public universities alone cannot deliver the expansion required for Australia's future workforce," said IHEA CEO, the Hon Dr Peter Hendy. "Our sector has the capacity, flexibility, and student-centred approach necessary to significantly boost participation rates."
As part of its 2025 Federal Election Platform, IHEA stresses the need for independent providers to access Managed Growth Targets (MGT) and needs-based funding, currently restricted to public universities.
"Limiting growth strategies exclusively to public universities is short-sighted and risks Australia's future workforce development," said Dr Hendy.
IHEA argues that integrating independent providers into any future growth strategy is cost-effective and immediately practical compared to other policy proposals.
"Expanding support to independent higher education providers is not just strategic; it's essential. Our sector is ready to help achieve these ambitious targets, but we need equal access to growth funding mechanisms," Dr Hendy added.