Wesa Chau
 
Melbourne - It’s a tragedy that international students are being killed on our streets – but it will become a scandal if Governments don’t act swiftly to protect them and the $15 billion industry they sustain.
 
Thursday’s high-profile police operation in Melbourne’s western suburbs is a good start and should be maintained. 
It shows authorities can act on the ground to protect the community against thugs like those who killed graduating Indian international student Nitin Garg.  This kind of active policing is to be applauded and encouraged.  However, it cannot end there.
 
It will take a lot more than a show of police strength to turn the tide of violence against international students and the wider community. The good news is that Governments can take efficient and cost-effective steps to protect students.  Some have been outlined in a Senate inquiry into the welfare of international students released just six weeks ago.
 
The report is fresh, the need is urgent, the time to act is now.  State and federal government must prove that international students are not just cash-cows, because when the milk runs dry a growth industry will be headed for the knackery.
 
International students are becoming increasingly vulnerable, and not just because of the colour of their skin or their choice of clothing. Simply put, the industry that makes so much money from them is failing to support their basic needs and putting them at risk.
 
From the very moment they embark on the journey to studying in Australia, international students face exploitation by agents, colleges, employers, and landlords; they encounter social isolation; and they are discriminated against by authorities who deny them basic entitlements such as student transport concession.
 
But there are four steps Government can take that will provide a necessary support net for the half a million full-fee paying international students studying in Australia. These are:
 
1. Develop a mandatory Australian cultural awareness program for international students during orientation, but preferably before they leave home. Students need crucial information about personal safety, Australian cultural behaviour and associated issues, and they need it early; 
 
2. Set up community oriented one-stop student support services to international students.  This would assist students seeking appropriate support early before it is too late;
 
3. Establish an international student ombudsman to handle complaints;
 
4. Support social engagement and further awareness programs to reduce social isolation of international students.

This is not about nannying students – most are young adults and they, of course, must take primary responsibility for their own safety.
 
But what we need now is a concrete indication that the Government is taking positive action to address a crisis that has cost innocent lives and already caused enrolments from India to fall by half in recent months.
 
Government must commit resources for practical measures. After-sales support is provided to a purchase of a $2000 computer, it’s only logical that welfare support is provided to education worth $20,000.
 
While this is happening, we should be careful not to let the racism debate distract us.  It is unconstructive. As Tim Colebatch pointed out in the Age Newspaper recently, in every multicultural and multiracial society, rogue elements of racism will exist. We need to acknowledge this, but it is also wrong to cast a net over the general populace and conclude that Australia is a racist country. The unilateral, unacceptable actions of a few should not taint the entire community.
 
What we need now is to allow the Victorian Police to do their work. We need to allow them to find the thugs that caused the death of a bright, young international student. We need to reassure international students that the police and Governments are working together to keep our streets safe for all.
 
Wesa Chau is Honorary President of the Australian Federation of International Students  http://www.internationalstudents.org.au