What is CISWA?
CISWA is short for “Council for International Students of Western Australia” and is an independent, voluntary, non-profit group promoting the wellbeing of international students studying in Western Australia.
Originally funded by AusAid, CISWA was established in 1963 in response to the demand for support services for the 1000 international students studying in Western Australia. Over sixty years on, CISWA remains the only organization of its kind in Australia, though the number of international students in WA has grown to over 50,000.
CISWA supports the staff who work with international students, running an affordable Professional Development (PD) Program and an Annual Conference currently in its 31st year in 2024.
President’s Welcome
As we commence 2025, another year likely to bring challenges and change for all of us working in the international education sector in Australia, CISWA continues to be an important independent voice for its members and the sector. CISWA recently added advocacy to our remit, and in this dual election year (State and Federal) we will work actively on behalf of our members to alert decision makers to the contributions international education makes to their electorates and to the Western Australian community.
CISWA’s Professional Development (PD) workshops and our annual conference are the main activities we provide for staff working in the international education sector – in schools, colleges, and universities. Our training sessions are run by experienced professionals from a range of backgrounds in international education, who volunteer their time to share their knowledge and experience to develop a strong skills base among staff in WA institutions. This year we will also offer a series of online webinars delivered by experts; see our LinkedIn posts for more information.
The benefits of international education include positive cultural interchange and deep connections for all; CISWA believes our international student community enriches our understanding of others, and strengthens our institutions, communities, and our nation.
Best wishes,
Celia Cornwell
CISWA PresidentJanuary 2025