International Student Information Day – Semester One 

AFIS, in partnership with the Victorian Government, hosted the International Student Information Day 2011 Semester 1 in April. The Event was held at the Victoria University Convention Centre in the Melbourne CBD. The Semester 1 Event attracted approximately 400 international students.

On the day a series of free sessions and workshops were run to deliver accurate and timely information on key issues faced by international students in Victoria. Information stalls hosted by relevant government agencies (such as the Victoria Police and Metropolitan Fire Brigade) and non-profit student service providers (such as the International Student Care Service) enabled students to engaged with professionals to receive further information on a range of issues. New participants were also incorporated into the 2011 Programs including Surf Lifesaving Victoria.

Highly engaging and interactive multicultural entertainment was also organised. These included Bollywood dancing, indigenous Australian performance, hip hop dancing and a live DJ. 

The Executive Director for International Education Experience, George Lekakis, from the Victorian Government presented in the Event.

AFIS received very positive feedback from both the students and organisations who participated on the day and believe that the objective of informing students was successfully achieved.

The Semester Two International Student Information Day took place in September and attracted over 300 international student attendees. The Acting Manager for International Education Strategy, Taliessin Reaburn, presented at the Semester Two Event. 

At the time of writing, we are delighted to announce that the Victorian Government has pledged their continued support for this Project into 2012 with secured funding for the Event to be run in Semester 1. 

Volunteering for International Students Pilot Project

The Volunteering for International Students Pilot Project, run by AFIS in collaboration with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, seeks to engage international students with the volunteering sector and develop the skills of international students to build personal strengths and leadership potential.

The Project will engage some 55 international students from Indian, Chinese, Pakistani, Malaysian, Sri Lankan and other backgrounds in short and long-term volunteering placements. The students will be drawn from universities, TAFEs and private colleges across Melbourne.

This year, as Stage One of the Project, AFIS surveyed over 200 international students to identify volunteering motivations and attitudes and developed a comprehensive Research Report discussing our findings. The Report identified and evaluated current volunteer programs and their effectiveness in engaging international students as volunteers.

At the time of writing, a model has been developed for volunteering agencies to engage with international students in community volunteering. Additionally, a toolkit will be developed to inform coordinators in the volunteer sector on strategies and types of volunteering that are more likely to attract international students.

My Melbourne Project – a Photo-Story Competition

AFIS undertook a project called My Melbourne where students participated in a photography competition with the aim of capturing scenes around Melbourne of relevance to given themes. The objectives of this project were to encourage international students to explore Melbourne and engage with the local community. 

The winners of the competition were announced in May 2011 and their artworks are exhibited at the Multicultural Hub. 

At the time of writing, we are delighted to announce that funding for the Project to be run in 2012 has been secured. 

International Student Roundtable 2011 (Canberra)

For the second time running, AFIS participated at the International Student Roundtable held in Canberra, hosted by DEEWR. 

The selected focus group consisted of 30 international student leaders and representatives from across Australia. AFIS collaborated with other delegates and presented a number of well-balanced ideas and insights to the Communiqué that was presented to Senator Chris Bowen. 

Programs such as the International Student Information Day, The Couch and GlobALL, initiated by AFIS with our community partners, were presented to the group and were unanimously agreed upon as best practice examples from Victoria. 

AFIS also presented a strong voice on the topic of student welfare and maximizing student experience at the forum. 

Participation in the Higher Education Conference

AFIS participated in and presented at the 2011 Higher Education Conference on the topic of ‘Bridging the Divide between International and Domestic Students and Facilitating Greater Interaction with University Life’. As a part of this topic, AFIS examined the lack of integration between international and domestic students, ways in which international students can better connect to their universities through community engagement and improved ways of ensuring international student safety and security. 

AFIS was delighted to present on this topic and share our extensive insights into the issues surrounding social isolation and engagement. Other presenters at the Conference included Vice Chanvellors of Loughborough University (UK), James Cook University, University of Western Sydney, University of New England, Manager of Student Access and Equity at Deakin University and the Principal Advisor of Planning and Research at RMIT. 

Participation in the Knight Review of the Student Visa Program

Prior to the Knight Review of Student Visa Program, DIAC called for submissions from all student organizations and interested parties for which AFIS responded with a submission.

AFIS collaborated with the International Student Legal Advice Clinic in making a submission to the Knight Review of the Student Visa Program. Some of our main recommendations were around the inflexibility of the 20 hour restirction and mandatory calcellation of visas for breaches. It was recommended that the 20 hour work restriction be lifted to allow students be calculated over as an average over 1 calendar month. This recommendation was accepted as amendments to the work restirction were made so that 20 hours per week would be calculated as average over a fortnight. AFIS also recommended that the Migration Act be amended to remove mandatory cancellation for breaches of student visa condition 8105. 

Information Session for International Students regarding Migration Changes

AFIS organised an information session for international students in the wake of the recent migration changes and in response to the widespread concerns expressed by international students to the organisation about uncertainty regarding their future plans. 

The session was located at the Australian Learning, Training and Education Centre (ALTECT). ALTEC provided the venue and refreshments as a welfare initiative. DIAC provided us support by sending their representatives from Canberra for the session. It proved to be a worthwhile effort and those who participated offered positive feedback.

Development of Mental Health Strategy

AFIS recognizes the growing concern for the mental health of international students. One of the primary factors that cause frustration and depression of students is a lack of engagement and lack of opportunities/networks, which enable them to be involved in the wider community. 

Whilst many of our Projects are designed to help in preventing mental health difficulties, this year AFIS is proud to announce we have developed a Mental Health Strategy for use by Committee Members and for use by the international student community as guideline to best practice. 

Summaries of international student issues are readily available various AFIS resources, however at the core of many international student issues is the need to recognize they are very complex and are often interconnected to other aspects of the student life. Another important aspect of addressing mental health, as identified in the Strategy, is recognizing the need to involve all stakeholders and individuals that international students come into contact with so that a multi-faceted approach is developed to effectively target mental health from all aspects of the student life. The AFIS Mental Health Strategy outlines the measures the Organisation will undertake to promote mental health not only amongst our Executive Committees but also amongst our membership and amongst those students whom we assist ad hoc. It is hoped that this Strategy may be developed further to encompass other community partners in the future. 

 A copy of the Mental Health Strategy is available upon request. 

Water Safety Program

AFIS partnered with the Melbourne City Baths to deliver the first-of-its-kind Water Safety Program for international students. The Program offered international students basic water survival lessons and basic swimming technique lessons over 9 weeks to encourage active living and educate students about water safety. The Program offered an accessible and culturally sensitive (gender specific classes and segregated female swimming areas) means through which international students can learn about water safety with other students.  

Asia Pacific Business Outlook 

Understanding that a major concern amongst graduating international students is graduate job opportunities, AFIS partnered with the Australian Business Forum to help provide more opportunities for international students to network with potential employers.  AFIS members were offered the exclusive opportunity to attend free networking functions, including the Asia-Pacific Business Outlook. 

AFIS offered 20 free tickets to the Asia Pacific Business Outlook held at the Crown Conference Centre (normally worth over $400 per person) so that the selected students who attended could meet with industry leaders, government representatives, economists and financial market experts to discuss pertinent issues facing the global economy and network. 

Culture Card Victoria

This year, AFIS partnered with the Committee for Melbourne to organise, promote and deliver the Culture Card Victoria program, funded by the Victorian Government. AFIS’ participation extended to ensuring the Project is as student-oriented as possible. The Culture Card is the ‘key’ for international students to meet other student friends through special events, tailored towards international students. This program is designed to maximising the student experience through encouraging international students to experience and understand better the local Australian culture. 

Events offered included the tour of the MCG, chance to view the European Masters art exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, the opportunity to go with a group of other international students for scuba diving and much more!

Culture Card Victoria Ambassador Program

In addition to the above, AFIS also launched the Culture Card Ambassador Program this year where international students can develop event management, marketing and networking skills under the mentorship of the Young Victorian of the Year 2010. Student Ambassadors were involved in driving the Culture Card on their own campus and this allowed those involved to add a unique and valuable experience to their time in Australia, meet new people and access special opportunities to network with representatives from the Australian corporate sector. 

Partnership with the Victorian Government in developing multilingual Study Melbourne websites

AFIS partnered with the Victorian Government to develop multilingual Study Melbourbe websites. AFIS was involved in the initial consultation stage to determine the content and best communication strategies with which to approach international students. Following this, AFIS facilitated 5 consultation groups for students speaking Hindi, Korean, Portuguese, Arabic and Vietnamese to provde in-depth feedback and analysis of the proposed website content and designs. 

Through this initiative, AFIS assisted the Victorian Government to disseminate relevant information to both onshore and offshore students of diverse cultural-linguistic backgrounds to inform their expectations about studying and living in Melbourne as an international student.

Directory of Services for International Students

AFIS, in collaboration with the Victorian Multicultural Commission, commenced a Project developing a Directory of Services for International Students. AFIS identified that much of the information international students rely on are disseminated by word-of-mouth which may lack accuracy and this Directory is designed to provide a source of information for students interested in seeking services of relevance. Services contained on the Directory include bi-lingual doctors, dentists, crisis support and emergency accommodation amongst others. 

This Directory is currently available in hard copy, however, it is hoped that it will be made available online following the completion of our new website. 

International Student Focus Groups

In support of our community partners and with the aim of enhancing student experience, AFIS organised a number of international student focus groups where valuable insights were gained in areas of International Student Emergency Awareness and Problem Gambling, amongst others.

Development of new Communications Strategy

AFIS developed and implemented a new communications strategy in 2011 aimed at further strengthening our engagement and communication with international students. At the beginning of 2011, AFIS commenced a Monthly Newsletter Service to our members, which provides information about events and opportunities of relevance for the month, including free English lessons, workshops, festivals and social activities, amongst others. This newsletter provided the first-of-its-kind source of information for international students about activities of interest to them. 

Later in the year, the Executive Committee also commenced development of a new website designed to better interact with our members and one which is hoped to provide key information on topics of interest. This website is due to be launched in late October 2011. 

GloBALL Program

AFIS continued our partnership with the Essendon Football Club and Cricket Victoria in delivering free opportunities to international students to attend free Footy and Cricket matches throughout the year. 

Lord Mayor’s Welcome for International Students

AFIS, once again, participated in the City of Melbourne Lord Mayor’s Welcome to International Students in both Semester 1 and Semester 2 where we had talks with students and provided assistance and information where needed as a stallholder. 

Festival of Light and Friendship

AFIS was proud to assist the City of Darebin in organizing, promoting and participating at Festival of Light and Friendship for and with International Students, an event designed to welcome international students into Darebin’s culturally rich and diverse community.

Work Experience Program 

Understanding that a major concern amongst graduating international students is graduate job opportunities, AFIS partnered with an international fashion brand to offer work experience/internships for students studying graphic design. This initiative was designed to provide students with a chance to apply their skills to practice with the opportunity of on-going employment following graduation. 

We hope this program can extend, in the future, to other industries to assist students studying in other fields. AFIS also hosted a number of interns studying community welfare. 

Orientation Programs at TAFEs and Private Colleges
AFIS has been delivering orientation programs at TAFEs and private colleges for a number of years and since 2009, we have further expanded the program to cover more education providers.  AFIS currently delivers cultural orientation program at Australian Catholic University, Kangan Batman TAFE, Box Hill TAFE, North Melbourne Institute of TAFE, ALTEC, Holmesglen Institute and William Angliss Institute. 

In this year, AFIS presented at the Box Hill TAFE, Australian Catholic University, Australian Learning, Training and Education Centre, Holmesglen Institute orientations. 

Advocacy support

In 2008, AFIS developed a one-on-one advocacy support structure for international students, providing valuable information, referral and support to students.  In 2010 and 2011, AFIS continued to provide accurate and up to date information for international students experiencing concerns, ranging from accommodation and employment rights, to education provider complaints and consumer rights.