About us
As the only organisation of our kind in Australia, we aim to represent tutoring organisations and educational tutors all across the country.
Officially launched on 7th March 2005, the ATA has been formed in recognition of the need to unify the tutoring industry nationally.
The ATA has members from around Australia. It aims to represent tutors and tutoring organisations, act as a lobby group and raise the standard of tutoring in Australia. We want to ensure clients are provided with the best possible service by ethical tutoring organisations and practitioners.
We are here to serve the tutoring community. We support tutors and tutoring businesses through each of the following:
- Free training through ATA College worth $300 with every membership subscription
- Listing on the ATA website – associating your business with the peak body as a member. Listing is helpful for credibility and searchability
- Discounted access to our Annual Conference
- Free webinars through the year
- Discounts through the ATA Affiliate Partners
- Free access to the ATA Newsletters
- The benefit of any lobbying we do on behalf of ATA members
- A framework for the resolution of disputes
- Use of the ATA logo to promote your business as ethical
- The protection of the ATA Code of Conduct
- Training on ATA College including on pricing models, managing risk, handing disputes and more
Our mission
All of our members share this vision. They are all committed to helping students. As ethical practitioners they agree to abide by the Code of Conduct. You are invited to read this Code.
Widespread application of this Code will help protect clients and ensure that they are receiving a high standard of service and accountability. The ATA had a very successful first year of operating and has grown rapidly. It has over 430 member businesses in September 2025.
We celebrated the end of the first year of bringing together, lobbying for and setting ethical standards in the tutoring sector by launching our first newsletter Within Tuition.
On the 5th December, 2006, the Australian Tutoring Association held its second Annual General Meeting in Croydon, NSW. At this meeting the first Committee of the ATA was elected. In 2008 the Association became Company Limited by Guarantee following a vote by members.
Mohan Dhall
CEO & Public Officer Parramatta, NSW Academic Leader, M2K Education and Advisory
Mohan Dhall co-founded both the Australian Tutoring Association (ATA) and also the Global Tutoring Association (GTA). Mohan has taught in high schools, trains undergraduate and postgraduate teachers at university, ran an educational publishing company and is CEO of the ATA. He also writes books on Education and Teaching, Management and Leadership and school texts on Legal Studies, Business Studies, Economics and Commerce.
Storm McGrath
Chairman and Board Member
Storm McGrath was the CEO of Kip McGrath Education Centres Limited. He oversaw the operations of Kip McGrath and its subsidiaries both nationally and internationally with growth to over 550 franchisees globally and 50,000 students being taught weekly.
Colin Turner
Board Member
Colin brings to the ATA experience in schools in Australia and overseas as a qualified teacher and experienced Principal as well as a successful tutor. He is now the Director of ‘Topscore Education’ based in Melbourne and is also a senior consultant to ‘Ai English’ which currently delivers well over 1200 English lessons per week to school and tutoring centre students in China and Japan. Colin teaches English and Literature and has been awarded a life-time achievement award for Music Education in Victoria. In 2019, he was the first Australian to present to the annual Asian Edutech Summit in Tokyo, Japan. Colin still teaches groups of senior secondary students at ‘Topscore Education’ in Melbourne and online. Colin is particularly interested in the relationship between students’ learning at school and enrichment with professional tutors.
Lasni Motswagae
Board Member – Interim
Lasni Motswagae is the founder and director of Seeds of Knowledge, an award-winning group tutoring company based in Brisbane, Queensland. She has twenty years of experience in primary education, with a specific focus on junior primary, prep and kindergarten. Her goal within the ATA is to develop the strength and integrity of the industry, and promote reliable frameworks for stakeholder engagement at all levels.
Varun Sharma
Board Member
Founder & Director, Uplift Education Australia Varun Sharma is the Founder and Director of Uplift Education Australia, one of Western Sydney’s leading tutoring organisations, serving a large cohort of students across English, Mathematics and Economics. With fifteen years of teaching experience, Varun has supported students in achieving outstanding academic outcomes, including NSW State ranks in English Advanced, English Standard, English Extension 1 and Economics. In his work with the Australian Tutoring Association, Varun is committed to cultivating cross-sectoral relationships between educational service providers and advancing evidence-based teaching practices. He aims to increase national awareness of the ATA’s role and contribute to the development of best-practice policies that support tutoring businesses to operate transparently and in alignment with high-quality educational outcomes.
Patricia Baran
Board Member – Interim
With nearly thirty years of experience in education and several years working as a tutor across Sydney and Perth, Trish— Principal Educator, Founder, and Tutor at Intuition Educational Support — brings a wealth of expertise to the field. Her academic background includes studies in Medical Science, a Bachelor of Social Science from the University of Newcastle, and a Master of Teaching from the University of Sydney. She also holds postgraduate qualifications in Adult Education, Literacy, Inclusive Education, and Business Administration. A fully certified teacher, Trish has taught in a wide range of school environments, supporting diverse curriculums and student needs. She has excelled in leadership roles, including Literacy Coordinator and Special Needs Coordinator. In addition to her classroom experience, Trish has served as a NAPLAN marker and a selective schools writing marker for the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), further strengthening her expertise in assessing student learning and writing development.
Sam Asgari
Board Member – Interim
Sam Asgari is an experienced educator and academic with a strong background in mathematics education and decision sciences. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Science (Honours), a Master of Teaching (Secondary), and a PhD in Mathematical Decision Processes and Modelling in Schools. Sam specialises in teaching Mathematics and is passionate about developing students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills through engaging, interactive, and real-world learning experiences. His teaching philosophy centres on creating a supportive environment where students feel confident exploring complex mathematical concepts and applying them meaningfully. Beyond education, Sam is driven by continual personal and professional growth. He has a deep appreciation for music across a wide range of styles and enjoys spending time outdoors, particularly connecting with nature and sharing a BBQ with family and friends.
Shoharath Shaik
Board Member – Interim
I am Shoharath Begum Shaik, the Founding Director of Target Tuition Centre, a respected tutoring company dedicated to fostering academic growth in Melbourne’s western suburbs for over 10 years. With my extensive experience in both primary and secondary education in Maths and English, I focus on enhancing operational excellence and improving student outcomes. In addition, I prepare students for a variety of competitive exams, equipping them with the skills and confidence they need to excel. At ATA, my goal is to expand industry membership by promoting our valuable tutoring resources and maintaining high professional standards. I am passionate about helping each student reach their full potential and succeed in their academic journey.