International student recruitment agents from around the world have been given a firsthand look at the Northern Territory’s education sector and lifestyle, as part of a familiarisation program designed to strengthen the Territory’s global education connections.
The three-day tour, hosted by Study NT in partnership with ICEF, brought a select group of recruitment agents to Darwin to experience the region’s education providers, accommodation options and community environment.
The familiarisation, commonly known as a famil tour, forms part of a partnership between Study NT and ICEF that has been running since 2017 and aims to increase international awareness of the Territory as a study destination.
During the visit, agents met with ten education providers and two student accommodation providers, gaining insight into what officials describe as the Territory’s industry-aligned and supportive education ecosystem.
Participating institutions included Charles Darwin University, Flinders University, Canterbury Institute of Management and schools such as Haileybury Rendall School and St John’s Catholic College Darwin.
Accommodation providers Campus Living Villages and UniLodge also participated, offering agents a look at housing options available to international students.
One highlight of the program was a lunch hosted by the International College of Advanced Education, where students studying commercial cookery and hospitality prepared and served a meal for visiting agents, demonstrating the practical training approach used in the Territory’s vocational education sector.
Agents also toured the Charles Darwin University Danala Campus, including a stop at the campus based radio station Territory FM, where they observed journalists broadcasting live and saw how media training operates in a real working environment.
Alongside campus visits, the program highlighted the lifestyle aspects often central to international students’ study choices.
Participants visited the Nightcliff Jetty and the Darwin Waterfront Precinct, where they experienced the city’s coastal setting and dining culture.
The tour concluded with a visit to Crocosaurus Cove, where agents had close encounters with Northern Territory wildlife, including the chance to hold a baby crocodile, offering a distinctly Top End experience.
Agents attending the tour represented key recruitment markets and included representatives from agencies such as Expert Education and Visa Services, Edumove Agency and Tagarela Intercâmbios.
Alejandra Alvarez from Edumove said the experience exceeded expectations.
“This was our first time visiting the Northern Territory and also our first time experiencing a familiarisation tour, and it truly exceeded our expectations,” she said.
“It was an incredible opportunity to connect directly with excellent educators and learn first hand about the institutions and programs available in the region.”
Anil Yogi from Expert Education and Visa Services said the visit highlighted the strong support systems available for international students.
“Darwin is a place where international students can feel at home,” he said. “It offers an inclusive community that welcomes participation, celebrates diversity and empowers students to get involved and lead.”
For Study NT, the visit forms part of a broader strategy to raise the Territory’s international education profile and strengthen relationships with the recruitment agents who play a crucial role in connecting students with global study destinations.
