Daily Brief — Australian Education
Monday, 28 September 2026 · 05:12 AEST
ILAC's bankruptcy has left students financially and academically affected, with Languages Canada placing displaced in-person language students at member schools. The Universities Accord Bill 2026 is expected to proceed to Senate vote on 12 October.
Top of the brief
First-person student testimony published by The PIE on 25 September documents the financial and academic losses from ILAC's 18 September bankruptcy: José Carlos Chávez (Mexico) lost CAD$14,000 and cancelled a planned Vancouver move; Sebastián Cáceres (Chile-Bolivia), enrolled in a sales and marketing program in Vancouver, lost CAD$13,000; by 22 September, Languages Canada had placed 430 of the 1,362 displaced in-person language students at member schools, though Chávez noted "ILAC as an institution has still provided zero direct communication" with affected students. Cáceres: "It's like a huge, massive punch in the face." KPMG continues as insolvency manager. (The PIE, 25 September)
Sector data
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.
Diary
12 October 2026 — Parliament reconvenes; Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026 expected to proceed to Senate vote with Greens and Pocock amendments secured.
12 October 2026 — 2026 National Student Safety Survey closes (opened 31 August across all 38 Universities Australia member universities; results expected 2027).
17–18 November 2026 — TEQSA 2026 Conference, fully virtual.
19 May 2027 — ASQA 12-month VET/ELICOS registration pause expires.