Council of International Students Australia

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Council of International Students Australia (CISA)
Founded7 July 2010
TypePeak international students representative body
Area served
Australia
Websitecisa.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 (Australian Council for Private Education and Training, TAFE Directors Australia and Universities Australia, on issues affecting international 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).

Purpose[]

  • Advocate for the interests and needs of international students;
  • Advocate for high-quality education for international students;
  • Facilitate network building among stakeholders with interest in supporting international students;
  • Host an annual national forum for international students;
  • Provide a means of consulting and engaging with international students;
  • Host future international student roundtable events in partnership with various government entities;
  • Promote cross-cultural awareness and interactions in Australia;
  • Advocate for non-racist, non-discriminatory law reform concerning international students.

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[]

2019-2020

At the 9th national conference followed by AGM of CISA held in July 2019 at Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth, the new team was elected for the year of 2019–2020; the national office bearers are:

  • President: Ahmed Ademoglu (resigned based on allegations of misconduct), Curtin University (https://anuobserver.org/2020/05/23/cisa-president-resigns-amid-damning-allegations-of-misconduct/)
  • Vice President: Don Doughty, Melbourne Polytechnic (resigned)
  • Secretary: Varsha Devi Balakrishnan, Monash University
  • Treasurer: Claire (Yuechen) Zhu, Australian National University
  • Public Relations Officer: Mili Mishra, James Cook University
  • Education Officer: Domi Dana Johnson, University of Sydney
  • Welfare Officer: Kasun Kalhara, Queensland University of Technology
  • Equity Officer: Diksha Jadwani (resigned)
  • Postgraduate Officer: Sridharshini Dhinakaran, Swinburne University of Technology (resigned)
  • Undergraduate Officer: Junyi Zhao
  • VET/TAFE Officer: Eve de Gregorio, Canberra Institute of Technology (resigned)

https://anuobserver.org/2020/05/23/cisa-president-resigns-amid-damning-allegations-of-misconduct/

2018-2019

At the 8th national conference followed by AGM of CISA held in July 2018 at Rydges Plaza Hotel in Cairns, the new team was elected for the year of 2018–2019; the national office bearers are:

  • President: , University of Technology Sydney (Unanimously elected)
  • Vice President: Ralph Teodoro, Queensland University of Technology
  • Secretary: Benjamin Poveda Alfonso, Charles Darwin University
  • Treasurer: Rakhi Mukherjee, Australia National University
  • Public Relations Officer: Maria Shumusti, Australia National University
  • Education Officer: Arslan Kiyani, Macquarie University
  • Welfare Officer: Kasun Kalhara, Queensland University of Technology
  • Equity Officer: Keon Simmons, Flinders University
  • Postgraduate Officer: Ayub Alam Khan, Charles Sturt University
  • Undergraduate Officer: Manfred Mletsin, Charles Darwin University
  • VET/TAFE Officer: Donny Doughty, Melbourne Polytechnic

https://internationaleducation.gov.au/News/Latest-News/Pages/Communique-Meeting-of-Expert-Members-of-the-Council-for-International-Education-24-July-2019.aspx https://thepienews.com/news/cisa-19-work-continues-address-ongoing-issues/ https://thepienews.com/news/aus-hanson-slammed-over-work-rights/


2017-2018

At the 7th national conference followed by AGM of CISA held in July 2017 at Canberra Institute of Technology and University of Canberra, a new team was elected for the year of 2017–2018; the national office bearers are:

  • President: Bijay Sapkota, University of Technology Sydney
  • Vice President: Ahmed Ademoglu, Curtin University
  • Secretary: Christian Mbonu, Australian College of Applied Psychology
  • Treasurer: Vincent Tawiah, Griffith University
  • Public Relations Officer: Arjun Mathilakath Madathil, Australia National University
  • Education Officer: Arslan Kiyani, Macquarie University
  • Welfare Officer: Qazi Syed Zaheeruddin, Swinburn University of Technology
  • Equity Officer: Hill Yang, Griffith University
  • Postgraduate Officer: Florian Spalthoff, Griffith University
  • Undergraduate Officer: Lizhan Lyu (Yankee), La Trobe University
  • VET/TAFE Officer: Manfred Mletsin, BCA National Training Group

2016-2017

At the 6th national conference followed by AGM of CISA held in July 2016 at Charles Darwin University, the new team was elected for the year of 2016–2017; the national office bearers are:

  • President: Mustika Indah (Nina) Khairina (Monash University)
  • Vice President: Dominic Aloysius (Australian National University)
  • Secretary: Albina Kartavtsova (University of New Castle)
  • Treasurer: Evgeniya Khrenova (University of Technology Sydney)
  • Public Relations Officer: Karen Cochrane (University of Sydney)
  • Education Officer: Toufique Ahmed (Charles Sturt University)
  • Welfare Officer: Prashanth Magandram (Flinders University)
  • Equity Officer: Teesta Prakash (The Australian National University)
  • General Member (VET/TAFE): Paula Josefia Subido (Canberra Institute of Technology)
  • General Member (Undergraduate): Enggar Daranindra (Charles Darwin University)
  • General Member (Postgraduate): Dion Lee (University of Queensland) / Magandram (Flinders University)

https://www.meldmagazine.com.au/2016/08/cisa-national-executives-committee-find-represent/

2015-2016

At the Annual General Meeting in July of each year, CISA member affiliates elect national office bearers. For the 2015/2016 term, the national office bearers are:

  • President: Mustika Indah (Nina) Khairina (Monash University)
  • Vice President: Eddie Osei Bonsu (Canberra Institute of Technology)
  • Secretary: Nidhi Baweja (University of Technology Sydney)
  • Treasurer: Hassan Riaz (Australian National University)
  • Public Relations Officer: Lok Ching (Dorothy) Tang (University of Melbourne)
  • Education Officer: Sean Farrell Matjeraie (University of Western Australia)
  • Welfare Officer: Difie Boakye Mensah (University of Guayaquil)
  • Equity Officer: Saba Nabi (Charles Sturt University)
  • General Member (VET/TAFE): Sahil Puri (Victoria University)
  • General Member (Undergraduate): Bakani Butale (University of Queensland)
  • General Member (Postgraduate): Maximilian Obinna Obiakor (University of New England)

2014-2015

At the 4th National Conference followed by AGM of CISA held in July 2014 at University of South Australia, a new team was elected for the year of 2014–2015; the national office bearers are:

  • President - Thomson Ch'ng (Curtin University)
  • Vice-President - Timothy Pham (University of South Australia)
  • Secretary - Fang Xuan Koay (University of Melbourne)
  • Treasurer - Chin Pok Yap (Edith Cowan University)
  • Education Officer - Kim-Marie Spence (Australian National University)
  • Equity Officer - Nur Nadira Zainal (Flinders University)
  • Welfare Officer - vacant
  • Public Relations Officer - Dion Jeremy Lee (University of Queensland)
  • General Member (Postgraduate) - Lorna Katusiime (University of Newcastle)
  • General Member (Undergraduate) - Gift Mutero (Australian Catholic University)
  • General Member VET/TAFE - Eddie Bonsu (Canberra Institute of Technology)

CISA also has ex officio officers on the national executive committee from:

NUS: Johnny Zhang

CAPA : Walter Robbles

: Kai Jie Lim

2013-2014

At the 3rd National Conference followed by AGM of CISA held in July 2013 at TAFE Sydney Institute, New team was elected for the year of 2013–2014; the national office bearers are:

  • President - Thomson Ch'ng (Curtin University)
  • Vice-President - William Zhao (University of Sydney)
  • Secretary - Shufaa Said Omar Athman (Edith Cowan University)
  • Treasurer - Amir Nourani (Curtin University)
  • Education Officer - Naomi Rono (Australian National University)
  • Equity Officer - Ibrahim Muhammad Sama (University of Newcastle)
  • Welfare Officer - Johan Kamal Hamidon (University of Queensland)
  • Public Relations Officer - Kylee Hartman-Warren (University of Sydney)
  • General Member - Catherine Lou (Victoria University)
  • General Member - Lily Erianty Mohamed Salleh (Flinders University)
  • General Member VET/TAFE - Marie Christelle Collet (TAFE Western Australia)

2012-2013

At the second national conference followed by AGM of CISA held in July 2012 at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, New team was elected for the year of 2012–2013; the national office bearers are:

  • President - Aleem Nizari (Monash University)
  • Vice-President - Kerryn Chung (Queensland University of Technology)
  • Secretary - Salih Alzahrani (University of Newcastle)
  • Treasurer - Amir Nourani (Curtin University)
  • Education Officer - Kylee Hartman-Warren (University of Sydney)
  • Equity Officer - Dominik Schmid (James Cook University)
  • Welfare Officer - Heather Richards (University of Newcastle)
  • Public Relations Officer - Ehsan Ebrahim (University of Newcastle)
  • General Member - Shufaa Said Omar Athman (Edith Cowan University)
  • General Member - Hye Ryun Kim (University of Sydney)
  • General Member VET/TAFE - Catherine Nguyen (University of Melbourne)

CISA also has ex officio officers on the national executive committee from:

NUS : Ashraf Alfian

CAPA :

:

2011-2012

At the Inaugural conference followed by AGM of CISA held in July 2011 at Victoria University in Melbourne, New team was elected for the year of 2011–2012; the national office bearers are:

  • President - Arfa Noor (Kangan Institute)
  • Vice-President - Heather Richards (University of Newcastle)
  • Secretary - Thomson Ch'ng (Curtin University)
  • Treasurer - Aleem Nizari (Monash University)
  • Education Officer - Adrian Ramos (James Cook University Cairnes) (This position was added at 2011 AGM)
  • Equity Officer - Dominik Schmid (James Cook University)
  • Welfare Officer - Vishnu Vigneswaran (University of Newcastle)
  • Public Relations Officer - Erasmus NORVIEWU-MORTTY (Edith Cowan University)
  • General Member - Dzung Ta (La Trobe University)
  • General Member VET/TAFE - Princewill Mengot (Canberra Institute of Technology)

CISA also has ex officio officers on the national executive committee from:

NUS : July 2011 - Dec 2011  : Indrajeet Chauhan
Jan 2012 - July 2012  : Ashraf Alfian
CAPA :
Cham Ha
: July 2011 - Dec 2011  : Linna He
Jan 2012 - July 2012  : Catherine Nguyen

At the Inaugural NUS-CAPA International Student Forum on 7 July 2010 at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, the inaugural team was elected for the year of 2010–2011; the national office bearers are:

  • President - Robert Atcheson (Australian National University)
  • Vice-President - Heather Richards (University of Newcastle)
  • Secretary - Dzung Ta (La Trobe University)
  • Treasurer - Aleem Nizari (Monash University)
  • Equity Officer - Ashraf Alias (The University of New South Wales)
  • Welfare Officer - Vishnu Vigneswaran (University of Newcastle)
  • Public Relations Officer - Emilie Pascal (Curtin University)
  • General Member - Ashwin Shah (Monash University)
  • General Member VET/TAFE - Arfa Noor (Kangan Institute)

CISA also has ex officio officers on the national executive committee from:

NUS : July 2010 - Dec 2010  : Lily Yuen
Jan 2011 - July 2011  : Indrajeet Chauhan
CAPA :
Cham Ha
:
Linna He

State Organisation[]

As a new organisation, CISA is in the process of assisting the states and territories to organise elections for the State Divisions of CISA.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Heath Gilmore (9 May 2009). "Overseas student group at centre of bullying claims". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  2. ^ Andrew Trounson (17 June 2009). "Victorian names dispute for international student bodies". The Australian. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011.
  3. ^ "International Students in Australia Announce United Voice" (PDF). 12 July 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2011.
  4. ^ "International Students in Australia Announce United Voice" (PDF). 12 July 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2011.

https://mailchi.mp/070b5653f81a/cisa-newsletter-march-2019 https://thepienews.com/news/cisa-19-work-continues-address-ongoing-issues/

External links[]

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