Professional Development 2025

“Thank you for the excellent organisation and dedication that went into this event. The workshop was very well run, showcasing strong advocacy for our industry.” (Introduction to International Education Compliance, Regulations & Migration Strategy, 2024)

“This workshop was fantastic – highly engaging, thought provoking and closely aligned with my values and interests.” “The wealth of information was inspiring.” I highly recommend this workshop to anyone ready to think deeply, and approach with an open mind (Intercultural Competence for International Education: Deep Dive, 2024)

“A general thanks to CISWA for the important role they play in supporting the WA International Education industry.”

“The Keynote, Study Perth and Social Research were all excellent, pertinent to
our institution’s work and will inform our planning.” (2024 Annual Conference)

CISWA has a comprehensive Professional Development (PD) Program consisting of Sessions, Workshops + Seminars, along with our Annual Conference, designed to educate, inform and provide staff who work with international students the opportunity to network with peers.

The sessions are attended by people working within the international education sector from a wide range of educational institutions including higher education, VET, government and non-government schools.

All workshop attendees can request a Certificate of Participation which demonstrates their ongoing Professional Development in International education.

PD PROGRAM 2025 | WORKSHOPS – click on workshop title to register.

COST | Members: $150 pp | Non-members: $250 pp (half day workshops only)

Thursday 27th February | Online Seminar | International Education Sector Update

Presenter: Dirk Mulder

IEAA Award winner and founder of the Koala News presents an international education sector update

Speaker Profile

Time: 10:00-11:00AM ONLINE

In collaboration with WAPETIA

Thursday 13th March | International Education Overview

Ideal for staff new to the international education sector or returning after a break. The session helped participants understand more fully the place of the sector in Australia’s education and industry settings as well as gain specific knowledge to help better understand a very complex sector.

Presenters:

Alicia Woods – Manager, International Engagement, TAFE International Western Australia

Celia Cornwell – President, CISWA and International Higher Education freelancer

Richard Geddes – Managing Director, Optimal Student Recruitment

Program & Speaker Bios

Time: 9.30-12.30 at Canning College

COST | Members: $150 pp | Non-members: $250 pp

Thursday 27th March |Online Seminar | Navigating Student Attitudes to Emerging Challenges

Presenter: TBC

This session provides education professionals with essential strategies to address key challenges facing international students, including AI, contract cheating, sexual harm, consent, and mental health. Gain actionable tools to foster resilience, integrity, and a safe environment in a rapidly evolving educational context.

Time: 10:00-11:00AM ONLINE

Thursday 3rd April | Introduction to International Education Compliance and Regulation.

This session provides participants with a general overview of the key legislative and regulatory requirements affecting education providers.

Presenters:

Dr Fleur van den Heuvel – Manager International Compliance, Murdoch University

Irine Mjombah – Director of Marketing and Admissions, Edith Cowan College

Program & Speaker Bios

Time: 9.30-12.30 at Canning College

COST | Members: $150 pp | Non-members: $250 pp

Thursday 3rd May | Online Seminar | Financial Support Strategies for International Students Amidst Rising Cost-of-Living Pressures

Presenter: TBC

This seminar equips education professionals with practical tools and strategies to support international students facing the challenges of rising living costs. Learn how to implement effective financial support programs, promote resilience through financial literacy, and foster a supportive environment.

Time: 10:00-11:00AM ONLINE

Wednesday 21st May | Intercultural Competence in Higher Education: Deep Dive

Presenter: Dr Linda Yang, Managing Director, Intercultural Development Institute (ICDI)

Unlock the Power of Intercultural Competence in Education

Elevate your professional impact with our exclusive full-day workshop, tailored specifically for staff in Western Australian higher and secondary education institutions. Facilitated by the renowned Dr. Linda Yang, this transformative session offers a unique opportunity to develop vital skills for thriving in today’s interconnected and culturally diverse educational landscape.

Building on the exceptional feedback from last year’s participants, this workshop continues to set the standard for impactful, practical learning experiences. [Discover what past participants loved about the workshop.]

With a maximum of 30 participants, the workshop ensures a highly interactive and personalized environment, fostering meaningful discussions, in-depth exploration, and individualised support to enrich your learning journey.

Who should attend?

The workshop is targeted at professional and academic staff working across a broad range of roles in international education, including:

Student Services
Management
Teaching and Learning
Marketing and Recruitment
Learning Abroad and Exchange

Whether you’re directly supporting students, managing teams, or shaping global education strategies and collaboration, this session is tailored to equip you with the intercultural skills needed to excel in your role.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

Develop a comprehensive understanding of global and domestic Intercultural Competencies, including their key components.
Identify and apply essential knowledge and skills to enhance intercultural competence.
Increase self-awareness of Personality Traits and Emotional Intelligence and understand their influence on intercultural interactions.
Gain a clear understanding of Hofstede’s 6D Model of national cultural dimensions and its impact on communication and interaction in diverse contexts.
Recognize and adapt to various communication styles across cultures.
Build the skills to enhance the international student experience.

About the Facilitator:

With over 25 years’ experience working in China, U.K. Ireland and Australia, Linda has extensive experience in delivering intercultural consultancy and training to diverse participants from more than 100 nationalities from higher education and business sectors. Linda is an energetic educator with a PhD in intercultural studies who brings dynamism to every discussion. She works hard to effectively enhance the performance of individuals and teams across disciplines, cultures and borders. Linda is well known for her research-led, engaging training and out-of-the-box thinking.

Linda is the Managing Director for the Intercultural Development Institute (ICDI), a research-led and practice-oriented intercultural training and consulting organization based in Perth, WA.

She specialises in:

Intercultural communication
Intercultural competence
Multicultural teams
Intercultural conflict and negotiation
Emotional intelligence
Culturally inclusive teaching (*education)

Certification:

Participants will receive a certificate of completion, both paper and digital, marking their commitment to advancing their intercultural competence.

Program & Speaker Bio

Time: 9:30AM-5:00PM at Canning College

Note that there is NO complimentary ticket allocation for this full-day workshop. Limit of 30 participants.

Cost: TBC

Thursday 5th June | Online Seminar | AI & Beyond: Elevating Student Engagement with Technology

Presenter: TBC

Explore how AI and other digital tools can be used to boost engagement among international students. This session provides actionable insights into the responsible use of technology to create enriching and meaningful learning environments.

Time: 10:00-11:00AM ONLINE

Thursday 26^th June | “Focus On a specific country/region”: Effectively supporting students and working with institutions

Presenter: TBC

The session will look at:

How we are tracking with enrolments and commencements from the region across various sectors
The cultural, social and legal opportunities & challenges that students from the region face
engaging with students and consulates
The session will be of interest and benefit to all staff/student mentors that support students from the region

Program & Speaker Bios

Time: 9.30-12.30 at Canning College

COST | Members: $150 pp | Non-members: $250 pp

Thursday 31st July | Online Seminar | Fostering Community Integration & Overcoming Culture Shock

Presenter: TBC

This session offers international education professionals practical strategies for facilitating community integration and supporting students through culture shock. Learn how to engage multicultural student groups and utilize resources like StudyPerth to ease adaptation, promote inclusivity, and enhance the overall student experience.

Time: 10:00-11:00AM ONLINE

Thursday TBC August Effective Agent Network Management: Boosting Recruitment & Enhancing Student Transitions

Presenter: TBC

This session offers best management strategies for effectively collaborating with education agents to drive recruitment success. You’ll learn how to establish clear communication and set expectations with agents to ensure optimal outcomes. The workshop also focuses on aligning recruitment and admissions teams, strengthening their collaboration to streamline processes and create seamless student transitions from application to enrolment.

Program & Speaker Bios

Time: 9.30-12.30 at Canning College

COST | Members: $150 pp | Non-members: $250 pp

TBA November| CISWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Check here to see if your institution is a CISWA member.