“The university sector has not been consulted in relation to any proposed changes and will strongly oppose any moves to downgrade the Government’s commitment to teaching and learning excellence in higher education, or Indigenous higher education,” said Belinda Robinson, Chief Executive of peak body Universities Australia.

The OLT is one of the country’s most respected higher education agencies and, with its predecessor – the Australian Learning and Teaching Council – has propelled Australia to global prominence in teaching excellence.

The ATSIHEAC is due to expire on 30 June 2015. This is the third iteration of the Government’s official advisory body for Indigenous higher education policy and practice, and was specifically charged with formulating an implementation plan for the recommendations from the 2012 Behrendt ‘Review of Higher Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People‘.

The winding down of the ATSIHEAC must not be allowed to result in any diminution of the Government’s commitment to increasing opportunities and the participation of Indigenous people in higher education.