Australian Education Daily Brief — Tuesday, 25 August 2026

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Clare and Walsh announce $38 million to co-locate early childhood education with primary schools in Western Australia — the first partnership between the Australian and WA governments to deliver 0–5 education on public school sites — with four early learning centres to be built including a Derby facility backed jointly by the federal government ($9 million), the Cook Government ($7.5 million), and the Minderoo Foundation, creating more than 140 places across the state (24 August). The investment draws on the Building Early Education Fund; co-location at Maarakool Primary School and Greenmount Primary School is designed to reduce double drop-offs and ease school transitions. Clare: "Where you grow up shouldn't determine whether you can access early education." (Clare, 24 August)

An analysis of India's international branch campuses finds 13 universities — including five Australian institutions — operating 14 campuses for 2026/27 with an estimated intake capacity of 2,730 students, but actual enrolments expected to fall below half that figure; undergraduate fees average INR 13.3 lakh (115% higher than leading Indian private universities) and postgraduate INR 17.2 lakh, representing approximately 36% of the overseas parent campus fee (24 August). Programs across 91 offerings — 53 undergraduate and 38 postgraduate — are concentrated in business and STEM; demand is cautious with prospective families taking a "wait-and-watch" approach pending evidence of faculty quality and graduate placement outcomes: "These campuses have a very short runway to prove they can deliver on the outcomes they've promised for a premium fee." (The PIE, 24 August)

Standing figures: 2026 NPL 295,000 (+25,000 on 2025); visa refusal rates 69% Nepal, 42% India (early 2026); domestic commencements 413,133 (+4.3% YoY); $50m over-enrolment fund; $50m Structural Adjustment Fund.