Changes to the Student Visa Program
The simplified Student Visa AL Framework and extended streamlined student visa processing (SVP) arrangements will come into effect from 22 March 2014 now that all regulatory approvals have been obtained.
From 22 March 2014:
- AL4 and AL5 will be removed from the AL Framework which will be simplified to contain only AL1, AL2 and AL3. All current AL4 countries will be reduced to AL3 from this date.
- The financial requirement for AL3 applicants will be reduced from 18 months to 12 months evidence of funds. These funds will however have to be provided by an ‘acceptable individual’, similar to the current AL4 requirement.
- 19 non-university providers will gain access to SVP. The SVP arrangements for these 19 providers will operate in the same manner as the current SVP arrangements for universities.
The above changes apply for applications lodged on or after 22 March 2014. Applications lodged prior to this date will be assessed in line with existing SVP and AL framework provisions. Additional information regarding these changes, including FAQs is available on the DIBP website at the following link: http://www.immi.gov.au/Study/Pages/review-student-visa-programme.aspx
From 22 March 2014, the ‘substantial compliance’ requirement, applicable to onshore Student visa applications, will be repealed. In essence, ‘substantial compliance’ requires a student to have fully complied with all past visa conditions in order for a further Student visa to be granted.
While visa compliance and a student’s immigration history will still be considered as part of the ‘genuine temporary entrant’ or ‘genuine student’ requirements, the repeal of ‘substantial compliance’ provides greater flexibility for the department to grant subsequent visas where exceptional circumstances (such as illness, bereavement or upheaval in the person’s home country) had led to a breach of visa conditions.
This regulation change applies to applications lodged on or after 22 March 2014 as well as visa applications currently onhand (i.e. lodged prior to this date).
The YTD February 2015 statistics released last Friday by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training show the return to growth for ELICOS slowing, but stabilising at a new high level.
Whilst YTD 2015 figures show all sectors experiencing growth in the number of commencements (with a resulting overall...
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The January 2015 statistics released last week by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training show the return to growth for ELICOS continuing and stabilising at a new high level.
[Note: The data referred to in this report only relates to student visa holders. In 2013, 38% of all ELICOS students came...
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Do you have a product or service that would benefit those working in English language teaching?
Would you like to take advantage of this opportunity to engage directly with English language teaching practitioners and academic managers by advertising in the English Australia Journal?
By advertising in the English Australia Journal, your promotional...
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English Australia, in partnership with Cambridge English Language Assessment, is once again offering all ELICOS teachers the exciting opportunity to undertake small-scale classroom based action research projects, led by international authority on action research, Anne Burns.
In 2015 there will be a research focus on teaching, learning and assessing writing....
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AEI has released the data for commencements of student visa holders at YTD July 2014.
YTD July 2014 figures continue to show all sectors experiencing growth in the number of commencements, with a resulting overall growth across all sectors of +19%.
The Higher Education and Non-Award (foundation studies & study...
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English Australia is ramping up its efforts to actively engage with education and language travel agents worldwide who focus on recruiting students for quality English language programs.
“English Australia has put much effort into engaging with agents. We play an integral role in matching quality...
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AEI has released the data for commencements of student visa holders at YTD May 2014.
The strong growth trend for ELICOS that was experienced in 2013 continues to accelerate in the first five months of 2014 with YTD figures showing growth of +26%, producing a total of 45,851 commencements. This...
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AEI has released the data for commencements of student visa holders at YTD March 2014.
The strong growth trend for ELICOS that was experienced in 2013 has accelerated in the first three months of 2014 with YTD figures showing growth of +30%, producing a total of 30,253 commencements. This growth...
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- An opinion piece from English Australia's Executive Director, Sue Blundell, following the release of the report on the English language sector's performance in 2013.
In the recent past, the international education industry has looked to the English language sector with trepidation to see whether the barometer is rising or...
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AEI has released the data for commencements of student visa holders in January 2014. Whilst the picture is incomplete for other sectors until February and March data is released and the data should be interpreted with caution, monthly data for ELICOS can be analysed on its own merits.
The strong...
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The latest data for student visa applications and grants (YTD December 2013) shows positive news for all sectors.
The number of offshore visa applications (new demand) has been increasing slowly since July 2011, with the renewal of demand accelerating in the last half of the 2012/2013 program year. The significant...
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Participants in the 2014 English Australia Action Research in ELICOS Program, supported by Cambridge English Language Assessment, have been announced.
The popularity of the program is growing year by year and places in this unique opportunity for high level professional development with international expert in action research, Anne Burns,...
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AEI has now released the final end of year data for 2013 featuring a positive year of growth for the English language sector in Australia.
Overall growth in international student commencements across all sectors continued to strengthen throughout the year, finishing with growth of +9.3%. The VET decline has slowed...
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English Australia was delighted to hear that Christine Bundesen AM, former Chair and Board member of English Australia, has been officially invited and has accepted to serve on the very recently established International Education and Training Advisory Council (IETAC) to be chaired by the Hon John-Paul Langbroek MP, Minister for...
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DIBP has finally released the quarterly report for student visa applications and grants for the 1st quarter of the 2013/2014 program year (July to September 2013).
The number of offshore visa applications (new demand) has been increasing slowly since July 2011, with the renewal of demand accelerating in the last...
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AEI has now released another two months’ batch of new data, taking the latest international student data up to YTD October 2013.
The surge of growth seen in ELICOS commencements over the July/August period has continued in September/October.
Overall growth in international student commencements continues to strengthen from +3.4%...
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The seven education peak bodies have come together again to make a joint submission to the government's Commission of Audit.
The Commission has been established by the Australian Government as an independent body to review and report on the performance, functions and roles of the Commonwealth government. The Commission has a...
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Expressions of Interest are invited in the 2014 Action Research in ELICOS Program. This will be the fifth year of this award winning program, offered by English Australia in association with Cambridge English Language Assessment, and participants will explore an aspect of teaching, learning and assessing reading.
For more...
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For the second year running, English Australia joined with Austrade and ACPET to collectively promote Australia as a leading destination for international students at ICEF Berlin in November this year.
ICEF Berlin is the largest international education workshop bringing together educational providers and agents (more than 2,100 participants), and it...
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English Australia is delighted to see the new government taking some immediate action to support international education.
Yesterday, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison, and the Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne, announced a package of measures that would simplify the Student Visa Assessment Level Framework (ALF) and...
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After a long 'data break' whilst the government was in caretaker mode for the election, AEI has now released two months’ worth of new data, taking the latest international student data up to YTD August 2013.
There have been some significant changes over this 2 month period.
Overall growth in...
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Delegates at the Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) in Canberra last week were delighted by the positive messages in Minister Pyne’s first major speech on international education, delivered at the opening plenary session.
It seems he has certainly heard the messages that were conveyed strongly in the
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English Australia member college, ICTE-UQ, was announced as the winner of the Hong Kong Australia Business Association Award for Business Development – Queensland at an awards ceremony held on 20 September 2013.
The award was won against open competition, with the other finalists being Sirromet wines and Thomson Adsett specialising...
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Highlighting the professionalism of English language teaching to international students
This week English Australia hosts its annual national conference for the English language sector of international education, demonstrating why the industry in Australia is a global leader in the approach it takes to driving professional sharing and growth.
The 26th...
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The English language sector peak body and professional association English Australia is delighted to announce that its Action Research in ELICOS Program has won a prestigious Award for Best Practice/Innovation in International Education under the IEAA Excellence Awards Program for 2013.
The Action Research in ELICOS Program was developed by...
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English Australia, the association representing the leading English language colleges in Australia, and the Italian Association of Language Consultants and Agents, IALCA, are pleased to announce that they have concluded an important collaboration agreement.
Growth of 60% over the...
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DIAC has released their end of program year report on Working Holiday and Work and Holiday visas for the 2012/2013 Program Year. On the surface, the data seems to demonstrate that it was a good year for growth, with a record number of visas being granted, however there are some...
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Research reports from the 2012 English Australia Action Research in ELICOS Program, sponsored by Cambridge English Language Assessment, are now available in Issue 53 of Cambridge English ‘Research Notes’. The 2012 Program explored the topic of 'assessment'.
Click here to download the PDF.
For more information about the...
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DIAC has released the final quarterly report for student visa applications and grants for the 2012/2013 program year as well as their report on program trends since 2006/2007.
The number of offshore visa applications (new demand) has been increasing slowly since July 2011, with the renewal of demand...
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English Australia continues to collaborate with the other education peak bodies in getting our key messages across in the lea dup to the election. The joint peak bodies have released a second communique today, which has been shared with Ministers, Shadow Ministers and key departmental stakeholders as well as...
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AEI has released the latest international student data for YTD June 2013.
At YTD June 2013 all sectors except VET show growth in the number of commencements, with a resulting overall growth across all sectors of +3.4% – the first growth in commencements over this period since 2009.
This compares...
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English Australia is delighted to again be shortlisted for the STM Star School Association Award in 2013. An award voted for by agents, it sends a great message about how the work we do in supporting and engaging with agents is valued by them. Thank you to all the agents...
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The full program for the English Australia Conference is now available on the conference website, www.eaconference.com.au. There's something for everyone working in or with ELICOS at this must-attend event so bring your curiosity, your enthusiasm and your willingness to engage to make the most of this terrific opportunity...
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AEI has released the latest international student data for YTD May 2013.
At YTD May 2013 all sectors except VET show growth in the number of commencements, with a resulting overall growth across all sectors of +3.5% – the first growth in commencements over this period since 2009....
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AEI has released the latest international student data for YTD April 2013.
At YTD April 2013 all sectors except VET show growth in the number of commencements, with a resulting overall growth across all sectors of +2.9% – the first growth in commencements over this period since 2009.
The...
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Encourage your students to share their stories of life in Australia.
The Council for International Students in Australia (CISA) is running a national project, with funding from DIAC, to encourage international students to share their stories with the Australian community and thus raise awareness of international student experiences.
The ‘I'm...
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English Australia will be releasing the full English Australia ELICOS Industry Statistics Report for 2012 in June, outlining the latest market trends and developments for the ELICOS sector (including all visa types).
In the interim the English Australia ELICOS Industry Statistics 2012 Fact Sheet has been updated to...
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AEI has released the latest international student data for YTD March 2013.
At YTD March 2013 all sectors except VET show growth in the number of commencements, with a resulting overall growth across all sectors of +3.2% – the first growth in commencements over this period since 2009.
The ELICOS...
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English Australia is seeking Expressions of Interest in the position of Editor of the English Australia Journal, effective immediately until September 2016, with an option to extend by mutual agreement. Click here for details.
English Australia recognises the excellent work done over the past four years by the...
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BROWNS English Language Schools, winner of the state’s highest recognition of export achievement The Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards (Education and Training) and winner of the prestigious 2012 Australian Export Awards (Education and Training), was pleased to host the Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Trade, The Hon Kelvin Thomson, MP last...
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Young people from Australia and Uruguay now have the opportunity to visit and work in each other’s countries through a work and holiday visa arrangement.
The new work and holiday arrangement aims to strengthen people-to-people relations and build on economic ties and links between the two countries.
This arrangement will...
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AEI has released the PRISMS statistics for YTD February 2013. The data shows that the ELICOS sector has now seen six consecutive months of growth – with this growth experienced across a diverse range of markets.
[The February data for higher education should be interpreted with caution. In 2012, 36...
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Voting is open for the 2013 STM Star Awards with winners being announced at a Gala Awards dinner that will coincide with the Alphe UK event in London at the end of August. These awards are voted for by those in the industry and reflect excellence in business...
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Do you know someone who has made an outstanding contribution to ELICOS in the last year?
English Australia is seeking to recognise those who contribute to raising the professionalism and reputation of the English language sector of international education in Australia and to celebrate their achievements, their dedication and their...
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English Australia is delighted to see the launch today of a new $4 million global youth campaign by Tourism Australia.
The campaign aims to demonstrate to young people of the world why ‘There’s nothing like Australia’ and create a level of engagement and interest that will increase the number of...
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Minister Bowen has released the report of the International Education Advisory Council, chaired by Michael Chaney, entitled Australia – Educating Globally.
Click here to view the report.
Click here to view the English Australia media release – Action needed on international education.
Click here (if a member...
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English Australia is ramping up its efforts to actively engage with education and language travel agents worldwide who focus on recruiting students for quality English language programs.
“With a newbrand and a new website with a dedicated section providing resources for agents, we want to make sure that agents know...
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Following the landmark national symposium in 2007, IEAA and Australian Education International (AEI) are presenting a follow-up event Five Years On: English Language Competence of International Students.
The 2013 Symposium will draw on current research evidence – including three newly-commissioned papers – and consider the implications of recent developments, including:...
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English Australia was delighted by the response to the call for Expressions of Interest in this year's Action Research in ELICOS Program, supported by Cambridge English Language Assessment. Interest in this unique opportunity for high level professional development with international expert in action research, Anne Burns, is increasing every...
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AEI has released the November 2012 international student enrolment data.
Student commencement data for the ELICOS sector is starting to show a definite bottoming out of the 3 year decline that began in September 2009 and has continued over a three year period through into late 2012. With the release...
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On Friday 1 February, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) warned international students to be aware of individuals impersonating departmental officers seeking payment for alleged breaches of their visa conditions.
The scammers are targeting overseas students in Australia who have limited working rights as part of their...
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NSW police have launched two new social media sites in an effort to provide foreign students with crime prevention and safety messages. At the University of New South Wales in Sydney, police on Wednesday unveiled their International Students Facebook and Weibo pages.
In 2012, 192,000 international students studied in NSW...
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English Australia warmly congratulates management and staff at member college Browns English Language Schools (Brisbane & Gold Coast) who, after winning the Queensland Premier’s Export Award for Education & Training, received the Education and Training Award at the prestigious 2012 Australian Export Awards at a gala event held in Brisbane recently.
The event was hosted...
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AEI has released the October 2012 international student enrolment data.
Trends for the ELICOS sector are proving difficult to identify. Whilst the level of YTD commencements has stabilised, finally seeming to have brought to an end the fall that started in September 2009, each month tells a totally different story....
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Over the past few years English Australia has developed a set of Guides to Best Practice in different aspects of ELICOS to support its members in all areas of ELICOS operation. The Guides are compiled from member college contribution; prepared solely with English Australia resources; and are available only to...
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English Australia congratulates member college Browns English Language School on winning the Education and Training Award at the 2012 Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards earlier this month. Queensland Premier Campbell Newman congratulated all finalists and winners on achieving success through ‘innovation and determination to meet the...
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Australia will begin talks with the governments of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Poland, and the Slovak Republic on establishing reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangements, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, announced today.
'The start of discussions for these new work and holiday arrangements...
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AEI has released the September 2012 international student enrolment data.
Trends for the ELICOS sector are proving very difficult to identify. Whilst the level of YTD commencements has stabilised, finally seeming to have brought to an end the fall that started in September 2009, each month tells a totally different...
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The NSW Government has announced public transport fare discounts of up to 35% for international students. These discounts will be for unlimited travel on buses, trains, light rail and ferries in Greater Sydney, the Hunter and the Illawarra. These discounts will apply to all student visa holders, including ELICOS students....
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English Australia is setting up a Professional Development Advisory Group, the aim of which is to contribute to the association's strategic goal to raise levels of professional practice in ELICOS. More information about English Australia professional development initiatives are available HERE.
The Advisory Group will contribute by:1. advising on existing...
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English Australia was delighted to hear that Seamus Fagan, former Chair of English Australia, was presented with the IEAA Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Field of International Education at last week’s Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) in Melbourne.
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AEI has released the August 2012 international student enrolment data.
Trends for the ELICOS sector are proving very difficult to identify. Whilst the level of YTD commencements has stabilised, finally seeming to have brought to an end the fall that started in September 2009, each month tells a totally different...
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2012 English Australia Conference
Sydney provided three days of glorious spring weather (apart from a brief shower, for contrast) that set the scene for the almost 400 delegates attending the 2012 English Australia Conference.
Plenary speakers Mark McCrindle, Catherine Walter, Nicky Hockly, David Graddol and Kate Carnell provided a range...
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The 25th annual English Australia Conference will be held in Sydney from 19 – 21 September 2012 and is designed to provide a wide range of professional development and networking opportunities for more than 350 people working in or associated with the ELICOS sector of international education. Executive Director, Sue...
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AEI has released the July 2012 international student enrolment data.
All sectors except ELICOS show a decline in the number of commencements for YTD 2012, with a resulting overall decline across all sectors of -5.1%.
YTD 2012 commencement figures show a stabilisation of the decline for the ELICOS sector that...
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English Australia Executive Director, Sue Blundell, was delighted to celebrate with member colleges and other industry luminaries at the annual Study Travel Magazine Star Awards for International Education Gala Dinner in London last night.
English Australia member colleges were represented amongst the winners in the following categories:
English...
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Are you on Twitter yet? English Australia is giving away an iPad to the person who tweets the best outline of how they are going to re-shape their future in ELICOS - in 140 characters or less! Click HERE for competition details on the English Australia Conference website.
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DIAC has released the final quarterly report for student visa applications and grants for the 2011/2012 Program Year.
Although total visa applications (+0.4%) and total visa grants (+1%) for the full program year show only a small level of growth, with this growth distorted by the churn of students already...
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AEI has released the June 2012 international student enrolment data. All sectors show a decline in the number of commencements for YTD 2012, with a resulting overall decline across all sectors of -8.0%.
YTD 2012 shows a continuation of the decline for the ELICOS sector that started towards the end...
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English Australia is delighted to release the program for the English Australia Conference 2012. We encourage everyone to click here to explore the full program. You will want to register immediately!
This year's program offers a range of topics and speakers that will ensure that anyone who works in...
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English Australia is proud to be shortlisted for the STM Star School Association Award in 2012 - for the 6th consecutive year!
This award is voted for by agents and this recognition tells us that the work we are doing as an association to support our member colleges in delivering...
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English Australia has released another Guide to Best Practice to support member colleges in providing the highest quality programs and services to ELICOS students.
The Guide to Best Practice in Managing the Effects of Natural Disasters was compiled from member college practice and covers key features of best practice; regulatory...
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English Australia is delighted to launch a new publication that reveals the latest findings regarding the international student experience in the English language sector.
Almost 9,000 students from 49 English language colleges across Australia shared their views on their experience in a wide-ranging online survey undertaken at the end of...
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In the same year as we celebrated the achievements of two industry pioneers, Christine Bundesen and Maggie Gray, who both received the Order of Australia in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours’ List, we farewell another pioneer, Dr Ruth Wajnryb.
Ruth passed away peacefully, and surrounded by family on Saturday after...
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AEI has released the May 2012 international student enrolment data. All sectors show a decline in the number of commencements for YTD 2012, with a resulting overall decline across all sectors of -7.7%.
YTD 2012 shows a continuation of the decline for the ELICOS sector that started towards the end...
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The Gillard Government's Tuition Protection Service (TPS) commences this Sunday.
The Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans, said the TPS would reform the sector by providing increased protection - ensuring international students continue to view Australia as a great place to study.
"We want to ensure Australia remains a...
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From 1 July 2012, as part of an annual review of cost of living increases, the funds required for student visa applicants to demonstrate their ability to meet living costs in Australia will increase from $18,000 to $18,610 a year.
International students are required to demonstrate and/or declare that they...
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On 14 October 2011, the Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator the Hon Chris Evans, announced the formation of the International Education Advisory Council (IEAC). The IEAC will provide advice to the Australian Government to help inform the development of a five year national strategy to support the sustainability and quality...
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Outcomes of the 2011 Action Research in ELICOS Program have been published in Issue 48 of Research Notes, the quarterly journal reporting on research, test development and validation at Cambridge ESOL.
The 2011 projects covered teaching pronunciation; developing independent learning skills; explicitly teaching assessment...
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The inaugural Chair of English Australia, Christine Bundesen, was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours List released today "for service to international tertiary education through leadership roles in the field of English Language Teaching, to the development of quality assurance standards, and to professional organisations."
The...
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AEI has released the April 2012 international student enrolment data. All sectors except ELICOS show a decline in the number of commencements for YTD 2012, with a resulting overall decline across all sectors of -5.5%.
YTD 2012 shows a plateauing of the decline for the ELICOS sector that started towards...
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Issue 27.2 of the English Australia Journal has been published and will be with member college staff, subscribers and contributors shortly. For information on how to subscribe to, contribute to or advertise in issue 28.1 of the Journal go to
COLLEGES > SERVICES & RESOURCES > PROFESSIONAL...
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English Australia is now offering Professional Affiliate Membership to individuals who do not work for English Australia member colleges but who would like to keep in touch with professional development services, resources and information offered by the association.
Benefits of membership include regular professional development e-updates, plus a year's subscription...
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If you want to understand the full story of what the data is telling us about what happened in the ELICOS sector in 2011, then the annual English Australia seminar program is a must attend event.
In June 2012 English Australia will again be holding a series of seminars around...
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DIAC has released the latest quarterly report for student visa applications and grants for the 9 month period YTD March 2012.
Although total visa applications (+2%) and total visa grants (+4%) for YTD March show only a small level of growth, with this growth somewhat distorted by the churn of...
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English Australia used the opportunity presented by the 2012 ATEC Backpacker & Youth Industry Conference, held on the Sunshine Coast this week, to launch its new StudentConnect Program.
This new program signals an important step forward in bringing...
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AEI has released the March 2012 international student enrolment data. All sectors, including Higher Education, show a decline in the number of commencements for YTD 2012, with a resulting overall decline across all sectors of -7.2%.
YTD...
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On 14 October 2011, the Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator the Hon Chris Evans, announced the formation of the International Education Advisory Council (IEAC). The IEAC will provide advice to the Australian Government to help inform the development of a five year national strategy to support the sustainability and quality...
Read more »
A group of countries that are some of the most popular destinations for international students are acting to improve the integrity of education recruitment agents.
The move aims to ensure that students receive a better service when they use agents to help them apply for school, college or university places...
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Member colleges that have international students from Iran enrolled with their institution should be aware that AEI has provided advice on their website for those that may be having difficulty accessing funds from Iran.
Colleges can support Iranian students by deferring their enrolment or reducing their study load, enabling them...
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Registration for the 2012 English Australia Conference is now open, with Earlybird savings available until 30 June.
Register now for a rich program that will help ‘re-shape our future’ and take us through the next ten years.
Plenary speakers include social researcher Mark McCrindle, language researcher...
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English Australia welcomes the inclusion of international education in today's COAG communique as an indication of its importance and in recognition of the significant decline that has been experienced by the sector over the last two years.
The sector hopes that the commitment to expedite the implementation of the revised...
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English Australia is delighted to announce the launch of a new brand identity which has been revealed to key stakeholders across all states of Australia and internationally.
The new brand signals an exciting progression in the proud history of English Australia, the national peak body and leading professional association for English language colleges...
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English Australia is delighted to announce that Chris Wallis, the Director of Swinburne College, has been appointed to the role of Chair and that Marc-Weedon Newstead, the Principal/Group Executive of the UNSW Institute of Languages, has been appointed to the role of Deputy Chair of English Australia, effective from 16...
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