- Council of International Students Australia
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Council of International Students Australia 
Type Peak student representative body Founded 7 July 2010 Area served Australia Mission To advocate for the interests and needs of international students Website www.cisa.edu.au 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).
Contents
History
Following the collapse of the National Liaison Committee for International Students in Australia in 2008,[1][2] 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).[3]
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.[4]
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, CAPA, 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.
See also
References
- ^ Heath Gilmore (9 May 2009). "Overseas student group at centre of bullying claims". Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/national/overseas-student-group-at-centre-of-bullying-claims-20090508-axzz.html.
- ^ Andrew Trounson (17 June 2009). "Victorian names dispute for international student bodies". The Australian. http://nlc.edu.au/news2009_sub.php?newsID=164.
- ^ "International Students in Australia Announce United Voice". 12 July 2010. http://www.cisa.edu.au/uploads/CISA_MR_IGM_12_July_2010.pdf.
- ^ "International Students in Australia Announce United Voice". 12 July 2010. http://www.cisa.edu.au/uploads/CISA_MR_IGM_12_July_2010.pdf.
External links
Student Unionism in Australia Campus Unions in Australia Adelaide · Australian National · Curtin · Deakin · Hobart · Macquarie · Melbourne · Murdoch · New South Wales · Queensland · RMIT · Swinburne · Sydney · UTS · Victoria · Western Australia · WollongongStudent councils in Australia Adelaide · Australian National · New England · Newcastle · New South Wales · QUT · RMIT · South Australia · Sydney University Undergraduates · Sydney University Postgraduate · UTS
MonashNational student unions in Australia Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations · National Union of Students · National Association of Australian University Colleges · Council of International Students Australia · National Indigenous Postgraduate Association Aboriginal CorporationSee also Categories:- Education in Australia
- Students' unions in Australia
- National postgraduate representative bodies
- University organizations
- Student politics in Australia
- Groups of students' unions
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