Australia’s English language sector is built on collaboration — between schools, teachers, policymakers, and the organizations that help guide its direction. One of those organizations, English Australia, plays a central role in supporting quality, unity, and advocacy across the industry. 

Recently, ILSC’s Vice President for Australian Operations, Lucas Chiusoli, has taken on a second role as Chair of English Australia. It’s an exciting culmination of his experiences in the sector — from studying in Australia as an international student, to teaching, to leadership. 

In this new role, Lucas will be working alongside colleagues across the country to support the organizations, staff, and students who make up Australia’s English language education community. 

We sat down with him to chat about what the role involves, what English Australia is, how it supports schools like ILSC, and why collaboration across the sector matters now more than ever.

On his appointment

Congratulations on being appointed Chair of English Australia! Can you tell us what this role entails and what it means to you personally? 

Thank you! I feel extremely honored with this appointment — it’s a mixture of pride, excitement, and heavy responsibility. Having started my journey in Australia as an international student and later as an English teacher, certainly makes me appreciate this appointment even more.  

I have had the privilege of serving on the board since 2018, when I joined as the New South Wales State Delegate — a role I maintained for over 5 years before moving to Queensland and later taking the Deputy Chair role. Being able to continue to represent our members and support our sector really means a lot to me. 
  

What are your key goals or priorities as the Chair of English Australia for the coming year? 

The key priority as the Chair will be to work closely with all Board members to ensure we continue to support Ian Aird, our CEO, in achieving the organization’s goals.  

I feel really lucky because in my 8+ years of service on the Board, I have had the privilege of working with two fantastic Chairs, Cynthia Kralik and Kerry Sutcliffe. So, in a way, I think my main aim is to continue to build on their legacy in order to support our members and the ELICOS sector in Australia. 
 

About English Australia’s work

For those who may not be familiar, what is English Australia, and what role does it play in the country’s international education sector?  

English Australia plays a pivotal role in the international education sector. As the peak body for the English language sector, we uphold our mission of ‘empowering our members through advocacy and leadership while driving ever higher levels of professionalism’. 

This means working closely with local and national government bodies and departments to advocate on behalf of the sector and our members, supporting ministers and policy makers with information, data and insights. 

English Australia also plays a pivotal role in ensuring the collection, analysis and dissemination of sector-specific data, which supports not only the advocacy efforts but also helps our members make better informed decisions. 

Another key role of our organization is to elevate the sector through world-class, targeted professional development. This includes our annual Conference, PD Fest events, SIGs (Special Interest Groups), Best Practice Guides, English Australia’s CPD Framework, Online Courses, Action Research program, and much more. These initiatives, led by our General Manager Operations, Sophie O’Keefe, and our PD & Communications Coordinator, Rachel Winton, not only help enhance the quality of our sector, but also bring our members together, providing opportunities for meaningful and lasting connections.  
  

What are some of the current challenges or opportunities you see in Australia’s English language education landscape? 

The international education sector is experiencing a global shift, where more and more countries seek to attract international students. Coupled with recent changes in The Big 4’s approach to immigration, this creates a challenging environment for English Australia members as the competitive landscape continuously expands. 

Our role in this scenario has two key areas: inwards and outwards. The former is about using our advocacy powers to affect positive changes in the legislative and regulatory spaces while also helping build the social license and accurate understanding of the importance and relevance of international students to Australia. The latter is focused on promoting Australia as the preferred destination for international students and English Australia member colleges as the best options for English language acquisition experiences. 
  

How does English Australia’s advocacy work benefit institutions like ILSC Language Schools and, in turn, international students studying here? 

Our advocacy work is key to who we are and highly valued by our members, including ILSC. Our Board consists of members from all areas of Australia and from different types of institutions (e.g., standalone ELICOS, VET & ELICOS providers in Australia (private colleges), TAFEs, University-based centers, etc.). This gives us a very strong understanding of the sector and the potential impact of different government initiatives. This unified voice ensures policymakers understand the impact of their decisions on the ELICOS sector and enables English Australia’s CEO to focus his efforts on areas that truly matter to our members. 

ILSC has always been known for its strong industry involvement. How does your leadership role at English Australia reflect ILSC’s commitment to the English language education community? 

At ILSC Education Group, we believe in ‘global communities’, which go beyond our staff and students. Our mission statement drives us to strive for transformative experiences for all of our stakeholders, and as such, being part of an organization like English Australia is part of our DNA. 

Our team is heavily invested in several activities and areas of English Australia, such as the English Australia Journal, SIGs, PD Fests, Conference Committees, and many others. We believe in a two-way relationship and that it is important to give back to the sector by contributing and volunteering where we can. 

From your perspective, what does it mean for ILSC students to be part of a school that’s actively contributing to the broader direction of English education in Australia? 

It is important that agents and international students understand how they benefit from choosing an English Australia member college. Starting from the quality of delivery, pinned by the extensive work on the Professional Development front led by English Australia — this ensures teachers and support staff have access to the latest trends and developments. 

Being part of an English Australia member college also provides a sense of security. In case of an unlikely provider closure, English Australia members are committed to supporting students who might not be covered by the Tuition Protection Scheme, TPS (for example, those not on a student visa). 

English Australia also provides students with opportunities to engage with the sector and tell their stories through student panels at conferences and SIGs. I have had the pleasure of watching ILSC students share their experiences and shed light on important topics that needed the sector’s attention. 
 

Strengthening Quality & Trust in Education 

In your view, why is it important for ELICOS providers and other language schools to be active members of organizations like English Australia? 

I think it is crucial that institutions get as involved as they can — not only will they benefit from all the elements I mentioned before, but they will also be able to contribute to the strengthening and positioning of the sector. It’s the two-way relationship I was talking about. 

I also think it is important to highlight the power of individuals. As a member of the sector, you don’t need to wait for your college to engage more actively with English Australia to start making a difference. Teachers, Academic Managers, Student Services staff, Business Managers, and other professionals in the industry are all encouraged to engage and contribute. Individual initiative can have a ripple effect within the organization and lead to larger institutional engagement. 

Looking Ahead

What are your hopes for the future of English language education in Australia, and what role do you see ILSC playing in shaping that future? 

As a former (forever in my heart) English teacher, I believe that English language education will continue to be needed and sought after. Understandably, there will be changes to how we deliver that, especially with the advancements of technology and AI. However, I think organic communication and the ability to tell one’s story remain essential to our future — and language education enables that. 

Having said that, I think it is essential that organizations remain ready to adapt as needed, and understand the shifts in student needs. As an example, at ILSC, we launched the innovative English Through AI course, which has been extremely well received by the community and our students. This was a different approach for students wanting to use AI to improve their language development. Instead of banning such practices, we developed a course that will help students make the most of what is available without losing sight of their own language acquisition goals. 

Lastly, what would you say to international students or parents who are looking for a trusted school to study English in Australia? 

First of all, I would say ensure you are considering an English Australia college member. That’s the first step to ensure a good experience in Australia. 

Secondly, think about your goals and talk to an educational agent. They are best placed to assist you in selecting the right city, college program, etc. as well as making sure all logistics are taken care of. 

The last thing I would say is that you are all welcome. The Australian community is a wonderful place for international students to come, learn and thrive! I can personally attest to that.