CISaustralia

My island home: how a Fiji experience changed CISaustralia CEO Brad Dorahy's perspective

Every now and then you have an experience that quietly changes the way you see the world.

Our CEO, Brad Dorahy, spent three days last week in Sote Village, Fiji, attending the village's annual Donation Day, where the community raised funds for a new kindergarten building, a bridge destroyed in floods, a school printer and other projects to improve everyday life.

What humbled him wasn't the fundraising. It was the people.

Many families live without hot water, modern appliances, or the conveniences most Australians take for granted. Yet they were among the happiest, most generous and most grateful people he has ever met.

Brad attended as a guest of honour after CEA-CAPA donated surplus laptops from CISaustralia's technology upgrade to the village school. A reminder that opportunity often begins with something very simple.

For nearly 15 years, CISaustralia students have worked alongside teachers in Sote Village, supporting English language development and education outcomes. Last year, the village celebrated a record number of students gaining entry into high school in Suva.

"This experience reminded me that international education is not just about travel. It is about relationships, community and the extraordinary impact that people can have on one another." - Brad Dorahy, CEO

A sincere thank you to Marian F., Shelia Houston, Lavenia Warman (Aunty La), Heather Sharp and the University of Newcastle for their long-standing support of Sote Village.

Brad arrived in Fiji thinking about what we could give. He left thinking about how much he received.

Are you passionate about travel, international education and making a genuine impact on students' lives?

We have two exciting opportunities at our Gold Coast office - Global Study & Volunteer Coordinator and Global Study Tour Coordinator. Help Australian university students access life-changing international study, volunteer and intern experiences.

Apply now 👉 https://www.cisaustralia.com.au/why-cisaustralia/careers-at-cisaustralia/

Know someone perfect for either opportunity? Share this post with them or tag them below.

And that's a wrap on July 2026!

Last month, hundreds of Australian University students embarked on our short-term study and volunteer (WIL) programs across the globe:

🌍 17 Countries
📚 8 Study Abroad Programs
🤝 12 Volunteer Programs

Watching these students step outside their comfort zones and build real world skills, cultural awareness and global perspectives is exactly why we do what we do.

We can't wait to welcome the next intake of students. Summer 2026/27 programs are now open! Explore all programs: https://www.cisaustralia.com.au/

From Bundaberg to Tokyo: two CQUniversity Australia Digital Media students just proved regional students can go anywhere.

Christina and Amelia took part in our July in Tokyo program and the skills and stories they brought home are worth a read.

Amelia got hands-on with techniques she couldn't access at home: "Getting to use a lightbox to hand animate a short on paper was amazing and the skills I built while doing the assignments was also second to none."

Christina's advice to anyone on the fence? "So I say, just go for it - the whole experience was one to remember and I'm really grateful to the CQUGlobal team and the CIS Australia team for helping me, and making it happen."

Read the full article to see how this experience shaped their creative practice and career direction. https://www.cqu.edu.au/news/1295081/bundaberg-digital-media-students-take-their-studies-global

Bundaberg Digital Media students take their studies global Three CQUniversity Bundaberg students have expanded their learning beyond the classroom by completing international Learning Abroad programs through CQUGlobal.

Six programs. One incredible partnership.

Since 2017, we've partnered with Flinders University to deliver bespoke international study experiences for Fashion and Costume Design students. Our latest collaboration, the China Sourcing and Factory Tour, marks our sixth program together.

From hands-on workshops in the Miao villages to fabric sourcing in Guangzhou, students got a front-row seat to the industry most classrooms can't offer.

One student put it best:
"The workshops in the Miao villages were the most educational, and the fabric shopping in Guangzhou were the most informative for business related things."

🎥 Watch the program highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcsRNSt5vVI

Customised Program Highlights - China Fashion Sourcing and Factory Tour To learn more about Customised Group Programs, visit https://www.ci...

World Nature Conservation Day is a reminder that protecting Earth’s natural resources and biodiversity takes active dedication and commitment. 🌍🦏

Our Big Five Wildlife Management & Conservation program in South Africa's Greater Kruger region focuses on applied field research and active conservation.

To support ecosystem health and wildlife protection in this region, students participate in:
🌿 Wildlife Monitoring & Research: Camera trap servicing, image tagging, species identification and data collection
🌾 Hands-On Habitat Restoration: Invasive species removal, tree wrapping and erosion control
📊 Conservation Education: Learning how evidence-based data directly informs reserve management

Because without understanding the natural environment, these animals wouldn't have the protected habitats they need to thrive.

This program is a great opportunity for environmental science and wildlife management students, or any student interested in gaining real-world conservation experience to make a difference.

Find out more about our conservation program here: https://www.cisaustralia.com.au/program/big-five-wildlife-management-and-conservation-in-south-africa/

Clinical experience in what destination makes Australian medical and healthcare students stand out from the crowd? 🗺️🩺

The answer: Athens, Greece.

International clinical experience is often the missing puzzle piece that elevates a graduate's resume. Stepping out of the familiar Australian healthcare system and into a hospital placement in Athens gives students experience with diverse cultures and healthcare in the birthplace of modern medicine.

What's involved in a CISaustralia Athens Hospital Placement:
✔️Experience shadowing doctors in Athens leading hospitals (1:1 or 2:1 student-to-doctor environment)
✔️4 weeks during summer and winter university breaks to avoid semester disruption
✔️A new specialised medical department every week (Totalling 80 hours of clinical experience overall)
✔️One weekly excursion and weekends to explore Athens and surrounding areas

Want to learn more about the hospital settings and daily life in Athens? Visit our webpage: https://www.cisaustralia.com.au/program/hospital-placement-in-athens-greece/

A big thanks to The Koala News for featuring our new suite of European Hospital Placements.

This key insight from the article captures the purpose of these short-term programs so well:
"Graduates who have observed different models of care, healthcare delivery and clinical practice are often viewed as bringing a broader perspective into Australia’s own health system."

Worth a read for Australian health and medical students, as well as university staff and anyone in international education!

CISaustralia Expands into Clinical Mobility with European Hospital Placements Australian students aspiring to careers in medicine and health now have a new pathway to gain international clinical exposure, with CISaustralia launching

Meet the real storytellers of the student mobility experience. 🌍

We are proud to introduce the new faces of our Social Media Ambassador Program. Currently scattered across the Northern Hemisphere from Tokyo and LA to London, Florence, Barcelona, Stirling and Maastricht, these students are capturing the true essence of studying abroad.

They are documenting the personal, professional and academic impact of international education and what short-term living abroad is actually like.

Follow along on our Instagram account to see their journeys firsthand as we bring you along on these transformative experiences 👉 https://www.instagram.com/cis_australia/