Category: Uncategorized

As a member-elected Director to the NEAS Board since 2018, Katherine is incredibly proud of the work NEAS has done over the past three years to support members and to enhance the quality reputation of our industry. As a NEAS board director, Katherine has always held our members and students at the centre of what we do, and is proud of the way that, through these challenging times, NEAS has been able to be responsive to member needs while also maintaining a focus on the future, working towards the recovery and strengthening of our industry.

Currently, Katherine is the Director at the Centre for English Teaching (CET) and Head of the Learning Hub at the University of Sydney. She oversees pre-entry English language and academic skills pathways courses and post-entry academic support programs in mathematics and academic skills and language development. Under her directorship, the Centre has proactively responded to the emerging demands placed on the industry, developing flexible, robust initiatives and programmes that are responding to seismic changes in circumstances, at both the national and global level. The Centre continues to lead the industry in innovation by embracing the empowering possibilities of technology to provide quality outcomes to students.

Over the past 5 years, in recognition of CET’s contribution to the industry, the Centre has received a number of awards including, Finalist Language Educator of the Year (PIEoneer Awards, 2020), Innovation and Leadership Award (University English Centres Australia, 2019), Best Practice Award for Excellence in Innovation (ATEM, 2018), Award for Innovation (English Australia, 2017, 2018, 2020), Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Educational Engagement and Innovation (University of Sydney, 2017). CET has also been recognised as a NEAS quality endorsed centre for over 25 years and has three NEAS-endorsed premium products.

Katherine is passionate about advancing the agenda of international education and has over 25 years’ experience in the sector working in a range of English language institutions in Australia and Asia.  She is an active contributor and advocate for the industry, contributing through numerous initiatives, including, as a NEAS member elected Director on the NEAS Board since 2018, as member of UECA (University English Centres Australia), Co-convener of the English Australia Post-entry and Academic English Special Interest Group. She regularly represents CET at industry events through conference presentations, workshops, panels and professional development activities (NEAS, English Australia, IEAA, UECA, AIEC).

Back to AGM

Master of Education (International Education)

Bachelor of Agricultural Economics (Hons)

Graduate Certificate in Accounting

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

I feel privileged to be serving as a member elected Director on the NEAS Board since 2018 and as the Chair of the NEAS Finance, Audit and Investment Committee since 2019, and more recently in 2021, as the Deputy Chair of NEAS.  It has been especially rewarding to help NEAS navigate through the most challenging period in the history of Australian international education and for NEAS to now be in a stronger fiscal position than when entering the current COVID-19 pandemic.

I have been a passionate international educator for nearly 30 years, and remain a strong advocate for building a sustainable, diverse and vibrant Australian international education services community. 

As a founder, current Board Chair and Managing Director of APC Education Group (AEG), comprising Australian Pacific College, English Unlimited and Virtu Design Institute, we have now assisted over 80,000 international students since 1994 to reach their goals. AEG is very proud to have been the first Australian international education group to announce in March 2020, a COVID-19 Tuition Fee Relief and care packages available to all of our vulnerable students across Australia and for all of our programs, while at the same time meeting all our fiscal and regulatory responsibilities; proving that financial prudence, quality assurance and compassion need not be competing interests, but necessary for a sustainable future for all.

Having served on various industry advisory and State committees including Austrade, Department of Education and Training (DET), Australian Council for Private Education and Training (now ITECA) and English Australia NSW Branch, I will continue to bring diverse educational experience to the NEAS Board, while at the same time draw upon my commercial and financial expertise as a former accountant with Ernst & Young specialising in audit and business services looking after clients, both small and large businesses, across different sectors such as Kambala School, Coca-Cola, Woolworths, Commonwealth Bank, Jones Lang Wootton, Ramsay Health Care and Wesley Mission.

As the Managing Director of a group of private international and domestic providers for over 27 years, I feel there is still much for me to contribute to NEAS and the ELT community as we lead our sector into a brighter post COVID future, and seek your ongoing support as I stand for re-election.

Back to AGM

Congratulations to Smrt English on achieving NEAS Quality Endorsement of its suite of online English language learning courses as a Quality Product / Service. Endorsement covers Smrt English’s dedicated courses for: Adults; Academics; Youth, Kids and Children; and ESP and Exam Preparation. The Smrt product has a history of development spanning ten years. Initially designed as a digital course book for face-to-face instruction, the courses have been tailored to complement online delivery of synchronous lessons dependent on Centre and student needs. Proficiency levels and learning outcomes are made clear and specific to learners and teachers.

Read More…

A message from the 2021 NEAS Management Premium Sponsor IELTS

2020 was a challenging and unexpected year as the pandemic forced everyone to work and study from home. Our days were spent staring at screens and speaking into computers. The longer the pandemic went on the more we missed our real-life interactions.

The year highlighted the importance of, and our need for human connections and experiences. IELTS reflected this in a recent brand campaign that focused on the importance of real-life conversations. Reaching 18 million people globally and inspired by stories of IELTS test takers, the campaign highlighted interactions that were part of their study, career, and migration journeys. Unlike other tests that rely on technology, IELTS Speaking test uses human examiners. The test mirrors real-life conversations giving organisations and test takers confidence in their English language proficiency.

As we move forward into 2021, there is hope that we will see the return of human experience through on-site learning, meeting with friends, and in-person events. No matter the outcome, IELTS will continue to focus on people having confidence in their English language and in doing so empowering them to have the conversations they need for their future.

As many of you are working from home and conducting most of your business online, StudyTravel is here to help you stay connected to your industry partners.

Online Events – ST Alphitos are boutique online conferences that connect you with a global network of agents and educators, all from the comfort of your own home office. Each 4-hour event focuses on a study destination (city, region or country) or a specific student market. Schedule up to twelve 20-minute online meetings.

While travel restrictions are in place, ST Alphe Conferences are now taking place online. These are high quality, 2-day events with live support from the amazing ST Team that you know and love.

StudyTravel Magazine – keep up to date with the latest news and updates on the study travel industry by reading online. Advertising opportunities are available for educators to keep your brand front of mind to our readership of 22,406 agents.

ST Network – Tap into the wealth of resources available on studytravel.network, the complete communication platform for reaching out to industry colleagues, marketing, booking meetings and messaging. Key features include:

1. Search – Run targeted searches on the 11,600 professionals on the platform (educators, agents and service providers), to build up your network.
2. Message – Contact anyone directly, or even everyone you had a meeting with at a StudyTravel event (using Network lists).
3. Feed – Let your partners know what’s happening in your part of the world by posting on your Network feed.

If you don’t have a studytravel.network profile, click here to create one now!

Congratulations to Melbourne Language Centre on achieving NEAS Endorsement for their online delivery of General English and English for Academic Purposes. NEAS was particularly impressed with the development of a number of techniques to ensure students have the time and ability to manage the new online platform, including inviting education agents to join the Zoom orientation sessions as well as an IT support group to manage the needs of both the students and teachers.

You can apply for Quality Endorsement of your Centre’s Online delivery model here https://neas.org.au/membership/fully-endorsed-membership/ or by contacting NEAS.

Each year, we look forward to hosting our members, partners and stakeholders at the NEAS Management Conference to advance global quality assurance in English Language Teaching and come together as a community.

Read More…

Due to the rapidly unfolding COVID-19 outbreak, NEAS is investigating the risks involved in staging the event in May 2020.

We are monitoring the situation closely, meeting with our venue, vendors and other stakeholders and looking at ways of minimising risk.

An announcement will be made following a scheduled meeting of the NEAS Board later this week.

NEAS’ primary concern is the safety and well-being of its members, stakeholders and wider ELT community and we apologise for any inconvenience at this time.