International Students learn survival lessons

The Chair of the Community Relations Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian (far right), Superintendent Robert Redfern APM (middle) with international students attending an information seminar at Parramatta Town Hall.

International students and student counsellors from Universities, TAFE and other private colleges attended an information seminar on Saturday 14 May at Parramatta Town Hall hosted by the CRC. The Chair of the Commission Stepan Kerkyasharian, opening the seminar, restated the Commission’s support for all international students.

“The Commission is committed to doing everything possible to ensure that international students remain, safe and healthy, enjoy their time here and go home as great ambassadors for New South Wales”.

The seminar provided valuable advice for students from the NSW Police, the NSW Department of Industrial Relations and the NSW Office of Fair Trading.

The speakers dealt with the issues which the Commission has long identified as important for students – personal security, a fair-go in the workplace and value for money in accommodation.

The guest speakers were Superintendent Robert Redfern APM - NSW Police Force, Mr Neil McGarvie - NSW Industrial Relations and Ms Xiaojing Shan - NSW Fair Trading Office.

Supt. Redfern gave valuable tips on personal safety while they are out and about and encouraged students to report incidents to police. He guaranteed that a student’s visa status would not be affected in any way as a result reporting a crime to police. Mr McGarvie provided an insight on international students work rights, their minimum wage allowance and advised students to keep a diary of their working hours. He explained tot students  how to claim benefits up to six years after leaving the job if they felt they had been underpaid. Ms Shan addressed the students about their rental rights and responsibilities, and gave insights of an emergency situation and how students can take necessary steps to avoid out-of-pocket expenses.

“All speakers of today are superstars, can you please organise them to come to our university...” an international student representative from UNSW told the CRC after the session. The international student counsellors praised the commission for organising such an excellent event.

The Commission has been involved in international student issues since security concerns became public in 2009, organising meetings with authorities, consultations with student groups, assistance for the victims of collapsed colleges and participation in State Government lead committees.

In 2010 the Commission produced a wallet-sized Z card with vital information on living, working and studying in New South Wales. Many thousands of the Z-cards have been distributed.

Students or counsellors who would like to attend future session, please contact the Commission via email: internationalstudents@crc.nsw.gov.au