National Liaison Committee for International Students in Australia

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The National Liaison Committee for International Students in Australia (NLC) was first formed in 1986 in an attempt to combat the Australian Government's introduction of the full-fee paying international students program.

Contents

[edit] Overview

It has been speculated that NLC is probably the only national student body in the world that organises around the issues of international students in a host country. The NLC currently represents the International Students Committee of the National Union of Students of Australia (NUS). There is a common confusion between NLC - a faction within NUS and the organisation due to a shared leadership. However, the membership of the faction and the organisation is different. Please see National Liaison Committee for information about the faction.

The NLC has 7 state branches; New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. There are currently 5 National Office Bearers; National Convenor, National General Secretary, National Campaigns Coordinator, National Women's Officer and the National Publications Officer. There is one vacant position - National Queer Officer. There are also two part time staff positions; administration and research.

The NLC has 42 affiliated university campus international student organisations, from 31 public and 2 private universities. While it draws its membership primarily from student organisations in universities, its office bearers work closely with students from TAFE, ELICOS and school systems, and in total represents approximately 303,000 international students in Australia.

The NLC contributes to Federal and State Government inquiries and processes into changing and improving international education in Australia. With such fast growth in the industry, the NLC is continually facing challenges by educational institutions and government departments on keeping students rights first and foremost before the tempting profit margin.

[edit] History

NLC was formed in 1986, in response to the need for a unified body to voice international student's concerns especially over the introduction of the user-pay system for international students tuition fee by the Australian government. NLC is the peak representative body in Australia for all international students and it is committed to ensure quality education, equitable welfare and multicultural understanding. It is recognised as the national representative body for international students by the Australia Federal Government.

NLC was officially incorporated in 1998 and its official legal name is National Liaison Committee for International Students in Australia Inc. NLC works in conjunction with National Union of Students of Australia and fulfills its role as a peak representative organisation by taking the role od the International Students Committee of the National Union of Students of Australia (NUS).

The NLC has developed strong relationships with many stakeholders in the international education industry. These include, Australian Education International (AEI), IDP Education Australia, State Government Education Departments, International Student Adviser Network Australia (ISANA), all four OSHC providers, National Tertiary Education Union, Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee, IELTS, English Australia, and most international education departments throughout Australian Universities.

The NLC has helped achieve many changes in the international education industry over the last 19 years. These include the deregulation of the overseas student health cover industry, contributions to the ESOS Act reviews in 2006, 2000, 2004 and in 1996, changes to immigration regulations, such as extensions of sunset clauses on permanent residency changes. The NLC is currently working on re introducing public transport concession for international students in NSW and Victoria and ensuring quality education.

[edit] Criticism

One of the main criticisms of this organisation has been its close relationship with the Australian Government which limits the purpose of the creation and existence of the organisation.

[edit] National Conference

The week-long NLC National Conference (NLCAC), incorporating a two day National Education Conference, is the longest running conference in Australia focused on international education and international student issues. It is also the only conference on the International Education Conference circuit that focuses on quality of education and support services.

In 2005, NLC celebrates its 20th anniversary with the 20th NLCAC in Newcastle, New South Wales.

At each National Conference, delegates have the opportunity to participate in the discourse of the provision of international education in Australia, as well as shaping government policy that affects international students in Australia.

Conference delegates spend the week drafting and debating policies that shape the agenda for the organisation and identification of priority issues for the following year. The policies that have been approved by the conference delegates are then put to the delegates of the NUS conference for ratification to be included as international students policies in the NUS policy volume.

The NLCAC culminates with the election of new office bearers for the following year.

[edit] Conference themes

Year Theme Host University City State
1986 Sydney New South Wales
1987
1988
1989
1990 Vision of the 90s
1991 Towards a new commitment to overseas students Monash University, Clayton Campus Melbourne Victoria
1992 Australian Education: Excellent or Dismal University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia
1993 Consolidation and self reliance into the future University of Tasmania Launceston Tasmania
1994 international students : Determining directions Australian National University Canberra ACT
1995 The next generation: International students into the year 2000; reflections of the past, visions for the future. Monash University, Clayton Campus Melbourne Victoria
1996 Quest for Quality Education University of Queensland, Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Queensland
1997 The Cultural Atlas of International Education : Future Lessons from Contemporary Experiences University of Adelaide, University of South Australia Adelaide South Australia
1998 The Next Generation : International Students into the year 2000 - Reflections of the Past, Visions For the Future RMIT University, University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria
1999 Bridging the gap between vision and reality University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales
2000 Reflections on International Education: A Compass for the New Millennium University of Western Australia, Curtin University of Technology Perth Western Australia
2001 Helping Hands from Aid to Trade: Working Together for International Education in Australia Australian National University Canberra ACT
2002 International Education in Australia and Beyond: Innovating the Next Wave University of Tasmania Launceston Tasmania
2003 Revolve : Evolve, Student Value, Value Studets University of Adelaide, University of South Australia Adelaide South Australia
2004 Reality in valuing diversity Griffith University (Nathan), Queensland University of Technology (Gardens Point) Brisbane Queensland
2005 International Education excellence in Australia : Are We There Yet? - Celebrating 20 years of education, representation and welfare Newcastle University Newcastle New South Wales
2006 Student Representation,Student Support:Towards Better welfare Edith Cowan University, Curtin University, Uni of WA, Murdoch Uni Perth WA
2007 Revisiting the Vision University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria

[edit] Current National Office Bearers

  • National President Pang Yen Zhang, Eric
  • National Campaigns Co-ordinator Abhishek Devaraj
  • National General Secretary Dolores Singh
  • National Publications Officer Clara Wanatirta
  • National Women's Officer Karen Lusambo
  • National Queer Officer Unfilled

___________________________________________________________ National Executive All National Office Bearers

  • NSW State Convenor Unfilled
  • QLD State Convenor Syamalan Subramaniam
  • SA State Convenor Unfilled
  • TAS State Convenor Unfilled
  • VIC State Convenor Nonzahriyah Adun
  • WA State Convenor YEE Adriana

[edit] Past National Convenors

  • 2005 Song Yee Ng (Acting from February 2006)
  • 2004 Aditya Tater
  • 2002 Adrian Wong (2 consecutive terms from 2002 - 2004)
  • 2000 KK Tan (2 consecutive terms from 2000 - 2002)
  • 1999 Jean Sin
  • 1997 Shanton Chang (2 consecutive terms from 1997 - 1999), Monash University
  • 1996 Gooi Chi Kang, Adelaide University
  • 1994 Majoree Sehu (2 consecutive terms from 1994 - 1996), Monash University
  • 1992 Ali Mahmood(2 consecutive terms from 1992 - 1993), University of Tasmania
  • 1991 Quek Ngee Meng, Adelaide University
  • 1990 James Leong, Melbourne University
  • 1989 Pravin Ram, University of Tasmania
  • 1988 Satish Dasan, Adelaide University
  • 1986/87 Peter Subramaniam, Melbourne University

[edit] Past National General Secretaries

  • 2006 Pradeep Subramaniam, University of Melbourne
  • 2005 Song Yee Ng, Monash University
  • 2004 Praneet Keni (Acting from December 2004)
  • 2003 Tedy Gunawan, University of Melbourne
  • 2002 Ching Ching Ko (Acting from March 2002)
  • 2001 Marly Lim
  • 2000 Shaunie Ho
  • 1999 Li Ming Chin
  • 1998 Jean Sin
  • 1998 Beng Ti Tan
  • 1997 Caroline Sim
  • 1996 Michael Chong, University of Adelaide
  • 1995
  • 1994 Khoo Boo Hian, Australian National University
  • 1993 Majoree Sehu, Monash University
  • 1992 Eugene Sebastian, Flinders University
  • 1991 Rudolph Lopes, Monash University
  • 1990 Jimmy Leng, Melbourne University

[edit] Past National Education Officers

The constitution was amended at the 2004 NLC Annual Conference to remove the position of National Education Officer(amended to National Campaign Co-Ordinator.

  • 2006 Kenny Tan, Australia National University
  • 2005 Gauurang Khanna, Bond University
  • 2003 Ali Abusalem
  • 2002 Yen Phang
  • 2001 Louisa Soon
  • 2000 Adrian Wong, Edith Cowan University
  • 1999 Izuan Rais / Ganeshanto (Anto)
  • 1998 Pio Manoa
  • 1996 Najah Nasseri
  • 1995 Richard Joseph, Flinders University
  • 1994 Shanton Chang, University of Western Australia
  • 1993 Eugene Sebastian, Flinders University
  • 1992 David Oh, Monash University
  • 1991 Eugene Sebastian, Flinders University

[edit] Past National Women's Officers

  • 2004 Cherrine Chan
  • 2003 Bernise Ang, University of New South Wales
  • 1994 Maya Thillakkannu, Adelaide University
  • 1993 Maya Thillakkannu, Adelaide University
  • 1992 Wendy Chow, University of Western Australia
  • 1991 Joanna Teh, Adelaide University

[edit] External links

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