The PIE News’ reporter Anton Crace has received the IEAA Excellence in Professional Commentary award, announced at the Australian International Education Conference.
The IEAA Awards recognise outstanding contributions to Australia’s international education sector.
“I long to see international journalism grads working in this sector, to bring their perspective on the industry”
“A common thread among this year’s awardees is their passion and dedication to enhancing the international student experience and forging links between students and the broader Australian community,” said IEAA CEO Phil Honeywood.
Crace’s work has been praised as a “galvanising voice, one that mediates the rhetoric between government, industry and learners.”
His reporting of the announcements of the new ELICOS standards at AIEC last year was particularly highlighted, explaining that it contributed to limit the negative impact on the industry after other media outlets misreported the changes.
“I am really thankful to the people that nominated me for the award,” said Crace, the sixth to receive it over the years.
“If you look at the other people who won this award, it’s really humbling to be seen in the same category as people like Amy Baker, who has worked really hard to build a publication like The PIE.”
Crace said he hopes more journalists will cover the international education in the region, in order to foster a diversity of voices and perspectives in the sector.
“I also long to see international journalism graduates become journalists in this sector, so that they can bring their perspective on the industry,” he added.
Other winners included international education project coordinator at City of Melbourne Gary Lee and director of Sydney TAFE David Riordan in the Distinguished contribution category.
Anna Ciccarelli, with a 28-year career in the industry, including three years as a ministerial expert on international education, was awarded with IEAA Life Membership Award, while Danny Toohey received the Outstanding Postgraduate thesis award for its work on TNE and academic job satisfaction.
The Innovation Award went to Victoria University’s Ian Solomonides, Trish McCluskey, Andrew Smallridge and David Day for the First Year Model program and Amanda Füller of Flinders University received the Best Practice Award for the Professional Language Development Program in Nursing.
