We are seeking expressions of interest from services that want to form a new or change a current foreign arrangement in 2026. This includes all school and school-council run early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.
This is in line with Australia’s foreign policy objectives under the Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Act 2020.
Under the Act, these services must send their new arrangements, or variations to existing ones, to the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the department.
First, reach out to the department’s International Education and Partnerships Division Stakeholder Engagement team. Do this before you discuss or enter arrangements with foreign entities.
This ensures that arrangements between state and territory government departments and international counterparts are aligned to Australia’s foreign policy objectives.
Arrangements that need approval
The legislation extends to any written arrangements between schools or school-council run ECEC services, and foreign entities. This includes overseas governments, universities, and other schools.
Common examples of foreign arrangements requiring Australian Government approval include:
- partnerships with foreign ECEC providers or services
- agreements
- written arrangements
- contracts
- memoranda of understanding (MoU)
- teacher exchange programs.
You can make arrangements in any way. You don’t need to sign them or make them legally binding for them to be covered by the Act.
How to submit an expression of interest
The department’s expression of interest process for new or existing foreign arrangements happens twice a year, in Term 1 and Term 3.
If you plan to change or start a new foreign arrangement before December 2026, please reach out to the department by Friday 14 August 2026 with:
Please send these to the department’s Stakeholder Engagement team by email: ied.stakeholder.engagement@education.vic.gov.au
Find out more
For further enquiries, contact the department’s Stakeholder Engagement team by email: ied.stakeholder.engagement@education.vic.gov.au
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