Charles Darwin University - Submission to Senate Inquiry into the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 - CDU submission - Inquiry into the ESOS Amendment

Sep 15, 2026

Submission to a Senate inquiry on the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024, presenting Charles Darwin University’s position on proposed changes. It outlines CDU’s role as a dual-sector provider, its international education contribution to the Northern Territory, housing and skills-context considerations, and the university’s stance on implementation timing. The submission argues for continuity of growth projections while noting market thinness, visa processing effects, and the need for robust international education quality and integrity measures.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

CDU is dual sector in a thin student market

The Territory embraces international students

Housing availability with room for growth

International students are essential to the economy of the Territory

The loan required to finance the new CDU city campus was predicated on growth

CDU’s Position on the ESOS Act amendments

Charles Darwin University Submission to Senate Inquiry into the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 Table of Contents Australia’s most connected university 3 CDU is dual sector in a thin student market. 5 The Territory embraces international students. 5 Housing availability with room for growth. 6 International students are essential to the economy of the Territory. 7 The loan required to finance the new CDU city campus was predicated on growth. 8 CDUs Position on the ESOS Act amendments. 9 Australia’s most connected university Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) vision is to be Australia’s most connected university by being courageous and making a difference in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia and beyond. Being a dual sector university allows CDU to meet the education needs of Territorians in campuses in Darwin, Alice Springs, Palmerston and Katherine and in study centres in Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek. CDU has a proud history of delivering on country in some of the NT’s most remote locations, bringing training to communities who need it in places such as Galiwinku, Maningrida, Borroloola, Wadeye and Hermannsburg. At the heart of CDU, is the engagement of First Nations students to support their attainment of vocational and higher education (degree education) . The NT spans approximately one sixth of Australia’s landmass and yet is home to just one per cent of the population, of whom 30 per cent are First Nations peoples. CDU embrace the vitality and resilience of the Northern Territory, which is the focus of the nation’s most ambitious plans for future development – to unlock the vast potential of Northern Australia and to engage with our neighbours in the Asia Pacific. Due to our location, we are in an enviable position to contribute to the future prosperity of Northern Australia through innovative and impactful training, education and research. International education is a vital part of CDU. Nationally, our international student numbers are tiny, but to CDU and the NT they are very significant. International students bring a vibrancy to Darwin; are warmly welcomed into the community; and help fill skills gaps while studying and upon graduation. In the context of dire skills shortages, and lower than national average rental vacancies, the social license for international education in the NT is distinct from that in major metropolitan cities. The Territory is ready and waiting to accommodate and welcome more international students-we have aligned our CDU growth plans with the NT Government’s target to reach 10,000 international students by 2030. The University notes that providers are calling for a delay in implementation to 2026, however due to the current situation, whereby the numbers are already being controlled by visa processing and risk rating, the environment for 2025 is very unpredictable. Should limits be implemented, CDU supports these being implemented in 2025. For these reasons, CDU continues to strongly advocate for its ambition to reach growth projections for international education and training. As the only University headquartered in the NT, CDU continues to receive the strong support of the NT Government to realise the benefits of a strong and diverse international education environment. At a snapshot, our current international student profile reveals: CDU international students are enrolled in a diverse range of courses. Many of these students choose to study in disciplines identified as critical skills shortages within the Territory. This alignment not only helps address local workforce needs but also provides students with valuable opportunities to gain skills that are in high demand. These fields include healthcare, engineering, information technology, education, and other areas crucial for the region's development. By pursuing studies in these key areas, international students at CDU contribute to the local econ

FAQs

What is CDU’s core vision described in the submission?

CDU’s vision is to be Australia’s most connected university by being courageous and making a difference in the Northern Territory, Australia and beyond.

How does the submission describe the role of international students for the Northern Territory and CDU?

International students are described as essential for filling skills gaps during study and after graduation, supporting the local economy and community while helping address workforce shortages.

What implementation timing does CDU consider for the ESOS Act amendments?

The submission notes providers are calling for a delay to 2026; it states that due to uncertainty in 2025 and current visa processing controls, CDU supports limits being implemented in 2025.

Sep 15, 2026

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