Professional Development 2026
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.
2025 Professional Development Workshops
In 2025, CISWA delivered a diverse program of professional development workshops and webinars, supporting practitioners across the international education sector in Western Australia. The program reflected key sector priorities, with sessions designed to be practical, informative and responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities.
Our in-person workshops were complemented by a strong webinar series, which was well attended and well received by participants across institutions and roles. Feedback highlighted the relevance of the content, the quality of presenters and the value of being able to engage with sector expertise in a flexible online format.
Together, the 2025 workshops and webinars provided valuable opportunities for learning, discussion and connection, and reinforced CISWA’s commitment to supporting professional practice and collaboration across the international education community.
PD PROGRAM 2026
FACE to FACE WORKSHOPS COST | Members: $150 pp | Non-members: $250 pp (half day workshops only)
Webinars: Free to CISWA Members only – an access code will be mailed out to the Member contact when registrations open.
2026 Professional Development Series
Coming up:
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September | Webinar
Thursday 10th September | 11:00AM-12:00PM | Designing Effective Student Journey Communications
What works and what doesn’t in student communications—finding the right balance in frequency and content.
This session brings together sector-led innovation to explore how intentional communication shape positive student journeys. Participants will examine how to strike the right balance in message frequency, tone, and content to inform without overwhelming and engage without disengaging.
Through shared reflections and practical examples, the session will explore how coordinated communication strategies can foster trust, support student success.
Presenters:
James Martin is the Managing Director and co-founder of Insider, an Australian creative studio and media platform known for helping institutions fix one of their biggest blind spots: communicating with students in ways that actually resonate.
Over the past 17 years, he has worked with universities, governments, and education providers to replace generic, top-down messaging with scalable, student-led content systems, spanning editorial, video, and user-generated content (UGC). He is best known for building repeatable UGC programs that turn students into credible storytellers, creating the Insider Guides channel, and helping institutions cut through noise, build trust faster, and influence decision-making at scale.
Rajinder Kaur is an Academic Program Coordinator at Edith Cowan College (ECC), providing academic leadership across Foundation and Postgraduate Qualifying Program units. Passionate about pathway education, she focuses on student success, academic literacy, engagement, belonging, and wellbeing, particularly for international students transitioning to higher education. Rajin believes that student wellbeing and a strong sense of belonging are fundamental to academic achievement. She works closely with student leaders to create opportunities for leadership, peer connection, and community engagement while developing transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. She is also committed to reflective teaching practice and curriculum innovation.
November 27th| CISWA Annual Conference: Save the date!
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COMPLETED in 2026:
March | International Education Overview
Perfect for staff new to the international education sector or those returning after a break, this session offers a comprehensive introduction to the industry’s dynamics. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the sector’s vital role within Australia’s education and industry frameworks. With insights from experienced professionals, you’ll gain practical knowledge to navigate the complexities of this ever-evolving field confidently. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your expertise and broaden your perspective—register now!
📢 Presenters:
🎤 Alicia Woods – Manager, International Engagement, TAFE International Western Australia (TIWA)
🎤 Celia Cornwell – President, CISWA; International Higher Education freelancer
🎤 Richard Geddes – Managing Director, Optimal Student Recruitment
Members price: $150 TBC
Non-Members: $250 TBC
Complimentary Tickets Available for Gold & Silver CISWA Members
📅 Thursday, 19th March
⏰ 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
🏫 Conference room
Canning College Marquis St Bentley 6102
Event Completed
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April | Introduction to International Education Compliance and Regulation
This workshop provides participants with a general overview of the key legislative and regulatory requirements affecting education providers.
📢 Presenters:
🎤 Dr Fleur van den Heuvel – Head of Admissions – Australia –
🎤 Ms Irine Mjombah -Director of Marketing and Admissions at Edith Cowan College
Members price: $150
Non-Members: $250
Complimentary Tickets Available for Gold & Silver CISWA Members
📅 Thursday, 16th April
⏰ 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
🏫 Conference room
Canning College Marquis St Bentley 6102
Event Completed!
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May | Online Seminars
Thursday 7th May | International Students, Visas, and Post-Study Work rights | 10:00-11:00AM
This session will cover everything you need to know as an educator in order to understand requirements that students need to meet in order to continue to hold a student visa as well as to apply for other visas in future. It will cover student visa conditions and graduate visa requirements, as well as other alternative pathways such as work visas, training visas and partner visas. In particular, we will look at recent changes to the graduate and training visas and how these are affecting existing student cohorts.
Presenter: Sarah Frankel | Head of Knowledge | Lawyer | Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law
This session is exclusive to CISWA members – please email info@ciswa.com for the Access tickets code
Completed
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Thursday 21st May | WA Police Force: Enhancing International Student Safety and Trust | 1:30-2:30PM
This session equips participants with practical insights into community safety, cybercrime, and family and domestic violence, helping them support international students, build trust, and make effective referrals to police and community services.
Presenters: WA Police Force’s Cultural Engagement and Events Division (CEED):Dr Umile Gwakuba & Ned Aurora
Dr. Umile Gwakuba is the Project Lead: Education within the Cultural Engagement and Events Division with the Western Australia Police Force, where he leads initiatives that strengthen partnerships between policing and culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities.
He works closely with CaLD communities, including schools, universities, and community organisations, to deliver targeted education programs, particularly for newly arrived communities. His work focuses on early intervention, trust-building, and effective information-sharing to enhance crime prevention outcomes. Through this approach, he supports the development of safer, more inclusive communities by improving understanding, confidence, and engagement between police and diverse populations.
Ned, the Education Coordinator & Development Officer is a strategically minded Education Support and Development Officer who is passionate about ensuring Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities receive the support they need to be safe and strive in Australia
Completed
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June | Online Seminar
Thursday 18th June | 11:00AM-12:00PM |Co-Designing Student Onboarding for Gen Z and Gen Alpha
This workshop explores co-designing onboarding with international student leaders, building intercultural micro-communities, and blending digital engagement with on-campus belonging to create future-focused orientations that connect, engage, and endure beyond week one.
Presenters:
Monica Harrower – Manager, Student Orientation and Experience, Office of the Chief Experience Officer, Murdoch University
Monica is a proud graduate of Murdoch University, for the past four and a half years she’s had the privilege of leading the Orientation Team at Murdoch, where they have worked to build a comprehensive onboarding and orientation program tailored to both Domestic and International students. Her goal in this work has always been to help create a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for every student who joins the Murdoch community. She truly values collaboration and enjoys working closely with various departments and services throughout Murdoch University, as well as engaging in external partnerships to enhance their programs and the student experience.
Liz Beresford – Manager of Student Transitions and Engagement, Edith Cowan University
Liz Beresford leads university-wide initiatives across orientation, onboarding, student engagement and student communications. She brings a strong focus on co-design, student voice, and building belonging across diverse cohorts. Liz has led innovative approaches to onboarding and is passionate about creating inclusive, connected student communities that support transition and success.
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August | Half-day workshop
Thursday 6th August| 09:30AM-12:30PM |Focus on India: Supporting Indian Students in WA – From Cultural Understanding to Community-Driven Success
India is the largest source country for international students in both WA and Australia.
Given the significance of this cohort, it is essential that we reflect on emerging and ongoing challenges and explore how we can better support students from India.
This interactive workshop will bring together industry experts, students, education providers, and community representatives to discuss current trends, challenges, support gaps, and opportunities for collaboration.
Presenters include:
Rohini Modgill – Founder and CEO of Keystone College of Business and Technology (KCBT)
Rohan Amlani – Realtor & Secretary of the Indian Society of Western Australia (ISWA),
Acting Secretary and Board Member Ethnic Communities Council of WA (ECCWA) and Board Member of Multicultural Futures Mental Health Advisory Council, Committee Member WAPOL Police Leaders Network Armadale, Committee Member Facebook Business Leaders Network
Kavitha Ganesan – Deputy Director- Strategic Business Development | Global Curtin
Gena Rattan (Guninder) MACS CP, IP3P: Director – Training Services, National Institute of Technology
The workshop will explore:
- An overview of Indian students in WA (profiles & motivations)
- Socio cultural and academic challenges, and opportunities to strengthen support
- Strategies for fostering community connections and a sense of belonging
- Best practices and collaborative approaches to enhancing the student experience.
Contact info@ciswa.com if you have any questions!
Hear from our participants:
“It was worthwhile, engaging and enjoyable.” (Introduction to International Education, 2025)
“The session was informative and closely aligned with current compliance responsibilities and challenges.” (Introduction to International Education Compliance, Regulations & Migration Strategy, 2025)
“Linda is passionate and extremely knowledgeable. She kept us engaged the entire day.” (Intercultural Competence for International Education: Deep Dive, 2025)
“I really appreciated how each presenter focused on specific areas that were relevant and valuable to all participants.” (Focus On – Working Effectively with Students and Institutions from Vietnam 2025)
“It’s a great opportunity to find out about the different initiatives and to build connections with colleagues across different institutions.” (Fostering Community Connections, 2025)
“The 2025 conference was perfectly planned, with an engaging format, excellent presentations from employers and students, and a welcoming venue and catering. Hearing students share their journeys was particularly insightful, reminding participants of the challenges of arriving in a new country and inspiring action to support international students.” (2025 Annual Conference – summarised comment)
