New book highlights vulnerabilities of foreign students in Australia
Updated
Australia's international student industry is worth billions of dollars and provides crucial revenue for the country's universities and colleges. The international student population is also seen as a major contributor to the local economy in keeping the rental market bouyant and consuming local products. But foreign students also among the most vulnerable. Some have become victims of robberies and assaults because they're seen as easy targets. Others are exploited for cheap labour because laws only permit them to work twenty hours a week, forcing many to earn under-the-table wages. Now their issues are being brought to light in a newly published book called International Student Security.
Presenter: Girish Sawlani
Speakers: Professor Simon Marginson, co-author, International Student Security; Professor Chris Nyland, co-author, International Student Security; Graeme Innes, Race Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission
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SAWLANI: When 21 year Indian national Nitin Garg was stabbed to death in Melbourne's western suburbs in January, it generated outrage in his home country.
The incident forced Australia's state and federal government into damage control, and sent several ministers to India in a bid to allay fears and protect the multi-billion dollar industry.
While the incident brought the safety of international students to the forefront, it also shed light on the wider problems they face during their stay in Australia.
Those concerns were brought to light in a landmark study that was published in the book, International Student Security. Professor Simon Marginson from Melbourne University is one of the book's co-authors.
MARGINSON: We set out to investigate the gaps and problems in the security that international student experience broadly defined. I mean, I not only include things like personal safety, but also adequate housing, availability of finance, experiences of work on whether they're exploitative or not, issues related to dealing with immigration and universities authorities, issues related to loneliness and personal networks and whether these are adequate and also inter-cultural experiences.
SAWLANI: International Student Security was the culmination of 5 years of research, involving detailed interviews with around 240 students from 9 major universities.
While the study was only made possible by funding from the Australian Research Council, the book's co-author Professor Chris Nyland from Monash University says it was shunned by other authorities, concerned over the impact it would have on the 14 billion US dollar sector.
NYLAND: Officials at national, state and institutional level, have been averse to research on international security. We did not, we have not received enthusiastic support at any level. We found that unfortunately, there is a feeling that studying the student's wellbeing, studying the students' security risks the industry. There's a feeling that this is a dangerous thing to do. I was told personally by a senior regulator who shall remain nameless, some three years ago, and I quote "we will never fund the type of research you do. Our job is to build the industry, studying the wellbeing of international students is likely to undermine the industry".
SAWLANI: Despite the criticisms, professor Simon Marginson says there has, at least, been some progress.
MARGINSON: The most promising signs we got at the moment is the federal government, alongside the state governments is now talking about the international student industry as a kind of national issue, it involves all these governments. And this has the potential to extend federal regulation to include the states as active partners in providing better accommodation and providing transport concessions in New South Wales and Victoria for international students, which currently they don't do and encouraging intercultural accommodation with shared accommodation with local and international students and of course, more sensitive policing. If the states come in, I think a lot of issues can be addressed effectively.
SAWLANI: But he argues, at this stage, it's all talk and not much action.
For now, Professor Chris Nyland insists there needs to be sustained pressure on governments and authorities as demonstrated last June, when thousands of Indian students protested in Melbourne following a series of alleged racial attacks.
NYLAND: The people who really made the difference, who brought this home, really brought it to public attention, were was when the students took to the streets. That just transformed everything. And I know the Indian press inflated and blew things out of proportion perhaps, but it had a galvanising effect that is not to be forgotten. The exposure can induce reform but needs to be vigorous and sustained if regulators are not to retreat in denial.
SAWLANI: The author's agree that their book just scratches the surface on the vulnerabilities of international students in Australia. Their efforts however, have been boosted by increased funding from the Australian Research Council.
But Australia's so-called outsiders continue to face hardships in various forms.
And Graeme Innes, the Race Discrimination Commissioner from the Australian Human Rights Commission says 600,000 international students in Australia deserve a fair-go.
INNES: There have been a number of very strenuous outcries from the community, when Australian young people have been killed or injured in countries overseas. With that expectation comes responsibility, and that is that we treat young people who are visiting our country in the same way as we would expect our young people to be treated when they go overseas. I think that this book will provide a great deal of assistance to leading Australia back to that place where we should be, where we meet our responsibilities.
