Member Services
There are many benefits of being an English Australia member college. Services and resources available to colleges which are full members of English Australia include the following:
Identification as an English Australia Member College
English Australia Member Colleges are able to identify themselves as being English Australia Member Colleges by using the English Australia logo and by making verbal and written statements to that effect. The English Australia logo is constantly reinforced in the marketplace with students, agents and other decision makers as a 'quality' brand and enables Member Colleges to differentiate themselves from other colleges.
Government advocacy
English Australia proactively engages with the commonwealth government, state/territory governments and other bodies in representing the English language industry perspective on a range of matters of relevance to Member Colleges. English Australia Member Colleges are given opportunities to participate in this process by identifying issues and providing English Australia with their views.
Assistance with compliance
English Australia provides assistance to Member Colleges in meeting their compliance requirements in relation to government legislation and regulations. English Australia assistance with compliance mechanisms include:
- Information Service to keep Member Colleges up to date with regard to government legislation and regulatory requirements;
- Tuition Assurance Scheme (TAS), of which all English Australia Member Colleges are members;
- English Australia will provide responses to correspondence and telephone enquiries if you have a compliance issue you need help with.
Quality assurance
Quality assurance is an important aspect of English Australia's operations. English Australia quality assurance mechanisms include:
- Code of Conduct, which must be complied with all by all English Australia Member Colleges;
- English Australia Refund and Transfer Policies, which stipulate minimum requirements for Member Colleges' refund and transfer policies;
- By-Law for Disciplinary Procedures, which enables English Australia to take appropriate action should a Member College fail to abide by English Australia by-laws or policies;
- Guides to Best Practice in ELICOS, published to encourage and assist Member Colleges in achieving best practice in various areas of their operations;
- professional development initiatives (see below);
- an Awards Program recognising outstanding contribution to raising the professionalism and reputation of the ELICOS sector of international education in Australia.
Information service
English Australia provides Member Colleges with an Information Service through the following means:
- email Information Updates, prepared and distributed on a regular basis as the need arises;
- responses to correspondence and telephone enquiries, operated through the English Australia Secretariat with input and assistance from the English Australia Executive and Board;
- Board Meeting Minutes, distributed to all English Australia Member Colleges to keep Member Colleges abreast of issues and projects under consideration by the member-elected English Australia Board.
Professional development
Professional development opportunities for Member College staff are provided by English Australia through:
- The English Australia Conference, held in September each year (with discounted registration fees for staff from English Australia member colleges);
- the Action Research in ELICOS program, initiated to support teachers in exploring their classroom practice;
- a program of national professional development workshops and seminars organised by the Secretariat and by English Australia branches (with discounted registration fees for staff from English Australia member colleges);
- regular information update emails on PD-related issues.
Publications
English Australia publications include:
- The English Australia Journal: the Australian journal of English language teaching - a professional TESOL journal published biannually by English Australia (Member Colleges receive three complimentary copies per issue;
- A Survey of Major ELICOS Markets – valuable student statistics to assist industry and government in analysing market trends (published annually).
Profiling & Promotions
English Australia undertakes a number of activities to promote Australia as a destination for English language study and to promote the services and quality of English Australia Member Colleges. Ongoing English Australia promotional activities include:
- English Australia website, which includes the English Australia directory of Member Colleges, hot-links to Member Colleges’ home pages and hot-links to other relevant websites;
- Articles and editorials, provided to international media including Study Travel Magazine, EL Gazette, the PIE News and iStudent;
- English Australia Member Colleges are invited to participate in the English Australia villages at international agent workshops;
- English Australia works closely with Austrade and Tourism Australia on strategies for maintaining Australia's market share in key markets, and participates in key projects, available only to Engish Australia Member Colleges.
State/Territory branch structure
State/Territory Delegates, elected to the English Australia Board by Member Colleges within their State/Territory, coordinate branch activities, hold State/Territory branch meetings and ensure that the English Australia Board discussions and decisions are informed by the views of Member Colleges within their State/Territory.
Networking opportunities
The various activities and functions of English Australia provide Member College personnel with opportunities to consult with colleagues from within their State/Territory and throughout Australia.
Full Membership rights
Colleges which hold full membership of English Australia are entitled to vote at General Meetings on all matters pertaining to the interests of the association.
