The people and programs helping international students thrive in Western Australia will be in the spotlight, with nominations now open for the 2026 CISWA Awards.
Run by the Council of International Students Western Australia (CISWA), the awards recognise outstanding students, educators, professional staff, teams, programs and institutions contributing to international education across the state.
Now in their 12th year, the awards have become an established part of Western Australia’s international education calendar, providing an opportunity to recognise the work that can sometimes sit behind the headline enrolment and export figures.
That recognition is particularly important in a sector where the international student experience is shaped not only by teaching and learning, but also by student support, community engagement, leadership, innovation and the many people working behind the scenes.
CISWA said the awards were designed to celebrate the achievements that strengthen Western Australia’s reputation as a welcoming and successful study destination.
Seven categories recognise students, people and innovation
The 2026 awards include four individual categories and three awards open to individuals or teams.
The individual awards are:
- WA International School Student of the Year, sponsored by the Department of Education WA
- WA International Tertiary Student of the Year, sponsored by Perth Airport
- WA International VET Student of the Year, sponsored by the Department of Training and Workforce Development
- WA Outstanding Individual Contribution to International Education, sponsored by CISWA
There are also three individual or team categories:
- WA International Education Initiative of the Year – Schools, sponsored by the Department of Education WA
- WA International Education Program of the Year, sponsored by CISWA
- WA International Education Innovation in AI, sponsored by Kaplan
The new AI category is perhaps the clearest sign of how quickly the sector is changing.
Rather than treating artificial intelligence simply as a classroom technology, the category recognises its use across learning, student support, operational efficiency and broader sector innovation. It also places the emphasis on responsible and impactful implementation, an increasingly important distinction as institutions work out where AI genuinely adds value.
Recognition beyond the numbers
For Western Australia, the awards also provide a useful reminder that international education is more than a measure of student numbers or export revenue.
International students interact with schools, universities, VET providers, English language colleges and the wider community. Their experience is influenced by the quality of those interactions, from the classroom to student services and from institutional programs to community connections.
That makes the CISWA Awards an opportunity to put some of those stories front and centre.
CISWA is encouraging members to begin identifying potential nominees and gathering evidence to support their submissions. Previous judging has placed weight on measurable outcomes, testimonials, participation data, achievements and evidence of impact.
In other words, a good nomination will need more than a claim that a program or individual is doing great work. It will need to demonstrate what changed, who benefited and what difference was made.
That focus on evidence also makes the awards potentially valuable beyond the recognition itself, giving institutions an opportunity to document and share examples of effective practice across the sector.
Nominations now open
Eligibility is limited to staff, students, teams and programs from CISWA member institutions.
CISWA said it knows there are “extraordinary students, educators, teams and programs” across its member institutions deserving of recognition, and the awards provide a way to celebrate those achievements while demonstrating the broader impact of international education in Western Australia.
Nominations are now open, with eligibility requirements and nomination information available through the CISWA website.
