The merger of the International Student Education Agent Association (ISEAA) and the Education Counsellors Association of Australia (ECAA) was marked at a formal launch event in Melbourne attended by government representatives, university leaders, and sector stakeholders, signalling a unified direction for Australia’s education agent profession at a time of heightened policy and regulatory scrutiny.
Speaking at the launch, AIECA chair Gary Qiang Li described the formation of the organisation as both structural reform and cultural alignment.
“Some people have asked me whether this is a merger or a marriage,” Li said. “I think it’s probably a bit of both. And like any successful marriage, it takes trust, compromise and a shared belief that we are stronger together.”
He said the sector could not respond to rising pressures – ranging from increased visa costs and policy changes to intensifying public debate around migration and international students – through fragmentation.
“When our sector faces challenges, the answer cannot be division. It has to be working together,” he said.
A key theme of the launch speech was the evolving role of education agents and counsellors, who Li said should not be viewed simply as recruiters.
“They are not simply recruiters. They are educators, advisers and trusted partners,” he said. “And they are bridges – connecting students with institutions, families with opportunities, and Australia with the world.”
Li emphasised that international students are too often reduced to statistics in policy discussions, arguing instead for a more human-centred approach.
“International students are not statistics. They are not visa numbers. They are young people with dreams. And our job is to help them realise those dreams.”
International students are not statistics. They are not visa numbers. They are young people with dreams. And our job is to help them realise those dreams.
Gary Qiang Li, AIECA
The formation of AIECA brings together two long-standing organisations into a single national peak body designed to represent education agents, migration agents, and education consultants across Australia.
According to its founding framework, AIECA will focus on strengthening professional standards, promoting ethical recruitment practices, and improving student outcomes, while also engaging more directly with government, education providers, and international partners.
Key priorities include the development of a self-funded registration and accreditation model, compliance with the ESOS act and national code, and broader sector reform aimed at improving transparency and accountability.
The Melbourne launch event was attended by senior representatives from government and higher education, including Victorian minister for economic growth and jobs Steve Dimopoulos MP.
The launch of AIECA comes amid ongoing debate over Australia’s international education strategy, including concerns about visa integrity, student intake levels, and regulatory oversight of education agents.
By consolidating representation into a national body, AIECA seeks to position itself as a unified voice for a profession that has increasingly come under scrutiny, while also seeking to elevate its role in shaping policy and practice.
Li said that the organisation’s purpose is grounded in professionalism and student welfare.
“Our goal is simple: to raise standards, promote ethical practice and build confidence in our profession,” he said.
