About

About UECA

University English Centres Australia (UECA) is a network of English language centres attached to Australian universities offering English Language Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS), TESOL teacher training and professional development programs.

Founded in 1998, UECA members continue to provide a wide range of university preparation programs that give students the academic and linguistic platform required to study at some of the top universities in Australia.

Our mission

  • Promote Australian University based English language centres to international and domestic students.
  • Enhance UECA members’ capacity to offer continued excellence in teaching.
  • Support our members to demonstrate their value to their parent universities and their capacity to recruit and prepare international students to study successfully at their universities.
  • Foster networking, sharing of best practice and evidence-based continuous improvement
  • Build partnerships with domestic and international universities to help build research capacity, teacher training and ongoing professional development to the global TESOL community.

UECA members offer direct entry  English language pathways that articulate international students directly to Foundation Studies (high school equivalent), Diploma programs (first year undergraduate programs), Bachelor programs and Post-graduate programs (Master and Doctorate level).

Many centres also offer programs in academic and general English including English for business and work, teacher training and test preparation (IELTS, CAE, FCE, TOEFL iBT, PTE, OET and BULATS). UECA colleges also tailor English language programs based on specific requests e.g. Study Tours and Study Abroad programs

Our role

  • Provide information and professional support to members.
  • Support research within the ELICOS and university communities.
  • Inform government positions and policy.
  • Promote studying with partner Australian universities at key domestic and international events.

Why join the UECA network?

UECA offers partner universities an opportunity to:

  • Participate in professional development workshops customised for teachers, directors and marketing officers to promote English language courses.
  • Share research and data from benchmarking activities.
  • Create platforms for information sharing and student recruitment.
  • Contribute and shape the policy development activities of UECA.

UECA’s key initiatives

PD Fest


The UECA PD Fests are a one day, professional development event for teachers by teachers. They provide an opportunity for teachers to share ideas and teaching techniques and strategies to build an engaging curriculum. They also explores issues facing the industry and discuss opportunities for career development.

Assessment Symposium


Building on the approach used in UECA PD Fests, an annual Assessment Symposium is held which provides workshops and seminar sessions building the knowledge and capacity of teachers in the crucial area of assessment.

Peer Exchange and Research


UECA provides a  forum for national peer exchange on aspects of the ELICOS National Standards as well as key issues in international education. This collaborative research contributes to a national understanding of issues of relevance to University based English language centres  as well as providing professional opportunities for centre staff.

Networking and Collaboration


UECA centres and staff are connected with opportunities for networking with other members. Strong collaboration with other relevant industry bodies including NEAS and English Australia are promoted.

How to join UECA

Please contact UECA in the first instance for information about eligibility and the application process.

All enquiries should be made to info@ueca.edu.au

Meet the Centre Directors

Donna Cook

Australian Catholic University

ACU English Language Centre

Leeza Boyce

Bond University

Bond University College

Sarah Wood

Central Queensland University

CQU English Language Centre

Simon Winetroube

Curtin University

Curtin English

Angela Moran

Deakin University

English Language Institute

Kerry Sutcliffe

Griffith University

English Language Institute

Petar Stojanovic

La Trobe University

La Trobe College Australia

Pamela Humphreys

Macquarie University

Macquarie University College

Jennifer Coster

Monash University

Monash College

Ken Beutel

Queensland University of Technology

International College

Maxine Sahhar

RMIT

English Worldwide

Ronnie Hill

RMIT Vietnam

School of English & University Pathways

Thomas Roche

Southern Cross University

SCU College

Anne Louise Butterfield

Swinburne University of Technology

English Language Centre

Margot Palmer

Torrens University Australia

Torrens University Language Centre

Simon Futo

University of Adelaide

English Language Centre

Nicholas Kirk

University of Melbourne

Hawthorn–Melbourne

Jason Seeto

University of New England

English Language Centre (ELC)

Aparna Jacob

University of New South Wales

UNSW College

Ben Doran

University of Newcastle

Language Centre

Helen Rogers

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame Study Centre

Julian Wilson

University of Queensland

UQ College

Kate Kuzma

University of Southern Queensland

Open Access College

Katherine Olston

University of Sydney

Centre for English Teaching

Josie Gawron

University of Tasmania

English Language Centre

Jason West

University of Technology Sydney

UTS College

Anne-Marie Wright

University of Western Australia

Centre for English Language Teaching

Heather Thomas

University of Wollongong

UOW College

Dianne McKeagney

Victoria University

English Language Institute

Joan Park

Western Sydney University

The College