May Board Meeting
The latest meeting of the English Australia Board took place on May 11th and 12th. The meeting had a comprehensive agenda that encompassed our ongoing major project and strategic initiatives, with a particular focus on the 40th Anniversary, Annual ELICOS Market Survey, CPD Portal, and the English Australia Conference. Two distinguished guests, Alison Cleary, A/g Assistant Secretary from the Department of Education, and Michael Willard, Group Manager Immigration Operations from the Department of Home Affairs, joined the Board meeting. This provided an opportunity to address current issues impacting the ELICOS sector. We shared some of the outcomes in our Advocacy update on May 17th, so I will just provide a brief overview of the discussions in this report.
Department of Education (DoE) - ESOS Reforms
Alison Cleary provided reassurance to our Board that there will be no modifications to the ESOS framework before the regulatory return to compliance date of July 1, 2023. Allison confirmed that DoE will undertake further consultations in the upcoming months, including a more formal process for any proposed reforms. The goal is to present any updates to the ESOS framework to the government by the end of this year.
English Australia has been promoting the webinars hosted by the Department of Education, which are being conducted on May 30 (which was cancelled) and May 31, and will focus on the ESOS reform consultation. These webinars will cover education agents, written agreements, and administrative amendments as outlined in their latest Discussion Guide. I look forward to discussing these matters with you during the June Member Forums/Branch meetings.
Department of Home Affairs (DHA) - Migration Review
During the meeting with Michael Willard, the English Australia Board conveyed the concerns expressed by our members regarding the recent Migration Review report and its potential impact on the ELICOS sector. The Board emphasised the vital role of the ELICOS sector in supporting students pursuing Academic pathways, which they felt had been overlooked in the report.
The Board also sought clarification regarding the transition from the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement and Genuine Student Test. English Australia reaffirmed its commitment to providing ongoing support throughout the finalisation of the draft strategy for the migration review process. The Board received assurance that they would have the opportunity to contribute further input on these matters, which will be presented at the upcoming Education Visa Consultative Committee (EVCC) scheduled for June 7, 2023.
New English Australia member: Smart English Melbourne
I am very pleased to announce the Board endorsed our newest member college, Smart English Melbourne, at the Board meeting. Smart English offers courses in General English, IELTS Preparation, EAP, and Cambridge FCE. Please join me in welcoming them to the English Australia community.
Austrade meeting: LATAM
The English Australia Board also held a meeting this month with key representatives from the Austrade Latin America team, as well as Melissa Banks, Head of International Centre of Excellence at Austrade. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the LATAM market and explore potential areas of focus and opportunities for English Australia members, recognising the significance of this region for the ELICOS sector.
Craig Ford, Trade & Investment Commissioner, Mexico, Central America & The Caribbean, and the Austrade Business Development team delivered a comprehensive presentation highlighting numerous opportunities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. These opportunities encompassed not only students but also local teachers and researchers who could benefit from participating in ELICOS courses to enhance their English language skills. The importance of fostering inter-agency alignment between Austrade, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was acknowledged to ensure long-term success in the market. Subsequently, I held a follow-up meeting with Tony Davis, General Manager of The Americas at Austrade, in New York last Friday to further explore market opportunities for our members. I will continue to provide you with updates on the progress of this ongoing strategic campaign.
Latin America visa applications – financial capacity
I would like to again highlight that DHA has noted some student welfare concerns related to the financial capacity of students from Latin America whilst studying in Australia.
English Australia acknowledges that in the past, many visa applicants have used letters from their bank or financial institution as evidence of financial capacity. However, it is important to note that this form of evidence is no longer valid. Visa applicants are now required to provide bank statements as proof of their financial situation. Failure to provide this documentation could potentially result in a visa refusal. It is advisable for current visa applicants to update their applications with bank statements to mitigate the risk of visa refusal based on financial circumstances.
Austrade is also aware of this situation and is taking measures to inform agents about this change in requirements. It is crucial for all stakeholders involved to be informed and proactive in ensuring compliance with the updated visa application process to safeguard the welfare and success of students from Latin America studying in Australia.
NEAS Conference presentation
It was great to attend the NEAS Conference and present a session focused on ‘Government, Regulators and Peak Bodies’, alongside Ms Karen Sandercock, First Assistant Secretary, Department of Education, Ms Christina Bolger, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), and Ms Katrina Quinn, Director of Policy, Research and Engagement Group, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency’s (TEQSA). Our Head of Professional Development also presented on a CoP panel session focused on ‘Leadership in ELT.’Thanks to everyone that stopped by our booth and caught up with Sophie, Kerry, and me.
ASQA Provider Roundtable
AQSA held its 2nd Peak Body Provider Roundtable meeting this month. These meetings are always useful forums to hear about the current priorities of the agency and provide feedback on any issues or concerns that have been raised by our members. The agenda included an update for DEWR on the new Standards, a review of ASQA’s revised Service Charter, and a stocktake of reforms, which looked at ASQA's self-assurance and reform implementation.
Duolingo English Test and NAFSA conferences attendance
I had the privilege of attending the Duolingo English Test conference in Pittsburgh, USA, alongside approximately 100 delegates from various countries. The conference proved to be highly informative, offering valuable insights into the test's features, research, security measures, and proctoring. I would encourage our members to learn more about the test and would be happy to share contact details with you.
I am currently attending the NAFSA conference in Washington DC, which is the largest international education conference worldwide. This presents a valuable opportunity for me to represent our members and showcase their offerings to influential education agents and service providers from around the globe.
2023 June Member Forums
I am looking forward to the upcoming Member Forums / Branch meetings and Annual ELICOS Survey presentations. Please view our newsletter for your local branch meeting date and location.
Please RSVP with your State/ Territory delegate if you can attend, or contact the secretariat (easec@englishaustraila.com.au) if you require any additional information.
SA and WA PD Fests
Our final state PD Fest mini conferences were held in Adelaide and Perth during the month of May, both with capacity registrations. These events were invaluable opportunities to bring the ELICOS communities in these states back together after a period of online events and the energy and turnouts were fantastic.
Action Research Workshop 2
The second Action Research Program workshop took place in Sydney on 26 May, with teachers flying in from around the country to attend the workshop led by Professor Anne Burns. Researchers are now looking forward to presenting their projects at the upcoming English Australia Conference.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or items to discuss.