Syed Atik: Bangladesh-born senior journalist, educator and community organiser Mohammad Abdul Matin has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the prestigious Reliable College of Nursing (RCN College) in Australia.

College authorities said Matin secured the key position after successfully completing the mandatory Fit and Proper Person Assessment conducted by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), the regulatory body overseeing Australia’s education and training sector.

The assessment is mandatory for chief executives and senior officials involved in the management of registered training organisations. It is designed to ensure their integrity, professional competence, administrative capability and financial transparency.

Speaking about his appointment, Mohammad Abdul Matin said the college authorities initially approached him with the proposal to take up the responsibility. His curriculum vitae and required documents were subsequently submitted to ASQA for assessment.

“After various aspects of my background and documents were thoroughly examined and approval was granted, I was appointed Chief Executive Officer,” he said.

RCN College is registered with Australia’s Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) and provides education and practical training to both domestic and international students.

The institution is particularly focused on creating a modern, safe and supportive learning environment for students from different countries, including Bangladesh, while maintaining quality education and practical training standards.

Matin has more than three decades of experience in journalism, education and community service. He began his journalism career in 1989 with the daily Azad. He later held important positions at several national media outlets, including The Daily Star, Dainik Abirbhav and The Daily Disclosure.

Over the years, he has covered major national institutions and political affairs, including the Bangladesh Secretariat, Jatiya Sangsad, Prime Minister’s Office and Bangabhaban.

He currently serves as editor of Bidesh Bangla and president of the Australia-Bangladesh Journalists Association. He is also a member of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Local and Independent News Association (LINA), two professional organisations in Australia.

In addition, Matin serves as a Justice of the Peace (JP), New South Wales, and as a Qualified Education Agent Counsellor (QEAC).

His contributions to journalism, education and community service have earned him several honours in Australia.

Among the notable recognitions are the COVID Hero Award presented by Federal Minister Tony Burke and the Pandemic Hero Award from Canterbury-Bankstown City Council.

His appointment as CEO of Reliable College of Nursing is being viewed as a significant achievement for the Bangladeshi community in Australia.

Leaders of various organisations and institutions in Bangladesh and abroad have congratulated Mohammad Abdul Matin on his new responsibility and expressed hope that his experience in journalism, education and community service will contribute to the further development of the institution and strengthen educational opportunities for students, particularly those from Bangladesh.