ACYA is successfully launched at UQ

12 March 2010 | Words: Jeffrey Sheehyn | Editing: Dimity Mannering

With over 60 attendees and coverage from Channel Seven, the combined ACYA launch by University of Queensland held on March 12 was an undeniable success.

Our guest speaker was the current Chairman of the Australia-China Business Forum and Australia's first parliamentarian with Chinese heritage, Mr. Michael Johnson MP. Mr. Johnson spoke on China’s impact on Australian and global affairs, his address asserting that China’s growth will affect every Australian either directly or indirectly in the coming century.

The MP, who has a passion for developing Australia’s economic and strategic ties with Asia, reminded attendees of the historical emergence of China, commenting “the whole world now knows about China. The re-emergence of China is having, and will continue to have, an enormous impact on nearly every country in the world. The consequences for Australia are even more significant.”

Before the address, I was able to outline some of the benefits I saw for both Chinese and Australian Students involved in ACYA’s UQ chapter. For Chinese students, I spoke of the role that ACYA can play in improving their language ability, in supporting their employment and off campus accommodation rights and also in developing friendships. For Australian students I emphasised language and employment benefits in an increasingly small world where Australia can no longer rely on a monolingual culture. These benefits of course operate around ACYA’s three pillars – education, careers and people-to-people exchange.

Overall, the day was truly a success and hopefully a sign that ACYA at UQ will have a very active year of the tiger!