Life Beyond Lectures: International Students Wellbeing

My wellbeing this morning was going to yoga then quickly finalising this speech. I don't usually write speeches, but wanted to take the time to record a few thoughts about international student wellbeing and experience from Australia's perspective, complementing the terrific panel discussions we've just enjoyed.

The best part of my role as Assistant Minister for International Education is the moments I get to spend with international students who have chosen to study in Australia.

Bright young people from across the world bringing their own hopes and dreams, spending some of your precious time as young adults in our country. I get inspired by your energy, and it's always fascinating seeing our country through your fresh eyes.

As you would now know, Australia is a proudly multicultural nation, home to people from literally every country on earth.

Our continent has always been multicultural and we are home to the oldest continuing culture in the world. The indigenous peoples of this land who spoke more than 250 different languages and practice hundreds of cultural traditions.

I acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nations as the traditional owners of this land in central Melbourne.

Thank you for choosing Australia

The first thing I want to say is thank you; for choosing Australia and my home city of Melbourne to study.

There are many other places in the world that young people could choose to study and contribute but you have – wisely I hope – chosen us.

We cannot take it for granted though that people choose to come to our country. Contributing over $50 billion to Australia's economy, supporting over 250,000 Australian jobs, the education of local students and world class research.

We value the fact you have decided to come here.

Too often though the focus is on economic matters. International education is much more than that. It's a bridge between nations, a source of innovation, and a foundation for lifelong friendships.

Over the past decade, Australia has helped to educate more than 3 million people from around the world. It is a remarkable success story.

International students enrich our classrooms, campuses, and communities. You bring diverse perspectives, energy, and ambition, and help strengthen our ties with Indo-Pacific partners and beyond.

Future success requires a great student experience

There's been some media focus the last couple of weeks on how the government is managing student numbers into next year.

It is true that there are more people who want to come to Australia than we can accommodate, so the Government will continue to manage growth in a sustainable way.

Growth has returned to sustainable levels with the year-to-date figures for May 2025 showing a 15% reduction in the number of international student commencements compared with the same period in 2024.

So the Government has been able to announce an increase in the National Planning Level for next year, with a focus on boosting new student housing as well.

But we don't just want any students. We want the best students to continue to choose Australia.

And for that we need to stay focused on the quality of the student experience while you are here.

So it is important for you, and for the years to come, that while you are living in our country, that you have a good experience. In every sense.

A high quality education is of course critical. Yes, study matters. The quality of your learning, teaching and education really matters in Australia. It is the primary reason you are here, investing in your future. Often with your families making real sacrifices.

But the broader student experience matters too. Which is why I am so pleased that Nicky and Isabelle have brought everyone together to focus on life beyond the classroom, on the many aspects of your wellbeing.

The good news is that most students have a great time in Australia. The 2023 International Student Experience Survey showed that over 76% of international students rated their overall educational experience positively—just slightly below domestic students.

But there's room to improve and I will just touch on some of the aspects we need to keep thinking about together for life outside the classroom.

Integrity and exploitation

Integrity is a key part of our approach. Some international students are vulnerable to exploitation.

For example, education agents are an important part of the international education sector in Australia. But we also know that not all agents have acted ethically.

Under the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (the National Code), international education providers must ensure their education agents act appropriately, honestly and in the best interest of students and uphold the reputation of Australia's international education sector.

The National Code requires education providers to have management processes in place to monitor their agent behaviour and outlines grounds for termination of the relationship.

Despite this, there are clearly problems with the behaviour of many onshore agents who are exploiting students to swap providers against student interests. Chasing and charging enormous, unsustainable commissions – an example of intermediaries corrupting the market.

The government will soon introduce new laws – legislation – into the Parliament to stamp out these practices onshore.

But the government has also committed to consider further possible regulation of education agent behaviour and ensuring the input of students – as consumers, often with a significant information disadvantage – will be critical. I will look forward to your input as we think about these things.

Workplace exploitation is also unacceptable in Australia and forums like these are important to make sure students have good information about their rights, and know how to speak up to the Fair Work Ombudsman.

As well, all education providers are required to provide international students with information about their work rights and how to seek support for workplace issues.

I encourage you not to be silent, but to speak up if things don't seem right and exercise your rights in Australia.

Housing

Being able to find safe and secure accommodation is important to a positive study experience.

International students are not to blame for Australia's housing shortages, though of course we need to manage overall numbers as part of reducing overall migration levels.

But for the students we welcome here, choosing to study in Australia is a major life decision.

For many, it means moving to a new country, studying in a second language, and building a life away from from familiar places, family, and friends. It's often the first time living away from your family.

Securing safe, appropriate housing is critical which is why the government is increasingly focussed on ensuring increases in student numbers, especially at larger institutions, is accompanied by new student housing.

One option that is under-utilised I'd also give a plug to is home-stay.

Australians are able to host one or two international students spare rooms and can not have to pay tax on the boarding fees! A win win!

Home-stay can help to build community connections and build mutual understanding of Australian community life and other nations.

Mental health, wellbeing and engagement

We know from research and feedback that there's more to do, especially when it comes to wellbeing and mental health.

I pay tribute to Nicky Lou as a mental health professional for her interest in this and care. International students often face unique pressures—from academic expectations to cultural adjustment and homesickness.

That's why in October last year, the Australian Government through the Department of Education released a series of practical guides and an evidence-based framework to support innovative student engagement. Developed for government by Deakin University, these resources are designed to help providers enhance student wellbeing and engagement.

One of the most popular guides focuses specifically on mental health and wellbeing. It offers practical strategies for educators, support staff, and community organisations working with international students.

It builds on a 2020 Orygen report, which highlighted the importance of mental health and physical safety for international students.

Education providers have a key role here, and must provide information about support services to assist overseas students in adjusting to study and life in Australia and resolve any issues that arise.

And they must record and manage critical incidents that significantly affect student safety and wellbeing, and take all reasonable steps to provide a safe environment on campuses.

This includes having strategies in place for mental health, cultural safety, and suicide prevention.

The wellbeing guide goes straight to the heart of these issues, offering principles and tools to help institutions keep students safe and supported.

National Student Ombudsman

It's also important that students can raise formal complaints if things go wrong. Which is why in February this year, we launched the independent and impartial National Student Ombudsman.

This free service provides a trauma-informed pathway for higher education students to escalate complaints about their higher education providers. It's a significant step forward in ensuring students, including international higher education students, feel heard and protected.

In the first 6 months of the Ombudsman being in operation, it has heard from more than 2,000 students. About 40% of these have been international students.

It has been an impressive start by the NSO, resolving nearly 50% of all contacts received to date.

Positive outcomes for students include early resolution by facilitating communication between students and providers, helping students to secure additional academic support, or fee refunds where this was fair and reasonable.

The Australian Government is also working on multiple fronts including:

• Working with the https://humanrights.gov.au/ on initiatives like the Anti-Racism Framework and the upcoming Racism at Uni study.
• Here in Victoria, being part of the International Student Wellbeing Group, engaging with partners such as the Victorian Department of Health's Suicide Prevention and Response Office and Study Melbourne.
• And from this October, during Mental Health Month, all young international students will be able to gain access to the MOST mental health app—a successful digital platform that connects young people with mental health professionals and a moderated support community. Support right in your pockets.

Being part of the Australian community

While most students have a positive experience in Australian, one of the saddest pieces of feedback to me – as a proud Australian – is that too many students leave Australia feeling they never really made an Australian friend or got involved in the community in some way.

That's sad for the student, and a loss for our community into the future. And not feeling included – like you belong and have human connections, or feeling lonely – is one of the worst things for our mental health as humans.

Including students is one of the best things we can do to improve mental health. We can and should do better. But it's not something the Australian Government can solve alone.

Improving the inclusion of international students requires effort by:

• providers to make classes inclusive and through structure volunteering and experience programs;
• State and Territory Governments through continued investment in initiatives like Study Melbourne:
  • this is really important and I'll be talking more with State Governments about what they need to do to support students and the sector – they advocate loudly to the Commonwealth to allow more students to come and need to ensure they're fulfilling their part of the bargain in student experience including things like transport concessions, and approving new student housing more quickly;
• and also through local governments to ensure community sport, volunteering and activities are welcoming to international students.

Of course, as we heard in the panel discussion earlier, a good student experience is a two way street. There is much that Australia can do. But it's also up to you and all international students to make good choices.

It's rather ridiculous but for some students their English can actually get worse living in Australia. Students who choose to live in houses with all students from their home country speaking their first language, work part-time in workplaces speaking their first language and study scientific, IT or business disciplines with relatively limited vocabulary may actually speak English less in Australia than when they were studying at home!

Challenging yourself and being thoughtful about where you live, work and what you do outside study is important. Going outside your comfort zone, volunteering or getting involved In the community or sport will make a world of difference over time.

Reciprocity is a good rule for life – treat other people as you would like to be treated. It's a core tenet of most major religions however expressed.

I'd hope that if my daughter, or any young Australian, went to live and study in another country that they'd be made to feel welcome and have opportunities to be included in civic life and get to know their host country. And looked after if they were having difficulties.

We need to ensure we have the same determination to welcome,  include and care for students living here.

Supporting international students is not just about education—it's also about humanity, inclusion, and opportunity.

Together, we can ensure that every student who chooses Australia feels welcomed, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Thank you again for the opportunity to be here today. International education is a great Australian success story. But future success requires a ruthless focus on a great quality education, and a great student experience outside the classroom.

This is good for Australia, and it's the right thing to do for the wonderful young people who choose Australia.