Council of International Students Australia
Encyclopedia
The Council of International Students Australia, or CISA, is the peak representative body for international students in Australia
. CISA was founded on 7 July 2010 in Hobart, Tasmania and provides member associations
with representation to the Federal government
, and peak bodies such as the Australian Research Council
, English Australia
, ACPET, TAFE Directors Australia and Universities Australia, on issues affecting postgraduate students in Australia.
Recognising the overlap between undergraduate, postgraduate, domestic and international students, CISA works in collaboration with the National Union of Students
and Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations
where matters impact on all students (such as voluntary student unionism
and travel concessions).
in 2008, international students lacked a legitimate and credible national representative body to advocate on their behalf. In July 2010, 52 student, ethnic and community organisations gathered in Hobart, Tasmania to formally constitute a new peak representative organisation, CISA, at an Inaugural General Meeting (IGM).
The IGM was the culmination of two years of discussion among representative bodies and international students. The process was supported by a working group of international student representatives from across Australia, convened at an international students’ forum hosted in Melbourne in 2009. The 2010 Forum was hosted at the University of Tasmania and coincided with the Education Conference of the National Union of Students. Around 80 international student representatives attended, from all states and all levels of post-secondary education.
CISA also has ex officio officers on the national executive committee from: NUS
, CAPA
, and AFIS.
The ACT Division is accepting nominations for its Vice-President, General Member - Private College and ELICOS positions. For more information please click on 'ACT' under the Representation tab on the CISA website.
The South Australian Division is accepting nominations for its General Member - TAFE, Private College and ELICOS positions. For more information please click on 'SA' under the Representation tab on the CISA website.
The Tasmanian Division is accepting nominations for its General Member - TAFE, Private College and ELICOS positions. For more information please click on 'TAS' under the Representation tab on the CISA website.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. CISA was founded on 7 July 2010 in Hobart, Tasmania and provides member associations
Student unionism in Australia
Australia's universities are home to a variety of different student union groups, providing a range of political, commercial and other services to students...
with representation to the Federal government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
, and peak bodies such as the Australian Research Council
Australian Research Council
The Australian Research Council is the Australian Government’s main agency for allocating research funding to academics and researchers in Australian universities. Its mission is to advance Australia’s capacity to undertake research that brings economic, social and cultural benefit to the...
, English Australia
English Australia
English Australia, formerly known as ELICOS Association of Australia, is an industry association of English language schools for students from overseas studying in Australia.- External references :*...
, ACPET, TAFE Directors Australia and Universities Australia, on issues affecting postgraduate students in Australia.
Recognising the overlap between undergraduate, postgraduate, domestic and international students, CISA works in collaboration with the National Union of Students
National Union of Students of Australia
The National Union of Students is the peak representative body for Australian university students. Most student unions in Australian campuses are affiliated to NUS...
and Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations
Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations
The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, or CAPA, is the peak representative body for postgraduate students in Australia. Founded in 1979, CAPA provides member associations with representation to the Federal government, and peak bodies such as the Australian Research Council and...
where matters impact on all students (such as voluntary student unionism
Voluntary student unionism
Voluntary student unionism is a policy, notable in Australia, under which membership of – and payment of membership fees to – university student organisations is voluntary....
and travel concessions).
History
Following the collapse of the National Liaison Committee for International Students in AustraliaNational Liaison Committee for International Students in Australia
The National Liaison Committee for International Students in Australia was first formed in 1986 in an attempt to combat the Australian Government's introduction of the full-fee paying international students program...
in 2008, international students lacked a legitimate and credible national representative body to advocate on their behalf. In July 2010, 52 student, ethnic and community organisations gathered in Hobart, Tasmania to formally constitute a new peak representative organisation, CISA, at an Inaugural General Meeting (IGM).
The IGM was the culmination of two years of discussion among representative bodies and international students. The process was supported by a working group of international student representatives from across Australia, convened at an international students’ forum hosted in Melbourne in 2009. The 2010 Forum was hosted at the University of Tasmania and coincided with the Education Conference of the National Union of Students. Around 80 international student representatives attended, from all states and all levels of post-secondary education.
National Organisation
At the Annual General Meeting in July of each year, CISA member affiliates elect national office bearers. For the 2010/2011 term, the national office bearers are:- President - Robert Atcheson
- Vice-President - Heather Richards
- Secretary - Dzung Ta
- Treasurer - Aleem Nizari
- Equity Officer - Ashraf Alias
- Welfare Officer - Vishnu Vigneswaran
- Public Relations Officer - Emilie Pascal
- General Member - Ashwin Shah
- General Member VET/TAFE - Arfa Noor
CISA also has ex officio officers on the national executive committee from: NUS
National Union of Students
-British Isles:*National Union of Students**National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland**National Union of Students Scotland**National Union of Students Wales-Scandinavia:*Danish National Union of Students*National Union of Students in Finland...
, CAPA
Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations
The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, or CAPA, is the peak representative body for postgraduate students in Australia. Founded in 1979, CAPA provides member associations with representation to the Federal government, and peak bodies such as the Australian Research Council and...
, and AFIS.
State Organisation
As a new organisation, CISA is in the process of assisting the states and territories organize elections for the State Divisions of CISA. Currently, the ACT Division has completed elections with South Australia and Tasmania scheduled to complete their elections by late March 2011.ACT Division
The ACT Division of CISA office bearers for the 2010/2011 term are:- President - Princewill Mengot
- Vice-President - Vacant
- Secretary - Aparna Watal
- Treasurer - Jinmao Li
- General Member University - Shian Buultjens
- General Member Private College - Vacant
- General Member TAFE - Omar Aranash
- General Member ELICOS - Vacant
The ACT Division is accepting nominations for its Vice-President, General Member - Private College and ELICOS positions. For more information please click on 'ACT' under the Representation tab on the CISA website.
South Australian Division
The South Australian Division of CISA office bearers for the 2010/2011 term are:- President - Fei Huang
- Vice-President - Mark Michael
- Secretary - Dianne Dahim
- Treasurer - Beau Zhang
- General Member University - Armandos Manafis
- General Member Private College - Vacant
- General Member TAFE - Vacant
- General Member ELICOS - Vacant
The South Australian Division is accepting nominations for its General Member - TAFE, Private College and ELICOS positions. For more information please click on 'SA' under the Representation tab on the CISA website.
Tasmanian Division
The Tasmanian Division of CISA office bearers for the 2010/2011 term are:- President - Thomas Abraham
- Vice-President - Clara Ying
- Secretary - Vitoria Owyong
- Treasurer - Caleb Tan
- General Member University - Ali Syazwan
- General Member Private College - Vacant
- General Member TAFE - Vacant
- General Member ELICOS - Vacant
The Tasmanian Division is accepting nominations for its General Member - TAFE, Private College and ELICOS positions. For more information please click on 'TAS' under the Representation tab on the CISA website.