A former New South Wales International Student of the Year who hosts food tours to promote multiculturalism, an Indonesian student who provides early childhood reading sessions, and an Iraqi student who organises swimming and driving lessons for other Iraqi women are all featured in a new online videos series focused on international students within NSW communities.
International Student Stories, a joint collaboration between government body StudyNSW and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, explores the contributions international students make to both metropolitan and regional areas throughout the state.
“This project was a great way to engage with new talent and new communities in regional New South Wales”
“Not only are the videos intended for a local Australian audience [to lean more about international students], but also for prospective students to think ‘I was probably intending on coming to Sydney, but now that I can see what life [is like in] Wollongong, I might reconsider,’” StudyNSW director Peter Mackey told The PIE News.
The ABC and StudyNSW had originally planned for only four videos, Mackey said, but after being inundated with story suggestions from education providers, the ABC funded a further three.
Bronwyn Purvis, partnerships lead for ABC Regional, said the collaboration helped her make some interesting discoveries of her own about international students.
“From teaching cricket to kids to helping Iraqi women learn to drive, international students are contributing to the social cohesion and positive community wellbeing of regional towns,” she said.
Purvis and Mackey said both the ABC and StudyNSW are keen to continue producing videos on international students.
“This project was a great way to engage with new talent and new communities in regional New South Wales and we are hoping we can produce a version of the series in other states and territories,” Purvis said.
International Student Stories is available on StudyNSW’s YouTube channel, and the ABC’s iView platform.
