Schedule

 

 

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Symposium
08.30 am
Registration
08.30 am - 08.45 am
09.00 am
Open and Welcome -StudyNSW
By Toshi KawaguchiDirector, International Education StudyNSW
09.00 am - 09.10 am

 

 

09.10 am
Overview Dirk Mulder
By Dirk MulderFounder and CEO of The Koala News
09.10 am - 09.30 am
Education General
09.30 am
Keynote Hon. Julian Hill on the future of International Education in Australia
By Hon Julian HillAssistant Minister for International Education
09.30 am - 10.30 am
Education General
10.30 am
Sponsors
10.30 am - 10.45 am
10.45 am
Morning Tea
10.45 am - 11.15 am
11.15 am
The Dilemma of the Genuine Student - Panel Discussion
By Michal SestakFounder/Managing Director and Migration Agent (MARN 0208424) of SIS Consulting Pty Ltd and AustraliaOnline
11.15 am - 12.15 pm

Michal leads a panel discussion on the process needed for students to identify to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) that they are genuine students.

Education agents recruit genuine students go through the visa applications only to have visa refusals

The past year has seen the numbers of student visa refusal appeals to the ART (Administrative Review Tribunal) skyrocket from 2400 in 2023 to 40,000 in 2025 and growing - and this appeal only available to onshore applications. What went wrong and what is the disconnect? 

12.30 pm
International Student Representation - where has it gone? Panel
By Akram MardiniDirector Student World ISEAA Board Member
12.30 pm - 13.00 pm

A panel of three discussing the collapse of the international student representative bodies. What is a possible way to get fair representation for international students.

13.00 pm
Lunch
13.00 pm - 13.45 pm
14.00 pm
ELICOS - Call to action
By Ian AirdCEO, English Australia
14.00 pm - 14.45 pm

Ian Aird, CEO of English Australia, presenting. ELICOS is a unique part of the education ecosystem that straddles short term courses, tourism, working holiday as well as being the feeder for other education sectors. What can we as an indsutry do to save this vital sector?

Education General
14.45 pm
TPS - Lessons on closures and outlook (TBC)
By Melinda HattonTuition Protection Service Director
14.45 pm - 15.30 pm
15.30 pm
ASQA - Non-genuine providers and bad faith operators (TBC)
By Carmen BasilicataExecutive Director, Integrity ASQA
15.30 pm - 15.45 pm

 

There have been a series of college closures over 2024/25 and over 23,000 qualifications becoming void - what is the current state of ASQA investigations and determining how a college operates.

  • Non-genuine providers and border integrity breaches
  • Fraudulent issuance of qualifications
  • Funding fraud
  • Phoenixing
  • Infiltration of serious organised crime and bad faith operators into genuine RTOs
15.45 pm
Break
15.45 pm - 16.00 pm
16.00 pm
Education Agent Panel
By Rod Hearps ICEF Vice President Oceania
16.00 pm - 17.00 pm

Rod Hearps will lead the panel.

The update on ISEAA and ECAA merger of the two main education agent groups in Australia

Discussions with Industry and government on industry-led certification

Tools to assess background and assist with compliance of providers oversight of education agents.

17.00 pm
Where to from here?? Closing
17.00 pm - 17.30 pm
Education General
17.30 pm
Post Event Drinks
17.30 pm - 20.00 pm

Join us for the after-party to review and network with colleagues 

Keg & Brew

26 Foveaux St

Surry Hills NSW 2010