While the school sector has probably been less affected by the recent government changes in policy and prices for international students, it is not entirely unaffected, and there is news to share.
The NEAS Community of Practice for High School Preparation English providers hosted an excellent event in conjunction with Study Queensland and sponsored by IDAT: The International Diagnostic and Admissions Test on Friday July 26, 2024 in Brisbane.
Some noted changes have included that some independent schools have raised English levels required in consideration of the higher levels required for tertiary education. Other schools have also reported a higher incidence of students and families applying directly to schools, and forgoing agency services. As we develop a generation of parents that are more confident to communicate and find information and services online, they seem more willing to contact schools directly. In some cases, even at a high school level, students are reported to be researching and reaching out to schools on their own.
The event was well-attended with High School Preparation professionals from around the country coming together to learn about supporting and communicating with students for well-being, extra-curricular activity, academics and life in Australia. This is particularly evident from a small school perspective, according to Vanessa Newberry at Hills International College.
Jo Kwai from John Paul International College shared how her larger school communicates and supports academic growth in their school. Likewise, Andrea Pugh from EQI facilitated an excellent workshop on collaborative strategies for success.
There was an excellent data driven presentation by Jake Sullivan from Allianz OSHC who shared their findings on student opinions, thoughts and concerns in the health space. The takeaways from this were that mental health issues continue to abound, and the added financial stressors from recent government changes appear to be compounding this. Students still feel there is work to be done in areas of racism and acceptance into the Australian community.
Overall, it was a great day to share ideas, collaborate with English language professionals in the school space, and network with one another. The NEAS community of practices provide excellent opportunities and professional development for those with like-minded interest and expertise.
