Pro-student Australian effort

Updated on: Monday, November 08, 2010

On October 29, the International Students Strategy for Australia was released by the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG). Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans, released the strategy, which concentrates on the well being of international students and the quality of their educational experience.

The strategy aims at providing up-to-date and accurate information about Australian education and universities to international students. It 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.

This strategy has been the outcome of 18 months’ efforts at all levels of government in Australia to improve the safety and well being of international students. A range of practical initiatives was raised by the COAG to better support international students, as part of this strategy. The idea was to form a national community engagement strategy that facilitates connections between international students and the broader community, including increased understanding of rights and support services.

The COAG focuses on the development of an International Student Consultative Committee in the first half of 2011 and a Study in Australia information portal, which has been providing authoritative and comprehensive information for current and prospective students on studying and living in Australia. This portal has been active since July 1with information in 12 languages.

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 is an effort to bring together the Federal Government and the eight state and territory governments. The strategy is available on the COAG website at www.coag.gov.au.

Pro-student Australian effort

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