PA/67/10 29 October 2010
International Students Strategy for Australia released
The well-being of international students, the quality of their educational experience and the provision of up-to-date and accurate information are central to the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) International Students Strategy for Australia released today by Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans.
The Strategy outlines 12 initiatives to address four key areas of concern by improving student well-being, assuring the quality of education, strengthening consumer protection for international students, and providing better information to current and future students.
The Strategy builds on efforts over the last 18 months at all levels of government in Australia to improve the safety and well-being of international students. In April this year, COAG committed to a range of practical initiatives to better support international students, as part of the Strategy. These include:
· a national community engagement strategy that will facilitate connections between international students and the broader community, including increased understanding of rights and support services;
· the development of an International Student Consultative Committee in the first half of 2011;
· the Study in Australia information portal, which has been providing authoritative, comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date information for current and prospective students on studying and living in Australia - the portal has been active since 1 July 2010, with information in 12 languages; and
· Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which is now compulsory for international students for the proposed duration of their student visit, not just their first year.
Other measures outlined in the Strategy include international student surveys, the requirement for providers to develop student safety plans, the establishment of provider closure taskforces, and a strengthened Australian Quality Training Framework and Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act.
Senator Evans said the Strategy will help promote a broader understanding of the benefits brought by international education to Australia and the countries from which international students come. “It will also place Australia's international education on a more sustainable basis,” he said.
COAG brings together the Federal Government and the eight state and territory governments. The Strategy is available on the COAG website at www.coag.gov.au.
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