NEAS News – NEAS Australia appoints new Chair of the Board

NEAS Australia today announced that Chair of the Board of Directors, Ms Denise Taylor, will be stepping down from the role at the end of this year. Ms Tanya Buchanan, currently serving on the NEAS Australia Board, has been appointed to the position, effective 6 February 2020.

Ms Taylor commented, “The appointment of Tanya as Chair was the unanimous decision of the NEAS Australia Board of Directors, and I can think of no better person to take on this role. Tanya has been a NEAS Director since June 2019 and has made an outstanding contribution to date.”

Ms Buchanan brings a wealth of experience, having worked in the not-for-profit sector for most of her career. She is the current CEO of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and has also served on multiple boards. She is currently Deputy Chair of the Asbestos Diseases Research Foundation. Ms Buchanan holds an MBA and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Tanya Buchanan
Incoming Chair

Happy holidays from NEAS Australia

We would like to wish you happy holidays over the festive season.

Our office will be closed 21 December 2019 – 5 January 2020.

CRICOS Listings on NEAS Website

Members will be pleased to know that all CRICOS codes for member institutions are now listed on the NEAS website. This is a benefit to members who wish to check their courses and is a further advantage of being a member of NEAS.

Members are encouraged to check their centre listing, their listed courses and other NEAS products and services that could enhance their ELT centres. Contact our specialist staff for more information.

Need professional development over the new year?

NEAS Associate Membership affords you a full range of benefits including exclusive Professional Development (PD) activities that tick all the boxes, including accessible online courses you can partake in over the new year. Encourage fellow colleagues to enjoy the following benefits:

* Access to NEAS News
* Face-to-face Quality Learning Series (QLS) courses
* Online learning courses
* Assessment of Qualifications
* Discounted annual NEAS Conference tickets

NEAS is committed to the professionalisation of the ELT industry.
Annual membership fee: $250 (tax deductible)

*You must sign up and register courses before the 20th December to have access over the Christmas Holidays.

More Speakers Announced!

More parts of the program have been announced, including the Pre-conference Workshops. Purchase your ticket now before you miss out!

Courageous Conversations

Sandra Pitronaci and Barbara Craig

Macquarie University

Date/Time: Wednesday 06 May, 11:30am
Parkview

Abstract

Why are the tough conversations so tough? As our paths intersect daily with those we teach, lead and advise, why do we choose to quietly avoid confrontations, and let challenging behaviours slide, in the hope that they will somehow resolve for the better? Or why do we sometimes react defensively, and self-righteously refuse to back down? Is assuming the false persona of the ‘strong leader’ and brashly tackling challenges head-on the only alternative? Or is there a middle path, a path of quiet courage that allows us to stand in our truth, allow space for the truths of others, initiate deep reflection, and empathetically talk things through?

This workshop will help build the courage of managers, teachers and advisors to approach the challenging situations and conversations they need to approach with courage, empathy, and respect. Be prepared to speak of your challenges, and experiment with your courageous conversation by applying a suggested conversation framework and actively engaging in role play situations, where authentic emotions will be explored. Learn from current research and best practice, and from the teachings of influencers such as Brené Brown, Simon Sinek and Margaret Wheatley. Be ready to engage, debrief, set goals and, if you are courageous enough, follow up with your fellow participants. Behaviour is contagious. Practising courage and empathy in our educational domains can be truly transformative, for ourselves and for those we knowingly and unknowingly influence.

Bios

Barbara Craig
From both formal training and the school-of-hard-knocks, Barbara continues to learn about courageous (and, many times, not-so-courageous) conversations, exercised in past and current professional roles in schools and universities as teacher, counsellor and leader. In 2017, she won the English Australia Award for Academic Leadership, in recognition of her work as Head of Academic Programs and Head of Centre at Macquarie University English Language Centre. She is currently Associate Lecturer (Teaching Specialist) at Flinders University and, aside from enjoying being back in the classroom, she is researching leadership practices in ELT in Australia.

Sandra Pitronaci
Sandra has been in the ELT sector for over 12 years in teaching and academic leadership roles across ELICOS colleges and university English language centres. She has served on the English Australia NSW AMSIG Committee for over 5 years, and is an active member of IATEFL LAMSIG. She is currently in the Department of Linguistics at Macquarie University, serving in the role of Associate Lecturer (Teaching & Leadership) and Convenor Graduate Certificate of TESOL, where she is earnestly training the next generation of eager English language teachers, and fervently seeking out practicum placements for her students. She is also Reviews Editor of the English Australia Journal, and if you accidentally catch her eye across the room, she may zealously approach you to commission a review or offer you a prac student.

NEAS Professional Development

Registrations for workshops for Teachers, Academic Managers and ELT Professionals are now open for 2020!

See the full listing here!

What is the Quality Learning Series?

The NEAS Quality Learning Series workshops are designed to provide professional development to both ELT teachers and managers using expert advice based on the Quality Assurance Framework.

Workshops are three hours in length and conducted at our member centre locations around the country. NEAS QLS workshops are free for all staff of Quality Endorsed Member Centres and Associate Members.

Industry News

ISANA Conference

The International Student Advisers’ Network of Australia (ISANA) celebrated 30 years of providing advocacy, support and networking to and for professionals providing support services to international students. The 2019 Conference in Melbourne brought together stakeholders from both Australia and New Zealand to explore the many and varied factors which contribute to student success. NEAS shared in the exploration as both a delegate and presenter. General Manager, Ana Bratkovic, showcased best practice examples of student support services and activities by NEAS Endorsed centres, including a range of Premium Products.

NEAS Endorsement News

Queensland International Business Academy (QIBA) Sydney

Congratulations to Queensland International Business Academy (QIBA) Sydney on continued NEAS Quality Endorsement. The QIBA campus is centrally located in the Sydney CBD, with excellent access to transport, shops and food outlets. The centre offers General English and Pearson Test of English (PTE) preparation courses across 2 shifts. Meanwhile the sister business school runs courses in Business and IT.

qiba.edu.au/