August 2021 agent enews

​​​​​Welcome

You can never underestimate the energy of an Olympic Games and its ability to uplift and provide unexpected joy. With our current health crisis, the Tokyo Games really did deliver some respite to the world.

The announcement last month that Brisbane was successful in their bid for the 2032 Olympic Games has already seen a surge in young children signing up for sporting teams with gold medal dreams for the next 11 years.

Sport in Australia is a national pastime and from a very young age, children are surfing, play​ing backyard cricket to weekend netball/football/cricket competitions and school championships. Many of our EQI schools offer sport as specialists subjects to our international students keen to progress to the next level. From soccer, surfing, water polo, baseball, basketball to athletics, gymnastics and golf, our schools collectively offer 40 different sports with higher level excellence programs also available.

With half the country going through lockdown, Queensland is once again supporting the Australian Football League and National Rugby League by providing a safe-haven for players and their families from around Australia as well as A-grade sporting facilities to continue the 2021 footy season.

Without knowing when international travel can resume to Queensland, there have been major EQI initiatives to ensure our prospective students are well on the way to feeling a part of Australia, even in their own home. The 20-week virtual High School Preparation (vHSP) program, now on its third and fourth term, have demonstrated outstanding results based on a recent satisfaction survey. I encourage all agents to come on board and offer the program to parents and students. The term 4 program is now open for registration (enrolments close 10 September 2021) as we work on other virtual packages and products for you.

We value our ongoing partnership with you and look forward to continuing this collaboration as we navigate through the challenges of COVID and hopefully the impending opening of the Australian borders.

I look forward to ‘seeing’ many of you at our next session of the Virtual Agents Forum where we will be featuring EQI primary schools and provide agents with an opportunity to explore primary education in Queensland.

Kind regards

Jack Stathis​​​​​

​... and the winner is Brisbane!

Tourism and Events Queensland

Brisbane has been successful in its ​bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games (after Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028). The Brisbane 2032 Master Plan video can be found on the Queensland Government website​. The website and video provide a terrific reminder of the Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast infrastructure and facilities already in place.

Sports in schools –​ social media campaign​

​Robina State High school – Golf excellences program

To coincide with the July 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, we chose to highlight school sports that are also scheduled at the Olympics.

The aim of the campaign was to demonstrate that Queensland government schools offer sporting subjects and programs so that international students could either pursue a sporting career or maintain/enhance health and fitness with an academic regime while practising English. The campaign was also timely as we celebrate Brisbane’s successful bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games.

The campaign has received very high engagement and continues to be shared and liked on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. These short video grabs are available to watch:

• Athletics
• Baseball
• Basketball​
• Golf
• Tennis
• Volleyball

Here is an example of how the golf video performed on social media:

Social media post: Run 2/06/2021 – 3/06/2021

Standard monthly social media engagements​

Student testimonial – Samantha from Chile

Samantha from Chile​ was about to accept a scholarship to go to an American school but decided instead to finish years 11 and 12 at Queensland’s Palm Beach Currumbin State High School.

​With an interest in science, she looks forward to university study in Neuroscience or Marine Science Research.

Life at primary school – don’t miss session 2 of the Virtual Agents Forum

Registrations for the next virtual forum which will focus on EQI primary schools will be opening soon.

The program includes inspiring and unique presentations from EQI staff and school staff to assist you in understanding more about EQI primary schools.

Subject highlights include:

• a typical timetable in primary school
• matching the right content for students, such as music, behaviours, linguistics, arts and technologies
• parent-teacher interviews and development goals
• learning English as a second language
• learning at different levels – interpreting a teacher’s evaluation and feedback
• transitioning from primary to junior high school
• spotlight on 3 EQI primary schools and their facilities.

We will also be discussing current market drivers and business development trends, as well as your feedback on what your clients consider most important when choosing a primary school.

​We look forward to ‘seeing’ you.​ Register on the apply now page​.

A remarkable Gold Coast journey – a sneak peak

EQI, in collaboration with Griffith University, has been successful in its application for a Study Gold Coast Education Vision Project Fund. EQI, as the lead agency, is in the process of developing 2 short videos which will highlight student pathways from a Gold Coast high school, graduating from Griffith University and on to a remarkable career in Queensland.

Essentially, we will be developing 2 inspiring alumni stories to encourage students and their parents to choose Queensland as their study destination.

We are very excited to start this project and are currently in search for 2 wonderful career professionals to be featured. Watch the welcome to Griffith video​.

The Queensland training award finalists​

The prestigious Queensland Training Awards celebrates top Queensland training achievers.

Across 14 categories, the awards recognise individuals and organisations that strive for and have achieved success, best practice and innovation in vocational education and training (VET). The awards showcase all that's great about VET in Queensland, with categories for apprentices, trainees, vocational students, teachers and trainers, as well as training providers and employers.

EQI congratulates the finalists from Brisbane State High School, Mabel Park State High School, Kirwan State High School, Whites Hill State College and Benowa State High.

We wish them all the best of luck with the state winners announced early September and National winners November 2021. For more information on the awards, view the Queensland Training Awards website.

The International Student Programs Roadshow​​​

The half day International Student Programs (ISP) Roadshow is underway (1–26 August 2021) with 150 delegates participating from 60 schools.

What a terrific opportunity for our teachers and international staff specialists to learn about the latest EQI policies and guidelines, and build their capability for the delivery of our international programs. It is important for all schools to remain engaged and up to date in readiness for the return of students.

Presentations will be varied and include:

• an EQ Global update
• the Homestay visit procedures
• accreditation hibernation
• returning students – under 18 years old
• a wellbeing workshop (holistic international welfare in a COVID world – online and offline)
• an overview of sports, leisure and recreation providers
• a refresher on VET guidelines
• the importance of a Blue Card
• the Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy
• EQI activity update from Study Tours and Professional Visits, Recruitment, Offshore Program and Marketing.

The roadshow itinerary includes the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Brisbane North, Townsville, Cairns and Sunshine Coast, and there is an online opportunity for those unable to travel.

To find out more about EQI schools, please contact your EQI Regional Manager by using the links ​below to either email or visit the ​EQI website.

Find a school

Contact the EQI recruitment team​

Education Queensland International

• Telephone: +61 7 3513 5714
• Email: EQIMarketing@qed.qld.gov.au
  
• Apply now​
  

This newsletter was sent by the Department of Education trading as Education Queensland International | CRICOS Provider Number 00608A​​





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