The truth about international students and rental crisis https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/media-releases/international-students-not-to-blame-for-housing-crisis   International students, who account for a mere 4% of Australia's rental market, are not to blame for the country's persistent housing crisis, according to a groundbreaking study published by the Student Accommodation Council. The Property Council reported this clarification shortly after widespread concerns were voiced [...]

Is the government planning removal of Business, Management, and Marketing Courses for CRICOS?   In December 2023, during his speech at the Edusummit in Sydney, Julian Hill MP announced a significant policy shift: the Australian government is planning to reduce the number of international students enrolled in Business, Management, and Marketing courses. This revelation has [...]

Changes to Labor Market Testing for Sponsorship   What Has Changed? In the article, we discuss what employers and skilled visa applicants need to know.   From December 11, 2023, employers now need to advertise on only two valid job platforms instead of three.   Employers are no longer required to advertise a position on [...]

Education Agent Code of Ethics - Ensuring Ethical Standards Welcome to the Agent Code of Ethics guidebook, a comprehensive resource dedicated to outlining the principles and expectations of fair and ethical conduct for Australia’s offshore and onshore education agents. This guidebook serves as a vital tool for education agents, international students, and partner providers, ensuring [...]

Orientation sessions for international students are a must   “Orientation is a pivotal moment in a student’s journey; it can set them on a path to success or, if neglected, lead to significant challenges.”   According to the Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF), “successful transition into courses of study is achieved through orientation programs tailored [...]

Leveraging social media to promote to international students   In the age of digital transformation, colleges must adopt innovative marketing strategies to attract international students. Social media platforms play a crucial role in connecting with international students. Each platform has unique features, audience demographics, and algorithms that can be leveraged to create effective marketing strategies. [...]

TSMIT  increased to $73,150 from 1 July 2024   The Australian Government is clearly a gift that does not stop giving.    In another blitz announcement, the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) has been increased to $73,150 for applications lodged after 1 July 2024.    While this may not seem like a significant increase [...]

Important Notice for Visa Applicants   As we are seeing many visa refusals for various reasons, whether genuine or not, there is still time for applicants to act if their visa decision is still pending. You have the option to either provide additional information or withdraw your application. For those who are onshore, we strongly [...]

Leveraging Technology in College Admissions   Education providers often rely on people - their staff or education agents to manage the recruitment and admission of international students, expanding their global reach and diversity. Human error and bias are inherent in the use of agents, which raises concerns about transparency, student interests, and the admissions process's [...]

The changing role of an education agent   I have been a part of the international education industry since 2002, and have witnessed significant changes in the landscape of international education, particularly in the role of education agents.   Historically, education agents were valued for complementing information with wisdom, empathy, and encouragement throughout the student's [...]