Program accreditation
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the class action proceedings currently before the Supreme Court of New South Wales concerning the Bachelor of Medical Engineering (Honours) program.
As the matter is now before the Court, it would be inappropriate for the University to comment in detail.
However, the University has filed a defence and intends to respond to the claims through the proper legal channels. The Supreme Court published the following Public Notice on 14 August 2025, which is the Court-approved description of the University's position to potential members of the class.
- The University denies the claims being made against it and is defending the proceeding.
- The University accepts that the BME was not accredited up until 10 December 2023.
- It says that from 11 December 2023 provisional accreditation status through Engineers Australia was granted and retrospectively applied to students who commenced in the BME from 2020. The University says that material it published during the period 1 November 2017 to 31 July 2019 noted that the University was seeking provisional accreditation for the BME with Engineers Australia.
- The University denies that its published statements regarding accreditation, read in context, were misleading or deceptive and it denies that its representations were published in trade or commerce. It also denies that it was negligent toward, or entered a contract with, group members, in relation to the BME.
- Finally, it denies that group members have suffered loss and damage because it is not a requirement to practice as an engineer in Australia that a person has completed an engineering degree that is accredited by Engineers Australia, the steps required to be taken to gain membership with Engineers Australia by persons who had graduated from the University with a BME degree were straightforward and not particularly time consuming, and the University has offered to meet the cost for such persons of applying for membership with Engineers Australia.
A copy of the University’s defence is available on the Supreme Court of NSW’s website:
- Accreditation details are available in the program handbook linked on each degree page: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/degrees. If you would like to speak with someone for more help with this, please reach out to our friendly AskUON team via: http://askuon.newcastle.edu.au
- Support, such as counselling and our after-hours phone/SMS line, is available for any students who feel worried or stressed. Connect with our support services here: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-students/support/personal
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.