The 2002 National Liaison Committee State Education Conference was co-hosted by the CQU Melbourne International Campus, in collaboration with CQU Student Association and Swinburne University International Student Association, on Saturday 4th May.

The National Liaison Committee (NLC) for International Students in Australia is the peak representative body for International Students in Australia. It was formed in 1986 in response to the growing need among international students for a unified voice. Today, the NLC speaks for more than 120,000 International students currently studying in tertiary, TAFE or private institutes and secondary schools.

The objective of this year’s conference was to provide an opportunity for student leaders to receive first hand information from representative of government departments, to exchange ideas among students, staff and guests, and to increase the interaction between both local and international student leaders of different Universities.

The Keynote presentations from distinguished guests included The HON Phil Honeywood, former Minister for Tertiary Education and Training, Current Shadow Minister of Education, Victoria Mr. Shanton Chang, Lecturer, University of Melbourne, Past NLC National Convenor Ms. Jan Drew, President of ISANA, Victoria. Also attending, The Lord Mayor of Melbourne, The HON John So.

The attendance of such distinguished guests, along with the International student Advisors from Monash, Melbourne, Victoria University of Technology and Deakin University, provided the Melbourne International Campus with an opportunity to actively promote the University. Many of the representatives from the various Institutes indicated this was their first visit to the Melbourne Campus of CQU. Consequently, co-hosting the conference opened the door for CQU to show the modern facilities and professional learning environment offered to CQU’s student body. Moreover, Mr. Roy Gibbs, MIC’s Campus Director, spoke to the guests highlighting the philosophy of CQU, and the emerging trends and issues indicative of the way international education must change to meet the demands of students. Networking was a major component of the conference, with Universities and government representatives discussing the issues International students are expressing concern about, in particular, the new ESOS Act and its impact on Student Visa’s. Ms. Pat Stewart, Manager Student and Client Service, spoke with the Shadow Minister for Education, discussing the concerns raised by CQU students.

The conference was of great success, with all representatives indicating a most enjoyable and informative day. (Pictured above are Pat Stewart, Manager, Client and Student Services, Melbourne International Campus; Sharon Yeo, Victorian Branch Convenor, National Liaison Committee; and Roy Gibbs, Campus Director, Melbourne International Campus)