The Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) is the peak body representing independent skills training, higher education, and international education providers.
ITECA has approached the minister for transport, Catherine King, concerning the impacts on the Australian Government’s approach to international education and is impacting the aviation sector’s workforce, particularly the training of pilots.
“The ITECA membership includes several aviation schools that are critical in delivering pilot training, particularly to international students,” said CEO Troy Williams. “These schools provide essential training for pilot certification and deliver this to international students who often return to their home countries to work in overseas airlines and in many cases, pursue careers with Australian airlines.
“It has come to our attention that the introduction of international student caps in 2025 through the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 currently before the Senate, will significantly reduce the capacity of these flight schools to train international students. Thus, the Bill is expected to substantially reduce the capability of the airline sector both abroad and in Australia.
“This reduction in the capacity of Australia’s aviation schools to support high-quality aviation training for international students presents a severe risk to the future of aviation training in Australia, with many of our members expressing deep concern that the Australian Government’s approach will see pilot training levels reduce to unsustainable levels.
“The aviation training sector relies heavily on international student enrolments to maintain operational viability. Flight schools within ITECA’s membership have indicated that without steady and sustainable enrolment levels of overseas students, a significant number will be unable to survive the financial pressures.
“This is not just a short-term issue but creates a long-term structural problem in Australia’s tertiary education sector’s ability to support the development of the aviation industry. A reduction in pilot training capacity will have far-reaching consequences for Australia’s aviation sector, not only for the flight schools but for the entire airline industry. This problem is further compounded by the global demand for pilots, which has increased steadily due to retirements and industry growth. The shortage of pilots is already a critical issue for airlines worldwide, and Australia is no exception,” he said.
“Australian airlines depend on a pipeline of well-trained pilots to meet operational demands and support their expansion into new markets. By capping international student numbers, Australia risks significantly reducing the supply of qualified pilots, leaving airlines unable to meet demand. This will affect not only the growth of the airline industry but also Australia’s ability to maintain its competitive position as a leader in global aviation training,” said Williams.