19 March 2007
"Welcome to Gippsland and Victoria" will be the central message portrayed at a reception held on 21 March at Monash Gippsland.
The reception is part of International Education Week celebrations, sponsored by the Victorian Department of Education and Training, and will target international students visiting the region and state.
More than 35 students and their host families from across Gippsland will attend the event, with representatives from the Department of Education and Training, Monash University, and Baw Baw, Wellington and Latrobe City Shires.
The event, which starts at 5pm, will welcome secondary and tertiary school students to the region with multicultural performances and presentations.
Acting Pro Vice Chancellor Associate Professor Harry Ballis said the event will be an opportunity for people from across Gippsland to welcome international students and to recognise the contribution they make to the region.
"It's a great chance for all international Gippsland students to come together and for host families to share their experiences," he said.
Guests will be officially welcomed by MC Barry Whitehead before hearing from Professor Ballis and David Howes, Manager, International Policy and Planning Division, Department of Education and Training.
Indigenous dance group LV Posse will perform as will local acoustic band Third Impression.
"It's shaping up to be a great evening, with a wide variety of entertainment for the guests. Monash Gippsland, in conjunction with the Department of Education and Training is proud to host this event and we look forward to meeting the students and their families," Professor Ballis said.
"It's important that international students feel a part of the community they live in and this is a chance to officially welcome them to the Gippsland community."
For further information on the Welcome Reception for International Students, please contact Associate Professor Harry Ballis, Acting Pro Vice Chancellor on +61 3 5122163, or Mr John Watts on +61 3 9905 9201 or 0448 574 148.
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