The Federation of Indian Student Associations in Australia was incorporated in 2002 by Gautam Gupta after he was the victim of a drunken assault leading to depression and his decision to start the federation. Since the Violence against Indians in Australia controversy began, the FISA has had a high profile in many Australian, Indian, and other international sources.

FISA's stated purpose is;

• Integration: To unify Indian students in Australia and integrate them with the Australian community at large.
• Representation: To partner at all levels of the Australian political and social spectrum to represent views and opinions of Indian students.
• Empowerment: To increase the spiritual, political, social and economic strength of Indian students in Australia.

FISA's aims are;

• FISA to be recognised as a point of reference for Indian students nationally.
• To construct an effective and long lasting communication network amongst students who are Indian by pedigree.
• The network would consist of all University Unions/Organisations and other like-minded associations, representative bodies and interested individuals.
• Organise events to provide a social interaction point for students.
• Increase dialogue between other community representative bodies to provide students a perspective of multicultural Australia.
• FISA Executives consist of dynamic Indians and Australians from various cultures whose primary aim is to form a synthesis of multicultural society.