INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
809. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for International Education:
I refer to the recent report from
international education specialists IDP Education, which shows that WA has
fallen behind South Australia in international student numbers, making us the
worst-performing mainland state.
(1) How does the minister intend to
re-engage prospective students and students lost to other states?
(2) Do we have adequate accommodation for us to return to
being a top-tier state?
Mr D.A.
TEMPLEMAN replied:
I thank the member for the
question.
(1)–(2) As
the member is well aware, international student numbers in Australia were
impacted dramatically by the COVID situation, but I want to assure the member
that Western Australia is actively working to not only turn around numbers, but
also increase them dramatically. Our numbers are trending very well. I ask the
member to talk to some of our university vice-chancellors about the numbers
enrolled for semester 1 of 2023. They are
remarkable. The challenge that does face us, of course, is accommodation. As
the member is well aware, accommodation is an issue for many states and
territories given the current circumstances around rental affordability. In
terms of accommodation we are working very, very hard with the existing
accommodation providers at our universities, for example, by making sure that
every available bed is there. There is also,
of course, the homestay scheme, which matches international students with those
people who seek to host international students. It is continually being
enhanced and encouraged. Indeed, I would encourage Western Australians who have
room in their homes and who might entertain hosting an international student to
consider it. It is a very worthwhile experience for hosts. They are making
available a tremendous opportunity for an international student.
In
terms of investment, I am surprised that the member has not acknowledged this
government's investment into international education in the last
budget. Over $41 million has been invested in international education, focusing on a whole range of
incentives, including bursaries of $5 000 for individual international
students and some bursary opportunities that we want to expand into the
regions. Bursaries have been made available and have been taken up by several
thousand international students. Secondly, in order to ensure that we support
international students returning to Western Australia, as part of the $41 million
we had a scheme that focused on assisting them with accommodation and also with
their transition back into university. Indeed, the universities had access to
funds to assist them in supporting students as they reengaged and re-entered Western
Australia and commenced their studies in our institutions.
In the areas of vocational education,
we continue to work on making sure that courses are available and open to
international students, because many of the students who are entertaining a career
in vocational training also ultimately seek permanent residency in Western Australia
and, of course, then contribute to the skills demand that we have.
We are working particularly hard. I have
to tell the member that he may be quoting from one particular columnist, but we
are regularly receiving from the eastern states reports from their sectors
about what is happening in Western Australia and that we are moving ahead of
other states and territories in terms of what is a very competitive aspect.
The Deputy Premier and I went across
to India with a record number of delegates from the business, international
education and creative sectors, promoting Western Australia. We will continue
to do that. I know the Deputy Premier was in Indonesia only recently and
continues to ensure that markets for international students and emerging
markets will continue to be worked upon, because we are focused on making sure that international education becomes a
key part of our economic narrative and that the benefits and the
experiences that those international students have whilst living and studying
in Western Australia are quality ones,
because they are the great voices for our state in their home countries for
promoting why Western Australia is in fact so important and such a wonderful
place to study, to learn and to live. The comments from that particular
columnist are noted, but I have to tell the member that we are very competitive and will continue to build our student
numbers. I encourage the member to speak to our vice-chancellors about
the demand for courses for next year. It is remarkable, it is tremendous and it
is growing, and I will keep working hard to make sure it does.