Safe, Supported and Strong
These two 90 minute online sessions will bring together voices in international education compliance, child safety, and student wellbeing to explore how to foster inclusion and ensure child-safety compliance. They will uncover and analyse inclusion initiatives for students under 18 and delve into strategies for enhancing inclusion and wellbeing for international students in learning communities.
Through expert-led presentations and a dynamic panel discussion, participants will gain insights into the complexities of compliance with both the National Code Standard 5 and state-specific child safety legislation. The panel session will feature national experts sharing practical approaches to embedding equity, anti-racism, and wellbeing into everyday practice.
Attendees will be guided through a critical evaluation of their own environments to identify barriers and enablers of inclusion, with a focus on intersectional challenges related to cultural identity, race, gender and disability.
The U18 Masterclass will prove useful for:
- International education professionals working with students under 18
- School leaders and administrators student support and wellbeing staff
- Compliance and policy officers
- Inclusion and diversity practitioners
- Providers and professionals working child safety, consent education and curriculum and program development
- New and experienced international education professionals
U18 Masterclass participants will come away with a better understanding of:
- The key differences and alignment opportunities between National Code Standard 5 and state-based child safety legislation
- Gaps in current policies and procedures related to child safety compliance and develop strategies to address them
- Inclusive practices that support international students, particularly those with intersecting identities such as gender and disability
- Learn from national experts on anti-racism, inclusion, and community engagement in school settings
Dates:
- Tuesday, 26 August 2025 and
- Tuesday, 2 September 2025
Time:
- 3.30pm – 5pm AEST
Cost:
- ISANA and IEAA Members: $75
- Non Member – Organisational Additional Staff: $100
- Non Members: $150
More information:
Program:
| Tuesday 26 August | |
| 3.30pm | Opening Comments Annette Kalczynska |
| 3.45pm | Keynote Address: Keeping our Under 18 students safe: how does the child safety and ESOS legislation work together to achieve this? Melanie Duncan |
| 4.15pm | Workshop Melanie Duncan & Robert Chase |
| 4.45pm | Wrap-Up & Reflections Kailey Milroy |
| Tuesday 2 September | |
| 3.30pm | Opening Comments Charlotte Long |
| 3.45pm | Enhancing inclusion for international students Dr Katie Richardson, Dr Anna Dabrowski |
| 4.15pm | Panel: Inclusion and Anti-Racism Initiatives Cate Giplin, Katie Cherrington, William Nguyen |
| 4.45pm | Wrap-Up & Reflections Kailey Milroy |
Event Speakers
Event speaker details will be updated as they are confirmed.
Katie Cherrington
Anti-Racism Education Advisor K-6, Department of Education, NSW Government
Katie Cherrington is a primary school teacher with experience teaching in public schools across rural and regional NSW. She currently works in the NSW Department of Education as an Anti-Racism Education Advisor.
Dr Anna Dabrowski
BEd Southern Cross, CELTA Cambridge, GCER Melb, CCPT Duke, MAAL New England, MTESOL, MEd, PhD Melb
Anna is a Lecturer in Education Psychology at The University of Melbourne and a former Senior Research Fellow in Education and Development at the Australian Council for Educational Research. Her research interests include staff and student mental health, international education policy, and gender and social inclusion. Anna also has extensive experience working with international students, and is passionate about generating research outcomes focused on improving conditions for staff and students in education settings
Melanie Duncan
Co-Founder & Principal
IEP Advisory
Melanie is the Co-Founder & Principal of IEP Advisory. Melanie has nearly twenty-five (25) years’ experience in higher education with extensive expertise in international admissions; designing and implementing policies, procedures and processes within an ESOS/TEQSA framework; leading international-specific campuses for both universities and third-party providers; transitioning pathway students to higher education; and leading teams of international education professionals across all tertiary international student lifecycle administrative processes and wellbeing service delivery. Melanie’s work embeds enterprise-wide risk management practices with key compliance responsibilities a part of her management roles since 2006. Over this time, she has been responsible for ensuring that her providers’ and teams’ processes, policies and practices meet the obligations of the ESOS Act 2000; National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education to Overseas Students (2007 & 2018); Disability Standards for Education 2005; TEQSA Equity & Diversity and Wellbeing & Safety Guidelines; and Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021.
Annette Kalczynska
President
ISANA International Education Association (ISANA)
Annette has been actively engaged in the Australian education sector since 2008, contributing to both public and private institutions across Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Higher Education. Her expertise includes marketing and communications, admissions and enrolment, compliance and governance, student engagement and support, pastoral care, institutional development, and strategy. Annette’s deep passion for International Education in Australia is rooted in her own experiences as an international student. Prior to her career in education, Annette worked as an entrepreneur and held management roles across various industries, including construction, accommodation, advertising, and marketing. She is also actively involved in volunteering with several organizations within the Polish community in Australia and has served as a board member for the Polish Club Ltd. Annette has been an active member of the ISANA ACT/NSW branch executive committee since 2018, demonstrating her strong commitment to supporting international students and professionals in the education sector. Over the years, she has taken on a variety of key roles within ISANA, including Branch President, Communications Manager, and Vice President. Most recently, she has served as Vice President of Professional Development, where she has focused on enhancing professional growth opportunities for members and fostering best practices within the field of international education. Through her leadership roles at ISANA, Annette has contributed to strengthening the organization’s presence and influence while advocating for the needs and welfare of international students. Her involvement reflects her dedication to building a supportive and inclusive international education community.
Charlotte Long
Head Student Success
UNSW Sydney
Charlotte has over 20 years of experience in higher education, advocating for and supporting the international student experience, in ELICOS, pathways and universities. Charlotte is committed to putting students first and collaborating and learning from students and colleagues across the student lifecycle and the education sector.
Kailey Milroy
Manager, Student Services and Engagement
Department for Education, Children and Young People (Tasmania)
Kailey is Manager, Student Services and Engagement, Government Education and Training International, Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People. She has worked in Canada in the International Education sector in a mid-sized institution in a large city for several years. Her role in Tasmania’s Department of Education focuses primarily on School and TAFE students in a more regional setting. She is an IEAA Associate Fellow.
William Nguyen
International Student Officer
UNSW Sydney
William Nguyen is a student leader, speaker and passionate advocate for international students, committed to building inclusive communities and fostering belonging. He arrived in Australia alone at 15 with no English, giving him a firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by younger international students navigating the school system and life away from home. Now in his third year of a Bachelor of Education/Media Arts at UNSW, William has spoken to over 7,000 people across NSW, including as an MC and guest speaker. He is the Founder and President of the UNSW International Students Association, an Undergraduate Student Representative on the UNSW Academic Board, and an International Student Ambassador for the Study NSW and NSW Department of Education. William continues to champion diversity, inclusion and anti-racism, drawing on his lived experience to advocate for international student wellbeing and belonging.
Dr Katie Richardson
Director
International Education Consultants Australia
Dr Katie Richardson is Director of International Education Consultants Australia. She has been a teacher educator for more than two decades, with extensive research and expertise in inclusive education, international education, educational assessment, curriculum and pedagogy. Her early research focussed on international student welfare, particularly adolescents. She is passionate about integrating her areas of expertise to empower educators at all levels of education systems to develop skills that enable all learners to thrive.