For the last few months, I have been busy travelling around the country for the Educate Plus Chapter Summit events and am soon to head to Victor Harbor for the SA/NT Summit. It is wonderful to be with my “tribe” of admission professionals who care so much about their schools, their students, and the communities they inhabit.
For those of you in other sectors, you may not be aware of Educate Plus. It is a unique member-based organisation that supports professionals working in the business side of schools. Its membership spans Alumni & Community Engagement, Fundraising, Marketing & Communications, Admissions, Leadership, and People & Culture. For CRICOS-registered schools, the admissions, marketing, and leadership streams offer particularly valuable crossover, equipping schools to better support their international students.
With strong advocacy at higher levels already provided by IEAA (International Education Association of Australia) and English Australia, Educate Plus is positioning itself to complement these bodies by leveraging its long-standing reputation in the schools sector and adding a greater international focus, support, and professional development.
As I’ve seen firsthand, Educate Plus alternates between a National Conference (including New Zealand) and state-based Chapter Summits in alternate years. This ensures members benefit from both localised, affordable events and global perspectives. More than 1,400 people are expected to attend the Chapter Summits this year, which speaks to the impact these gatherings have in building state and regional connections.
“The International Conference is our flagship event with international speakers that bring global perspectives to the learning, and the costs to attend reflect the enhanced reach,” says Mandy McFarland, CEO of Educate Plus. “The add-ons for the International Conference are much greater and include things like our industry Excellence Awards and high-level networking events.”
A New Brand, A New Direction
Educate Plus recently launched a bold new rebrand — a signal of its evolution into a more contemporary, outward-looking organisation. “Our aspiration is to make Educate Plus the peak industry body in our profession and reposition it as a modern organisation both internally and externally,” McFarland explains. “We balance professionalism with warmth, we drive innovation, and we challenge the norms. The ‘plus’ in our name captures all of this.”
The rebrand is not just cosmetic. It represents a comprehensive repositioning that will elevate the member experience. This includes:
– A new member portal, offering one-stop access to resources, community, and professional development.
– A competency framework designed to support career development and progression across advancement functions.
Expanding International Reach
Educate Plus has already begun forging deeper ties across Asia, where demand for on-the-ground professional development is rapidly growing. Over the last 18 months, membership has expanded to 90 individuals across seven countries, with interest continuing to rise.
This October, the organisation will host its first Advancement Academy in Bangkok — a full-day program offering four concurrent streams (Admissions, Alumni, Fundraising, Marketing), with both local and international presenters. It is a clear signal of Educate Plus’s intent to be not only regional in reach but also responsive to the unique challenges and opportunities of international schools.
Supporting CRICOS Schools
For Australian schools with CRICOS registration, Educate Plus is developing targeted professional development that goes beyond compliance to student experience. Recent initiatives include:
– Practical webinars, such as “Untangling CRICOS: A Beginner’s Guide to International Student Enrolment.”
– Special Interest Group (SIG) conversations that explore international student recruitment and welfare obligations.
– On-demand resources through the Knowledgebank, allowing members to revisit relevant training at any time.
– Small-group Coaching Circles, creating spaces for peer-to-peer problem-solving and shared learning.
Ultimately, the goal is to foster safe and nurturing environments for international students studying in Australia while building the professional capacity of the staff who support them.
Looking Ahead
Educate Plus is embracing an exciting new era: stronger branding, deeper international engagement, and a renewed commitment to supporting schools and their teams. For those of us working in international education, this expansion offers a professional “home” where we can grow, learn, and connect with colleagues who understand our challenges and share our passions.
As I continue my travels to summits across the country — and soon across the region — I feel proud to be part of a community that is not only looking after its members but also looking outward, building bridges across borders, and championing the role of schools in international education.
