The International Student Roundtable took place at Parliament House in Canberra on 14 & 15 September 2009.
The Roundtable brought together 31 international students to discuss issues affecting their study experience in Australia such as accommodation, welfare and safety. The students were selected from more than 1300 applications received through an open application process. Participants were selected on their ability to represent the views of international students and ability to work as part of a team to identify issues and develop solutions.
A Communiqué setting out the outcomes from the Roundtable was provided to the Deputy Prime Minister at the conclusion of the Roundtable.
In summary, the Roundtable concluded that international students coming to study in Australia face a number of challenges in the following six areas:
- pre-arrival information and visa status
- quality of education provision
- access to basic life services
- social integration in Australia
- fair treatment
- cost of education.
Three representatives from the Roundtable presented the Communiqué to Education Ministers at the inaugural meeting of the Ministerial Council on Tertiary Education and Employment (MCTEE) in Brisbane on 28 September 2009. Ministers agreed to progress identified measures to improve the quality of the international student experience in Australia.
The outcomes from the Roundtable will inform the development of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG)'s National International Students Strategy and the review of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000.