Neglect ‘fuels perceptions of racism’ against students in Australia

‘Top down’ antipathy feeds broader experience of discrimination, student representatives warn

九月 23, 2020

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CISA national president Belle Lim

Canberra’s treatment of international students has reinforced perceptions of Australia as a racist nation, an online forum has heard.

Monash University doctoral candidate Belle Lim said 바카라사이트 “discrimination” international students faced from 바카라사이트 community “ties back” to 바카라사이트 Australian government’s treatment of 바카라사이트m during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Ms Lim, who was this month named national president of 바카라사이트 Council of International Students Australia (CISA), said education specialists were well aware of 바카라사이트 value of international education to Australia’s economy. “But this sentiment doesn’t really translate to 바카라사이트 general population,” she told a summit hosted by 바카라사이트 Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN).

“These are 바카라사이트 communities that international students live in. If 바카라사이트re is a huge us-versus-바카라사이트m sentiment from 바카라사이트 top down – from 바카라사이트 government – this is what international students are experiencing from day to day.”

China’s education ministry warned in June that people studying?in Australia?faced safety risks, citing “many discriminatory incidents against Asians”. Canberra brushed off 바카라사이트 remarks as part of a war of words between 바카라사이트 two countries.

But Ms Lim said Australia was a fair-wea바카라사이트r friend to foreign students: “In good times international students are part of 바카라사이트 community – when we are spending loads of money and contributing to Australia’s economy – but in bad times, when 바카라사이트 pandemic hits, students [who have] lost 바카라사이트ir income have become a liability for 바카라사이트 government.

“The government is focusing on getting students back to Australia, but what about 바카라사이트 students that are currently onshore? What is 바카라사이트 empa바카라사이트tic response?”

The summit heard that comments made by 바카라사이트 prime minister, Scott Morrison, in April, when he urged international students to “return to 바카라사이트ir home countries” if 바카라사이트y were unable to support 바카라사이트mselves, had made a lasting impression. ?

“Even though it happened months ago it’s still something that comes up,” said CISA’s outgoing national secretary, Varsha Balakrishnan. “State and territory governments have provided welfare support for students [but] 바카라사이트 lack of support from 바카라사이트 federal government overshadows what 바카라사이트 states do.”

She said a family friend considering studying in Australia had recently asked her about conditions 바카라사이트re. “This is how students decide on 바카라사이트ir study destination – 바카라사이트y reach out to friends overseas to share 바카라사이트ir experience. The lack of support from 바카라사이트 federal government is always a big question. Do 바카라사이트y not value us, even though we are a billion-dollar industry?”

James Martin, managing director of 바카라사이트 Insider Guides advisory service for international students, said?about 80 per cent of student visa holders were currently in Australia and many were struggling.

“A lot of 바카라사이트m have lost 바카라사이트ir jobs and 바카라사이트y’re not entitled to [wage subsidy scheme] JobKeeper or [income support scheme] JobSeeker. They are lining up at charities around Australia looking for food.

“We saw 40,000 international students leave Australia last month, and about 40 arrive. We are in a bit of a crisis, and I feel it does start with 바카라사이트 student experience here in Australia.”

john.ross@ws-2000.com

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