Good Read For Int. Students In Aust

Source: The Age

Miki Perkins

June 27, 2009

WHEN international student Danny Ong returned home to Singapore he was stunned into silence during a job interview when asked to outline his experiences in Australia.

"I realised I didn't know anything. I was so fixated with getting good marks that I had learned nothing about Australia or Australian culture."

It spurred him to write a new guide for international students that exposes the pitfalls in activities such as house-hunting and catching public transport, but also offers insight into institutions such as the justice system and the concept of human rights.

While students often feel under enormous pressure to perform academically, the guide encourages them to get involved in life in Australia, from finding a job to doing volunteer work.

"Often I ask what do they know about Australian culture? They say they know about AFL rules or barbies, but that doesn't really count," Mr Ong said. "How do Australians conduct business? How do they interact with each other?"

The 29-year-old was well prepared for the challenge of writing the guide: during his undergraduate studies he did his honours thesis on the experiences of international students and was also the president of Monash University's overseas students' society.

In the wake of a spate of fierce attacks on international students, he said newcomers should be alerted to the potential dangers of late-night work and travel, but that most crimes were opportunistic rather than racially motivated.

Mr Ong, who now works as a researcher at Monash University, said an African student told him he had been wrongly accused of shoplifting but admitted to the crime because he thought he would get beaten up by the police.

"He didn't know about evidence, or the rule of law. And how do you explain voting rights and human rights to someone living in China?" he said.

Vibhav Roy came to Monash University from India to study commerce and knew people who were so daunted by the transition that they returned home.

The biggest challenge for most Indian students was adjusting to life away from family and overcoming loneliness, he said.

He said the guide would be invaluable to students trying to negotiate housing, financial and cultural issues.

The International Student Handbook: Living and Studying in Australia will be published in August.