International education professionals will have opportunities to sharpen their understanding of student support decisions and emerging racial discrimination obligations, with ISANA preparing two professional development sessions before the end of 2026.
The sessions will tackle two areas where institutional policy meets the practical realities of supporting international students: assessing compassionate or compelling circumstances under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework, and understanding new racial discrimination obligations for education providers.
The first session, Understanding the ESOS framework: assessing Compassionate or Compelling Circumstances, will take place on 26 November from 2pm to 4pm AEDT. Presented by Melanie Duncan and Danielle Hartridge from IEP Advisory, it will focus on strengthening professional understanding of how these circumstances are assessed in international student administration and support.
The subject is a familiar pressure point for institutions and frontline staff. Decisions involving compassionate or compelling circumstances can have significant consequences for students, particularly when personal crises, unexpected events or other disruptions affect their ability to meet course requirements.
Getting these decisions right requires more than knowing the relevant rules. Staff need to understand how to assess individual circumstances consistently, apply institutional policies appropriately and provide students with clear explanations of decisions that may affect their study plans.
The second session, presented by Eve Ollerenshaw and scheduled for 10 December from 2pm to 4pm AEDT, will examine new racial discrimination obligations for education providers.
While further information is still to come, the topic places institutional responsibilities and student experience firmly on the agenda. For providers, understanding legal obligations is only part of the challenge. Translating those obligations into everyday practice, staff awareness and effective student support is where the work becomes tangible.
For an international education sector that regularly talks about student experience, belonging and wellbeing, these are not peripheral issues. They go to the heart of how institutions respond when students encounter difficulties, and how they create environments in which students are treated fairly and can seek support with confidence.
Professional development under new leadership
ISANA has also announced Rachel Maissan as its new Vice President Professional Development. Maissan will lead the organisation’s professional development portfolio and serve as a key contact for future initiatives and opportunities for collaboration.
The organisation is developing its 2027 professional development calendar, with future offerings intended to reflect emerging sector requirements and the practical needs of its members.
The 10 December professional development session will be followed by ISANA’s National Annual General Meeting, scheduled for 4pm to 4.30pm AEDT. Further information will be circulated to members, while branch AGM dates will be confirmed through local branch communications.
The two sessions offer a reminder that professional development in international education needs to keep pace with the regulatory and social expectations placed on providers. Compliance requirements continue to evolve, but the consequences of getting them wrong are often experienced most directly by students and the staff responsible for supporting them.
For professionals working across international student services, compliance, welfare and institutional management, the challenge is to turn changing obligations into sound decisions and meaningful support.
ISANA’s upcoming program aims to help practitioners do precisely that, with further opportunities expected as the organisation builds its 2027 calendar.
For more information, see here.
