This session will look at the foundations of what it is to be an ISA, effective management for international student advising, meeting the requirements of institution, government and visa – why it’s needed by institutions and what it encompasses for the ISA, the institution, and the students.
It will then look similarly at risk in this space; why risk management is an essential element of good practice in international student advising, how to apply it and what it means for the institution, the advisor, and the student.
Presenter
Desma Smith
Desma is the Associate Director, International Student Advisory and Support at Swinburne.
With over 22 years in International Education working at Canadian High Commission; DIAC student policy; global mobility; student support; Desma has facilitated workshops and written submissions for ISANA; Government roundtables; consultative stages of policy development; created policies in HEd; had various consultant roles and tutored critical incident management.
Desma has been Subject Matter Expert on award winning teams managing risk and safe communities and a member of Swinburne’s Incident Management Team. In 2021, a Swinburne led consortium won a Best Practice award in the IEAA Excellence Awards for their Food Delivery Driver Training program.
Desma offsets work tensions as an obsessed dragon boat racer and successfully competed internationally in the Australian Auroras DBS (dragon boat squad) over 6 years.
Date & Time
- Thursday, 1 May 2025
- 2pm – 3pm (AEST)
Cost
- ISANA Members: No cost
- ISANA Non-Member – Organisational Additional Staff: $20
- Non-Members: $50
Member Resources