There is now just one week left to nominate the people, programs and initiatives making a difference to international education in Western Australia.
Nominations for the 2026 CISWA Awards close Friday 16 October, giving staff, students and teams from CISWA member institutions a final opportunity to put forward their achievements for recognition.
Now in their 12th year, the awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership across WA’s international education sector, with categories covering international school, tertiary and VET students, individual contributions, education programs and initiatives.
This year also sees the introduction of the WA International Education AI Innovation Award, recognising individuals and teams using artificial intelligence to improve student or staff experiences, transform institutional operations or create new opportunities for international education. CISWA says nominations for the new category should demonstrate innovation, impact, scalability and sustainability, as well as responsible and ethical use of AI.
Seven categories, one final week
The 2026 awards cover seven categories:
- WA International School Student of the Year
- WA International Tertiary Student of the Year
- WA International VET Student of the Year
- WA Outstanding Individual Contribution to International Education
- WA International Education Initiative of the Year – Schools
- WA International Education Program of the Year
- WA International Education AI Innovation Award
CISWA says the strongest nominations are those that clearly demonstrate impact and are supported by evidence, including outcomes, data, testimonials and other measures of achievement.
For student categories, nominations can recognise not only academic performance but also community engagement, volunteering, leadership and contributions to the student and wider community.
For programs and initiatives, the focus is similarly on what changed, who benefited and whether the work can be sustained.
That makes the awards about more than simply recognising successful international education activity. They provide an opportunity to put a spotlight on the people and work that can otherwise disappear behind the sector’s larger numbers.
The deadline is next Friday
Nominations close Friday 16 October 2026.
CISWA member institutions are encouraged to check the eligibility requirements for each category and ensure nominations are complete and include the required supporting information.
Judging is expected to be completed in late November, with winners to be announced on 10 December at the StudyPerth AGM and End of Year Event.
For anyone who has been thinking about nominating a student, colleague, team or program but has not yet got around to it, the message from CISWA is fairly simple: this is the last chance.
More information, category criteria and nomination details are available from CISWA.
