
2016
VicWISE was founded
VicWISE was founded in 2016 as a working group with 12 members, with a mission to empower international students to achieve their career goals through advocacy, collaboration, support, and promotion. We believe that every student, regardless of their cultural background, should have equal opportunities to succeed in the workforce.
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2018
Steady growth
VicWISE has steadily grown since its inception, with increasing professional membership and international student interns supporting our NGO.
In 2018, we received a grant from Study Melbourne's International Student Welfare Program, enabling us to host four networking events attended by over 400 professionals, employers, and student graduates. This culminated in a meeting with Drake International's Founder & CEO, Bill Pollock, as the chief guest.
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2019
Became an NGO
In May 2019, we registered as a non-government organization (NGO), VicWISE Inc, and received an ABN 57 910 163 077. We elected an executive board every two years under the new NGO structure and approved a new logo and introduction of membership fees. Our professional membership grew from 54 to 96 members, and we established a volunteer team of 85 international students to support our NGO.
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2020-2022
Support students throughout COVID
We responded to the immediate needs of international students who were facing traumatic circumstances in their lives, such as job losses, financial and food hardships, homelessness, domestic violence and emotional well-being issues.
We had to find new ways to connect and support students and professionals, and despite losing many professional members due to job losses, we rebuilt our membership base and expanded our services in 2022.


2023
Continue supporting students
In 2020, when the pandemic hit and borders closed, we had to move into the digital world to stay connected. We responded to the immediate needs of international students who were facing traumatic circumstances in their lives, such as job losses, financial and food hardships, homelessness, domestic violence and emotional well-being issues.
We had to find new ways to connect and support students and professionals, and despite losing many professional members due to job losses, we rebuilt our membership base and expanded our services in 2022.

2024
A Milestone Year for VicWISE
The year 2024 marked a significant milestone for VicWISE as we expanded our influence and presence within the international student sector. In a groundbreaking partnership with Crown Resorts, we successfully delivered a series of nine interactive workshops across three major Australian cities: Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth.
These workshops attracted a diverse cohort of international students, offering hands-on sessions on "Life Skills" facilitated by industry experts. The program was carefully curated to address the unique challenges faced by international students as they navigate the complexities of adapting to life in a new country.
Our partnership with Crown Resorts not only enabled us to extend our reach to a broader audience of international students and graduates but also facilitated meaningful engagement with leading educational institutions and industry stakeholders. This collaboration has established a robust foundation for fostering deeper, long-term relationships and cultivating future partnerships.
This milestone underscores VicWISE's unwavering commitment to supporting the development of international students. It also reinforces our position as a key advocate, connector, and ally in their journey toward achieving emotional well-being, career success, and creating new pathways in Australia. Through this initiative, VicWISE has solidified its role as a leading force in shaping the future of the international student and migrant communities by providing unwavering support and advocacy.
Our journey to become a
one-stop-shop ecosystem

Our focus now is on upskilling our volunteers and student members, ensuring they are relevant and future-ready for the hybrid world enabling them to engage with industry partners and communities. However, our mission remains the same, to empower international students to achieve their career goals and pathways through advocacy, collaboration, support, and promotion.
We are proud of what we have achieved over the past nine years, and we are committed to continuing to help thousands of students in pastoral care to navigate the complex job market to achieve their career pathways. Our successes have been made possible through compassion, collaboration, and strong working relationships with our 45 partners.
“To create a one-stop-shop ecosystem that has the ability to adapt to changing needs, circumstances that provides comprehensive support to the international student sector.”

In 2024, we reached a major milestone by broadening our reach within the international student sector. A key highlight was our groundbreaking partnership with Crown Resorts, through which we delivered nine interactive workshops across three major Australian cities: Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth.
As we continue to grow our networks nationwide, the transition to AusWISE reflects our broader scope and commitment to supporting international students and migrants across Australia. We remain dedicated to upskilling our volunteers and members, ensuring continued advocacy and comprehensive support for these communities.
Our Story
From January 2025, we will be officially rebranded as AusWISE.
Originally founded as VicWISE in 2016, we began as a Melbourne-based NGO focused on empowering international students to achieve their career aspirations through advocacy,
collaboration, and support. Over the years,we’ve expanded our networks, and enhanced our services, particularly during the pandemic.