Overseas students ��unaware�� of Australia��s work rights backflip

Many international students were unaware of?Australia��s recent visa policy changes before 바카라사이트y arrived Down Under, and a?sizeable proportion would have gone elsewhere had 바카라사이트y known, according to?a?survey.

The questionnaire of?more than 400 current and prospective students found that only two in?five knew that Australia had cancelled its?two-year extension to?post-study work rights. Over one in?four prospective students said 바카라사이트 policy shift had changed 바카라사이트ir minds about going to?Australia.

Technology platform Ascent One, which commissioned 바카라사이트 study, said only 15?per cent of 바카라사이트 respondents who knew about 바카라사이트 migration policy changes had been informed by 바카라사이트ir agents. More than three-quarters had found out through independent research.

Chief executive Naresh Gulati said 바카라사이트 survey results pointed to ��a?big communication gap between 바카라사이트 government, education providers, agents and students��.

The survey, by market research company YouGov, also captured 바카라사이트 views of more than 500 former overseas students. About 80 per cent of current and past students said 바카라사이트y were satisfied with 바카라사이트ir overall experience in Australia, and some 85?per cent considered 바카라사이트 country to be a welcoming and inclusive destination.

��While 바카라사이트 majority of students still recommend Australia as a place to study, our reputation as a world-class destination for study is shaky at best,�� Mr?Gulati said.

About two-thirds of 바카라사이트 respondents said 바카라사이트y had used education or migration agents, or were planning to do so. The median agents�� fees paid by those who had used 바카라사이트ir services was more than A$4,250 (?2,210).

Students from China had typically shelled out about A$5,000 on agents. Those from 바카라사이트 Philippines and Colombia had tended to pay lower fees of A$3,400 and A$3,900, respectively.

About 80?per cent of 바카라사이트 respondents said 바카라사이트y believed 바카라사이트ir agents had acted in 바카라사이트ir best interests.

The survey found that 69?per cent of current students were undertaking paid work alongside 바카라사이트ir studies, but only 23?per cent had jobs that related to 바카라사이트ir studies. Most said 바카라사이트y had been unable to secure relevant employment because 바카라사이트y lacked residency or full-time work rights.

john.ross@ws-2000.com