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Community support for international students

2 August 2006

From left: Clayton Community Services manager Ms Sally Trembath- Hastings, friendship program manager Ms Jennifer Weber and program coordinator Ms Renee De Simone.

Monash Community Services is seeking volunteers to take part in an exciting new program to enhance the experience of the university's international students.

During the initial phase of the pilot International Student Friendship Program it is hoped about 150 students will be matched with a volunteer, recruited from the community.

Project manager Ms Jennifer Weber said the volunteers would provide friendship and support, as well as information on community resources and opportunities for participation in local community events.

"That could mean meeting up with the students for a cup of coffee and a chat, or sometimes inviting them into their homes to share meals with their family," Ms Weber said.

"This is not a mentoring program -- it's more about getting international students to engage with the community at large and to let them experience Australian life. We want them to feel they are being welcomed into the community."

Ms Weber said research into the wellbeing of international students had shown that 41 per cent had difficulty adjusting to living and studying in Melbourne. Providing them with opportunities to mix with locals, use English off-campus and feel connected with the wider community were key factors in assisting a successful adjustment.

The program will be piloted for 12 months at the Clayton campus, to be followed by a further six-month pilot at Caulfield, with funding support through the Education Pool as part of the Student Experience initiative.

Volunteers are being sought through a range of avenues. Ms Weber is tapping into Monash postgraduate student and alumni networks, and the community-based Monash Volunteer Resource Centre is also playing an important role, helping to screen volunteers and provide induction training. Representatives from various community groups already providing support to Monash international students are also being invited to sit on the project's steering committee.

For more information, contact project coordinator Ms Renee De Simone on +61 3 9905 3186 or email renee.simone@adm.monash.edu.au.